Question 1

What is Trade Republic?

Accepted Answer

Trade Republic is a German digital bank and online broker operating as an EEA branch in Poland. The Polish branch represents Trade Republic's first expansion outside the Eurozone, offering a localized investment and savings platform with a Polish IBAN. As of January 2025, Trade Republic serves over 8 million customers across 18 European markets with €100 billion in assets under management, making it Europe's largest savings platform.

The branch provides Polish customers with access to commission-based trading, high-interest savings accounts, and a modern mobile-first banking experience designed to democratize wealth building.

Question 2

When was Trade Republic founded?

Accepted Answer

Trade Republic was founded in Munich, Germany in 2015 under the name Neon Trading. The company was established by three co-founders: Christian Hecker (philosopher and economist), Thomas Pischke (physicist), and Marco Cancellieri (computer scientist).

The founders created Trade Republic within the startup incubator of Comdirect Bank with a mission to democratize access to capital markets across Europe. They identified that low automation and outdated IT infrastructure at traditional banks and brokers created high costs that were passed on to customers, making investing inaccessible to many Europeans.

The company launched its mobile trading app to the public in Germany in May 2019. The Polish branch specifically was authorized on September 11, 2025, marking a significant milestone as Trade Republic's first market outside the Eurozone.

Question 3

Where is Trade Republic headquartered?

Accepted Answer

The Polish branch is headquartered in Warsaw (Warszawa), Poland. The parent institution, Trade Republic Bank GmbH, is headquartered in Berlin, Germany at Brunnenstrasse 19-21.

Question 4

Where does Trade Republic operate?

Accepted Answer

Trade Republic operates throughout Poland as an EEA branch. The branch serves Polish customers nationwide, providing services to savers and investors across all regions of the country. Customers can access the platform through the mobile app or desktop web browser from anywhere in Poland.

The branch specifically targets Polish retail investors and savers, addressing what the company identifies as Poland's significant pension gap and structural under-investment by Polish households.

Question 5

What services does Trade Republic offer?

Accepted Answer

Trade Republic offers a comprehensive suite of digital financial services in Poland:

Savings and Banking: Polish IBAN savings accounts passing through the full Narodowy Bank Polski (NBP) interest rate (4.25% p.a. as of launch), with interest calculated daily and paid monthly on unlimited cash balances. The Trade Republic Visa card offers 1% Saveback rewards on card payments with no monthly subscription fee and unlimited free ATM withdrawals worldwide from €100.

Investment Products: Access to over 10,000 stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies tradeable directly in Polish złoty. Trading fees are just 4 złoty per order with no foreign exchange commissions. The platform offers fractional share investing starting from as little as €1.

Savings Plans: Free automated savings plans allowing customers to invest fixed amounts monthly in stocks, ETFs, or cryptocurrencies without transaction fees, starting from €10 per month.

Digital Services: Modern mobile app (iOS and Android) and web platform providing portfolio tracking, real-time trading, instant deposits via Apple Pay and Google Pay, and comprehensive account management tools. The platform features a minimalist design focused on user-friendly navigation.

Question 6

What makes Trade Republic unique?

Accepted Answer

Trade Republic distinguishes itself as Europe's first major digital bank and broker to successfully expand outside the Eurozone with fully localized offerings. The Polish branch provides Polish IBANs and direct trading in złoty, removing currency barriers that typically complicate cross-border investing.

The platform's combination of high-interest savings (matching central bank rates), ultra-low trading fees, and integrated card rewards creates a unique "earn while you spend and save" ecosystem. The 1% Saveback feature automatically invests card spending rewards into chosen savings plans, seamlessly blending daily spending with long-term wealth building.

Trade Republic's mobile-first approach and commission-free savings plans specifically target younger, first-time investors. As of 2020, over one-third of customers had never purchased stocks or ETFs before joining the platform.

The company addresses Poland's critical pension gap, where only 3% of the population feels confident about having sufficient retirement funds—the lowest level in the entire EU.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is Trade Republic?

Accepted Answer

Trade Republic operates in Poland as an EEA Branch (CRDEEABRA) of the German parent bank Trade Republic Bank GmbH.

The parent institution is a fully licensed European credit institution regulated by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and Deutsche Bundesbank. In Poland, the branch operates under the supervision of the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (Komisja Nadzoru Finansowego, KNF).

As an EEA branch, Trade Republic leverages EU passporting rights to provide cross-border banking and investment services. Customer deposits are protected under the German deposit guarantee scheme up to €100,000, rather than a Polish scheme. The branch structure allows Trade Republic to offer German banking stability while providing localized Polish services including Polish IBANs and złoty-denominated transactions.

Question 8

How is Trade Republic funded and regulated?

Accepted Answer

Trade Republic has raised over €1.1 billion from prominent venture capital firms including Sequoia Capital, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, TCV, Thrive Capital, Accel Partners, Founders Fund, Creandum, and Project A Ventures. The company achieved a valuation of $5 billion following a $900 million funding round in May 2021.

The company became profitable over the past two years and received a full European banking license in December 2023. Trade Republic operates under dual regulatory oversight: BaFin and Bundesbank in Germany, with additional supervision by KNF for Polish operations.

Customer securities are held in custody at HSBC Bank and Clearstream, while cash deposits are managed through omnibus trust accounts with Deutsche Bank AG, J.P. Morgan SE, HSBC Continental Europe S.A., and Citibank Europe plc.

Question 9

What is Trade Republic's business model?

Accepted Answer

Trade Republic generates revenue primarily through payment for order flow (PFOF), receiving fees from trading partners for routing customer orders to specific market makers. As of recent reports, PFOF accounts for approximately one-third of overall income.

Additional revenue streams include securities lending (lending customer securities to third parties for interest), transaction fees (the flat 4 złoty trading fee in Poland), and minor charges for services like withdrawal fees below €100 and annual meeting registrations.

The company's proprietary technology infrastructure, built entirely in-house, enables significant cost savings through automation and real-time execution of complex processes. These savings are passed to customers through low fees and competitive interest rates. Note that the EU plans to ban PFOF from 2026 onwards, requiring Trade Republic to adapt its revenue model.

Question 10

What expansion plans does Trade Republic have?

Accepted Answer

Following the successful Polish launch in September 2025, Trade Republic announced plans to expand into additional non-Eurozone European markets. The company also revealed strategic partnerships with Apollo Global Management and EQT in 2025 to offer private markets access, allowing retail investors to access private equity and private credit funds with minimum investments starting at just €1 (compared to typical €10,000 institutional minimums).

In January 2025, Trade Republic announced plans to open local bank branches in Spain, France, and Italy, moving beyond its purely digital model to provide physical presence in key European markets.

Trade Republic

in Poland 🇵🇱

Crypto-Friendliness

All done!

About Trade Republic in Poland