Invest without Limits with our General Investment Account

Q: Who can open a General Investment Account?

Anyone can open an account as long as they're over 18, are a UK or EEA resident and have a UK bank account.

Q: Can I open a joint General Investment Account?

We don’t offer general investment accounts in joint names at the moment, but please do let us know if you would be interested in this option in the future.

Q: Is there a minimum amount I need to have in my account?

There’s no minimum balance you must have in your account, but you will need to add cash to your account to start investing, and the minimum amount you can deposit at any one time is £1.

Q: How do I fund my account?

You can fund your account using a credit or debit card or by transferring funds from your bank account. We do not accept cheque or cash deposits. Please ensure that any payment you make to fund your account is from a card or account in your name. Any payment from third-party sources will be returned.

Q: How do I switch my plan?

Just navigate to your profile in the app by tapping on the icon in the top-left of the home screen. Then select ‘Your plan’, swipe right to the plan you want to switch to, tap on the switch button and follow the instructions. You’ll see the details relating to your new plan, including information about any fees. Once you’ve confirmed you’d like to go ahead, we’ll send you a confirmation in the message centre. It’s as simple as that.

Q: Can I switch my plan at any time?

Yes, you can. There are just a few things you’ll need to do before this can be completed, but we’ll help you along the way. It's important to know that switching your plan will mean you’ll no longer have access to the benefits available with the plan you’re switching from. To switch your plan, go to ‘Your profile’ in the app and tap ’Your plan’ – you’ll see your current plan. Swipe to the plan you’d like to switch to, then tap the switch button at the bottom of the screen. You’ll then see a list of actions you’ll need to complete before you can request your switch. When you complete an action, a green tick will appear next to it on the list. If you’re switching from Plus to Core, you must: Sell any Plus assets Cancel any pending orders for Plus assets Close or transfer out of your Stocks & Shares ISA and send us a secure message in the app asking us to close your ISA Withdraw any cash from your currency wallets If you’re switching from Premium to Plus, you must: Transfer out your SIPP to another provider and send us a secure message in the app asking us to close your SIPP account. If you are switching from Premium to Core, you must: Sell any Plus assets Cancel any pending orders for Plus assets Withdraw any cash from your currency wallets Close or transfer out of your Stocks & Shares ISA and send us a secure message in the app asking us to close your Stocks & Shares ISA

Q: Is CMC Invest regulated?

Yes, CMC Markets Investments Limited (registration number 948126) is fully authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. Retail client money is held in segregated client bank accounts, and money held on behalf of clients is distributed across a range of major banks, which are regularly assessed against our risk criteria.

Q: Is CMC Invest covered by the FSCS?

Yes, your eligible deposits with CMC Markets are protected up to a total of by the Financial Services Compensations Scheme (FSCS), the UK's deposit guarantee scheme. If CMC Invest ever went into liquidation, retail clients would have their share of segregated money returned, minus the administrator's costs in handling and distributing these funds. Any shortfall of funds up to may be compensated under the FSCS.

Q: How does CMC Invest segregate client money?

Under the FCA's client money rules, we're required to segregate client money from our own funds (unless you agree with us otherwise). The money held in segregated bank accounts does not belong to us and will be held in a way that enables it to be identified as client money. Learn more about client money regulations.

Q: Do I pay tax on my investments?

In the UK, if you have a Stocks & Shares ISA or Self-invested Personal Pension (SIPP), you don’t need to pay capital gains tax on any profits you make from selling investments, or dividend tax on income you receive from companies. Any profits and dividend income you make through a General Investment Account is taxable. This will be shown in your ‘consolidated tax certificate’, which you'll receive from us following the end of each tax year. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future.

Financial Conduct Authority regulated

Protected up to £85,000¹

FTSE 250 group

2024 WINNER

Best For Share Traders

Boring Money

2023 WINNER

Stocks & Shares ISA Innovation

Finder

2024 WINNER

Best For Low Cost ISA < £50K

Boring Money

Why choose CMC Invest?

Fractional shares

Invest in a portion of leading companies from just £1 with fractional shares in your Flexible Stock & Shares ISA, SIPP, and GIA.

US shares, 24/5

Trade 4,000+ US shares around the clock, five days a week, so you can react to market news and events beyond regular trading hours.

FX fees

For every international asset you buy or sell, we’ll always offer an FX fee from as low as 0.39%. Depending on your price plan.

No price plan fees

With our Core plan, you’ll get access to a GIA, ESG data, analyst ratings and other great benefits with no price plan fees.

Variety of investments

Invest in 4,000+ US shares, large-cap UK shares, 400+ ETFs, Investment Trusts and REITs. Switch to Plus for much more.

In-app transfers

Our quick and easy in-app transfer form allows you to start your General investment account transfer to us in as little as 30 seconds.

Smarter investing starts here

Access a range of research tools powered by TipRanks and Morningstar, to help you make confident, data-driven decisions.

Analyst rating

Access insights from over 96,000 financial experts on whether they think a share should be bought, sold, or held.

Price targets

Track where experts think the price is heading. Use 12-month price targets and performance metrics to guide more informed decision-making.

Bull says, Bear says

Get both sides of the story to help you make balanced decisions, so you can determine whether a company is the right investment for you.

ESG preferences

Set your investment preferences for companies based on environmental, social, and governance practices to promote sustainable, ethical growth.

Fundamental analysis

See detailed information about a company, which includes valuation ratios, market capitalisation, growth ratios, cash flow and income.

Straightforward price plans

Choose from one of our plans that suits what you need. No hidden fees, no nasty surprises, just straightforward and transparent pricing. FX fees and UK government charges may apply.