How long you must keep funds (and how clawbacks work)
Updated October 16, 2026 · Offer data last verified 2026-10-16 · Not financial or tax advice.
Almost every bonus comes with a holding period, a stretch of time when the new money or transferred assets have to stay in the account. Break it and the firm can take the bonus back (a clawback), charge a fee, or never pay it at all. In our current data, investing-offer holds range from 60 days to 2190 days.
Every live investing offer by hold length
Shortest holds (90 days or less)
CIT Bank / First Citizens Self-Directed Investing (60d), J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing (90d), Merrill Edge (90d), Citi Personal Wealth Management (90d)
Multi-year commitments (2+ years)
Betterment (1095d), Public (1825d), Robinhood (1825d), Robinhood IRA match (1825d), Webull IRA match (1825d), Firstrade IRA (1825d), Public (2190d). These are usually percentage matches paid over time, or IRA matches.
When does the clock start?
It varies, which is why reading the terms matters. Common starting points are the date the deposit settles, the end of the funding window, or the date the bonus is paid. A "90-day hold" that starts after a 60-day funding window ties up the money for about five months.
How firms measure "keeping" the money
- Net deposits. Most firms look at deposits minus withdrawals and outgoing transfers. Dropping below the tier during the hold can reduce or cancel the bonus.
- Market losses usually don't count against you. Firms typically measure the money you moved, not market value, but some terms differ. Check yours.
- Moving money between accounts at the same firm may or may not count. Read the terms before you shuffle anything.
Types of clawback
Reversal: the bonus is debited from your account if you leave early. Early-removal fee: a fee is charged, often equal to the bonus, if assets leave within the window. Forfeit of future instalments: with bonuses paid in instalments, leaving early simply stops the remaining payments. Several offers in our data pay this way:
- TradeUP: 2% base + 1% bonus on $100k+ transfers, paid quarterly; up to $300 transfer-fee credit. Official terms page still shows campaign ending 9/30/26; Bonus Professor reports extension to 12/31/26.
- Moomoo: 3% match on first $20,000 transferred, paid as cash coupons in 4 installments at 90/180/270/360 days. Transfer must settle by 12/31/26.
- Public: Uncapped 1% match on ACATS & IRA transfers, paid monthly over 5 years ($100k example).
- Public: 3% on up to $1M transferred from Webull ($30k max), paid over 72 months. Official disclosure page did not render for automated check.
What a long hold costs you
Being locked in has real costs. You can't move to a better broker, chase another bonus with the same money, or easily raise cash in an emergency without penalty. That's why Bonusfolio annualizes every bonus over the full hold. See how to calculate real return.
Protect yourself
- Save the terms when you enroll.
- Write down the date the hold ends and add a few days of buffer.
- Keep the qualifying balance comfortably above the tier threshold.
- Don't use money you might need before the hold ends.
- Check that the bonus posted. Contact support with your saved terms if it didn't.
FAQ
How long do I have to keep money in a brokerage for a bonus?
It depends on the offer. In our current data, holds range from 60 to 2190 days. Check each offer page.
What happens if I withdraw before the holding period ends?
The firm may reverse the bonus, charge an early-removal fee, or stop paying remaining instalments, depending on the terms.
Does a market drop count as withdrawing?
Usually not. Most offers measure net deposits and transfers, not market value, but read the specific terms.
Can I trade during the holding period?
Generally yes. Buying and selling inside the account is usually fine, as long as you don't withdraw or transfer out the qualifying assets.
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