E*TRADE OFFER26 bonus explained

Updated October 17, 2026 · Offer data last verified 2026-10-17 · Not financial or tax advice.

Ending soon: the deadline in our data is October 31, 2026 (14 days from this update).

E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley's OFFER26 promotion pays a one-time cash credit when a new client opens a self-directed brokerage account and moves in outside money. There are 10 tiers, from $50 on $1,000 up to $10,000 on $5,000,000 or more. Our data shows the account must be opened by October 31, 2026. This page explains each tier, the rules that decide which one you land in, and what the bonus is actually worth once you count the hold. The numbers come from our E*TRADE offer page, which is rechecked against E*TRADE's promo page every day.

OFFER26 bonus tiers

Qualifying deposit	Bonus	Bonus ÷ deposit	Annualized*
$1,000 – $4,999	$50	5.00%	5.00%
$5,000 – $19,999	$150	3.00%	3.00%
$20,000 – $99,999	$300	1.50%	1.50%
$100,000 – $199,999	$600	0.60%	0.60%
$200,000 – $499,999	$1,000	0.50%	0.50%
$500,000 – $999,999	$1,500	0.30%	0.30%
$1,000,000 – $1,499,999	$3,000	0.30%	0.30%
$1,500,000 – $1,999,999	$5,000	0.33%	0.33%
$2,000,000 – $4,999,999	$6,000	0.30%	0.30%
$5,000,000+	$10,000	0.20%	0.20%

*Annualized at the bottom of each band = (bonus ÷ deposit) × (365 ÷ 365-day hold). Source: official terms ↗ · last verified 2026-10-17.

The best return per dollar is at the $1,000 threshold (5.00% annualized). Per dollar, the return falls quickly after that: the top tier pays 0.20% of the deposit. Your tier depends on where your total lands, so a deposit just under a threshold earns the lower tier. If you're close to the next band, it can make sense to top up, or to send the extra to a different offer. The Bonusfolio calculator does that split for you.

How to get the OFFER26 bonus

Open one new self-directed brokerage account (not a retirement account) by October 31, 2026.
Enter promo code OFFER26 in the online application, or give it to a representative if you open by phone. According to the terms, the code works once, for one account, and you get an enrollment confirmation by email.
Fund within 60 calendar days of opening with new money or securities from outside E*TRADE. The terms say transferred securities are valued at their closing price on the business day they arrive.
Get paid. The terms say the cash credit is paid to the new account within seven business days after the 60-day window ends.

Eligibility: who qualifies

The standard tiers above are for new E*TRADE clients. To get them you must open only this one account and must not open any other new E*TRADE account for 60 days after enrolling. Different terms apply if you already have an E*TRADE account, or if you open more than one new account in that window. Under those terms, lower tiers pay the same, but the higher payouts depend on large deposits into linked accounts and are capped well below the top of the table. If you're an existing client, read that section of the official disclosure before you count on a big tier.

Retirement accounts aren't covered by OFFER26. E*TRADE lists a separate retirement promotion with its own code and terms on the same page.

Hold period and clawback

This is the part most people skim. The terms require new money to stay in the account, minus any trading losses, for at least twelve months after the 60-day funding period. Otherwise the cash credit "may be surrendered". From the day you open the account, that's roughly 14 months. Our data uses a 365-day hold for the annualized figures, so the true commitment is a little longer than the table suggests. Moving money out during the 60-day funding window can also leave you in a lower tier or cost you the bonus.

Two practical points. Trading losses don't count against you, so you don't need to sit in cash. And moving money between E*TRADE accounts doesn't count as new money. For more on how these rules work at different brokers, see holding periods and clawbacks.

Is OFFER26 worth it?

For smaller balances it's one of the stronger 12-month offers: the lower tiers annualize at 5.00%, 3.00%, 1.50%. For large portfolios, the percentage is small. Because a portfolio can come over by ACATS without selling, your investments keep working while they sit at E*TRADE, so the bonus is mostly extra. Remember to subtract any outgoing transfer fee your current broker charges (see how ACATS transfer bonuses work). Here's how other live offers with holds of about a year or less compare:

Offer	Max bonus	Min deposit	Hold	Best yield	Source
Moomoo	$1,000	$500	180d	36.50%	official terms ↗
CIT Bank / First Citizens Self-Directed Investing	$750	$1,000	60d	15.21%	official terms ↗
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing	$1,000	$5,000	90d	4.06%	official terms ↗
Citi Personal Wealth Management	$5,000	$50,000	90d	4.06%	official terms ↗

Taxes

A brokerage cash credit is generally taxable income in the year you receive it, and brokers commonly report it as other income. Keep a copy of the terms and note the date the credit posts. Our brokerage bonus tax guide covers the forms you're likely to see.

General information only. This isn't financial or tax advice. Offers change or end without notice, and the official terms always govern. Confirm everything on the provider's page before you act. See our disclaimer.

Official terms last read by hand on 2026-10-17. Tier amounts, dates and hold come from our offer database (last verified 2026-10-17).

FAQ

What is the E*TRADE OFFER26 promo code?

OFFER26 is E*TRADE's new-client brokerage promotion. Enter it when you open one new self-directed (non-retirement) brokerage account by October 31, 2026, then fund it within 60 days to earn a cash credit of $50 to $10,000, depending on how much you deposit.

How much do I need to deposit for the OFFER26 bonus?

At least $1,000 of new money or securities from outside E*TRADE within 60 calendar days of opening. The tiers step up from there: $1,000 earns $50, $5,000 earns $150, $20,000 earns $300, $100,000 earns $600, and so on up to $10,000.

How long do I have to keep the money at E*TRADE?

The terms require new funds to stay in the account, minus trading losses, for at least twelve months after the 60-day funding period. Otherwise the cash credit may be surrendered. That's about 14 months from opening.

When is the OFFER26 bonus paid?

According to E*TRADE's terms, the cash credit is paid to the new account within seven business days after the 60-day funding period ends.

Can existing E*TRADE customers use OFFER26?

Existing clients, and new clients who open more than one account within 60 days, fall under different terms. Lower tiers pay the same, but the larger payouts need big deposits into linked accounts and are capped lower. Check the official disclosure.

Is the E*TRADE bonus taxable?

Generally yes. A cash credit in a taxable brokerage account is usually treated as income in the year received. This is general information, not tax advice.