BBAE has updated its user rewards. The threshold for the new-user bonus is now higher, but the $50 bonus applied through our channel has not changed. Users who signed up earlier are still subject to the previous rules (check the coupon in your benefits section for details).

BBAE now has a new user deposit bonus, with up to $400 available. In addition, there is a referral bonus that can be stacked for an extra $50. Transfer bonuses also offer a $150 subsidy. Details are below. Opening a BBAE account does not require SSN/ITIN; you can open an account with a Chinese ID card, which is very convenient. (Submitting an application requires a non-Mainland China IP)

  • BBAE signup link (register through the link, or download the app yourself and enter invite code stic4skdx)

After registration, you will automatically receive three coupons that can be used directly. The three bonuses of $400+$50+$150 can be stacked, but please note the specific requirements for each bonus. I think the best value is to deposit $2,000, which can get you a $50 bonus.

[First tier: New user bonus] The tiers are below. You need to complete cumulative net deposits within 90 days after registration. Once you meet a tier, the reward will be issued automatically.

  • Cumulative net deposits of $5,000 – $19,999, cash bonus $20
  • Cumulative net deposits of $20,000 – $499,999, cash bonus $60
  • Cumulative net deposits of $50,000 – $99,999, cash bonus $150
  • Cumulative net deposits of $100,000+, cash bonus $400

[Second tier: Exclusive referral bonus] Register BBAE through our exclusive link now and get an extra $50 bonus.

  • Make a one-time deposit of $2,000 and get an extra $50 bonus. You need to make one deposit of $2,000+ via ACH or Wire within 90 days after registration (not necessarily the first deposit).

[Third tier: Deposit/transfer bonus] New users who deposit or transfer assets can also get additional rewards now, with up to $150 extra. These three subsidies can only be redeemed once. This subsidy can be stacked with the new user's $400 and our $100 channel bonus. Details are as follows

  • International wire deposit of $5,000 or more. Subsidy: $30
  • Domestic (U.S.) wire deposit of $5,000 or more. Subsidy: $10
  • Asset transfer of $10,000 or more. Subsidy: $150

Also, if your first deposit is especially large, you can consider the other exclusive bonus below, which has a higher cap. New deposits and transfers are both eligible.

  • When you sign up, enter referral code stestu867.
  • Meet the first-deposit requirement and you can get up to $100 in rewards. Ninety days after registration, if your first net deposit is $2,500 – $9,999, the reward is $10; $10,000 – $49,999, the reward is $25; $50,000 – $99,999, the reward is $50; $100,000 – $499,999, the reward is $75; and $500,000+, the reward is $100. Only one tier can be redeemed, and the coupon disappears once the requirement is met.

About BBAE

BBAE is a U.S.-based broker-dealer operated by BBAE Holdings LLC, with two subsidiaries, Redbridge Securities LLC and BBAE Advisors LLC. Redbridge Securities LLC is registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). It is the sole provider of all securities and investment opportunities on the BBAE platform. It operates on a fully discretionary basis, so there is no upstream channel; instead, customer order flow is routed directly to the exchange.

When choosing a broker, compliance is actually the most important factor. As a U.S.-based broker, BBAE has fairly complete qualifications, and among current brokers, relatively few offer advisory services, or they have fairly high barriers to entry. BBAE is relatively friendly for beginners. BBAE has also recently launched a web version, so there is no need to install software. Just enter the URL directly in your browser: https://trading.bbae.com/zh-CN/trends. Use the QR code scan function in the mobile app to log in, and you can trade stocks. The next version of the web platform will also support options trading.

Unlike U.S. brokers such as Interactive Brokers, BBAE has a dedicated mainland China line. When you return to mainland China during the holidays, you can register and trade smoothly over the mainland network. There is no need to worry about IP changes causing your account to be restricted. Also, if you use the China App Store, you can download BBAE directly; the U.S. App Store version is BBAE Pro.

BBAE’s advantages are summarized below:

  • No SSN or ITIN required to register and claim rewards
  • Lifetime commission-free and platform-fee-free trading (options have fees; there will be a platform fee after 2026.7.1)
  • Direct connection to a U.S. dedicated line, with a smooth app experience
  • Chinese interface and a good user experience
  • Supports Bitcoin spot ETF subscriptions
  • Fast account opening process
  • Low-threshold advisory services
  • Free real-time quotes (for account balances above $200)
  • Includes a Chinese-speaking customer service manager

Account opening bonus

BBAE now offers a new-user deposit bonus, with a maximum reward of $400. In addition, there is a referral bonus that can be stacked, allowing you to get another $50-$100 at most. See the top of this post for details.

  • BBAE registration link (register through the link, or download the app yourself and enter referral code stic4skdx)

Exclusive group

If you open a BBAE account through the link on this site, you can also join our dedicated BBAE group, where a dedicated senior customer service manager will handle your questions. You need to register and complete a $2,000 deposit before you can join. Please contact the USCC 101 assistant to join the group.

Account opening process

You can register through the link below, or download BBAE or BBAE Pro yourself and enter referral code stic4skdx.

The process is as follows:

  • Open the BBAE app, tap "Sign Up," choose "I have a referral code," and enter referral code stic4skdx
  • Fill in your personal information, including your pinyin name, detailed address, marital status, number of dependents, and occupation (for record purposes only; nothing will be mailed and no verification is required)
  • Complete identity verification and risk disclosure
  • Confirm the investment overview and account-opening information; non-professional investors should choose "No"
  • Complete the Market Data Agreement and the Application Agreement
  • Upload the front and back of your ID card and submit after completing your pinyin signature
  • Note: if you submit using a China IP, it may show that service is not available. Switch to an IP from another country or region using a VPN

Note that if you are registering with a Chinese identity, you can use your ID card, full Chinese identity information, and a Chinese address. If you are registering with a U.S. identity, you need to provide an SSN/ITIN and a U.S. address. At present, they do not require proof of address or additional identity verification.

Note that if you use a China IP plus an ID card, a popup may appear saying that you cannot open an account when submitting the application. Simply switch to another IP and you can submit. After that, use is not restricted by IP. If you are using a foreign identity, there is no IP restriction.

For detailed steps, see the summary on the official site; it is very detailed.

In general, account opening takes 1-2 business days for review and processing. Once approved, you will receive an email.

Account types and funding

Account type selection

Choose a margin account (a margin-securities account). It supports cash-account features and also has margin trading capability. For nationality, choose Mainland China or your actual country/region.

Funding methods

Three funding methods are supported:

  • ACH deposit (U.S. bank/Wise): free and fastest
  • Wire transfer (non-U.S. bank): fee of $1-30, recommended for deposits above $3,100
  • Multi-currency deposit: Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia, etc.; minimum $50

BBAE now supports Plaid deposits, which is much faster. We recommend everyone use this method! Once you link your bank account through Plaid, the full deposited amount can immediately be used as instant buying power.

Wire deposit process

For wire deposits via a Hong Kong card or a non-U.S. bank, funds usually arrive in 1-2 business days. Be sure to transfer from an account in your own name.

  • Receiving bank name: BMO Harris Bank
  • Bank address: 111 West Monroe St., Chicago, IL 60603
  • ABA: 071000288
  • SWIFT: HATRUS44 or HATRUS44XXX
  • Receiving account: Apex Clearing Corporation and the BBAE account number (for example: 7XJ12345)
  • Beneficiary address: One Dallas Center, 350 N. St. Paul, Suite 1300, Dallas, TX 75201
  • Memo: your name and BBAE account number

For deposit tutorials for specific banks, please refer to the official document below.

Fees

At the moment, BBAE has no commissions and no platform fees, but platform fees will be charged after July 1. If you need it, sign up and trade before then.

BBAE App

BBAE’s app is called BBAE. After you finish opening an account, you can tap the corresponding mobile app store on the page to download it. If you download it in Mainland China, it is BBAE. BBAE has a dedicated line directly to the US in Mainland China, so everyday app trading and other functions are relatively smooth; if you download it overseas, it is BBAE Pro, which uses a different line from the domestic version. So in practice there is not much difference between the two. The region matches the line, making trading smoother and avoiding issues like with Interactive Brokers, where connections can often fail. One thing to note is that if you use BBAE Pro, linking a bank account for ACH funding supports instant transfer linking, while BBAE uses micro-deposit verification. Of course, it depends on the bank; if a bank does not support instant linking, you can only use micro-deposit verification.

Alternative Investments and Pre‑IPO Features

BBAE also has another feature: it offers Pre-IPO

  • Alternative investments: investments other than stocks and bonds, such as private equity, Pre‑IPO, venture capital, and real estate. These are characterized by high risk, low liquidity, long lock-up periods, and limited disclosure.
  • Investment objectives: diversify a portfolio, pursue high returns, access unique opportunities, and hedge against inflation.
  • Pre‑IPO: investing in equity of unlisted companies, with potentially high returns but possible loss of principal.

Investment process:

  • Submit an IOI (non-binding indication of interest)
  • Read the offering documents
  • Sign the subscription agreement (funds are frozen)
  • Invest through a pooled SPV

Risks and restrictions:

  • Low liquidity and long cycles
  • Opaque valuations and possible total loss of principal
  • Not protected by FDIC/SIPC
  • Investors must complete a suitability questionnaire and meet the project’s minimum investment threshold

For more details, see

My Take

Although BBAE is not as large as Moomoo, TradeUP, or Webull, it focuses more on the Chinese-speaking market and does a pretty good job supporting Chinese-language pages and Chinese users. It also does not require SSN or ITIN for account opening, which is very friendly for ordinary international students; you only need an ID card to open an account. In addition, it does not require the usually troublesome proof of address or visa proof, so the overall account-opening process is quite smooth. The current account-opening bonus is also pretty good, so if you have spare cash, you can take advantage of the bonus and try out their platform and trading.

Stock Investing Basics

Below are a few commonly used U.S. stock brokerages and their signup bonuses

Overview Signup Bonus Quick Take
Moomoo (Futu) Get $1,030 in stock +8.1% APY Professional, no commissions, and free Level 2 market data. Good for both beginners and advanced users. Chinese-language customer service available. Requires SSN
TradeUp (Tiger Brokers) 50 shares of NVDA + chance to win 5 shares + 4% for three months No commissions, supports U.S. and Hong Kong stocks, and offers WebTrading. Chinese-language customer service available. Available globally.
Webull $100 Amazon +12 fractional shares +1 month of Premium membership No commissions, with frequent deposit-for-stock promotions
BBAE Up to $650 reward 0 commission, 0 fees; Chinese-friendly, and you can open an account without SSN/ITIN
Robinhood 1 free stock No commissions, with an interest-bearing cash account. Simple interface that is beginner-friendly
Interactive Brokers Up to $1,000 Wide product coverage. Professional, comprehensive trading platform, and high cash interest rates.
TradeStation $250 Professional trading platform with a full set of supporting tools
Schwab Up to $1,000 Professional and easy to use. Global ATM fee-free withdrawals, and $0 stock commissions
Fidelity Brokerage Account Sign-up link Well-established brokerage, no trading fees, and TurboTax included
BIT (formerly Matrixport) Deposit and trade to get $210 Supports direct crypto deposits and withdrawals, no China CRS, and you can register directly with an ID card
SoFi Invest Get $75 for opening an account No commissions, supports Stock Bits
WealthFront Manage up to $5,000 for free Automated investing and wealth management
M1 Finance Deposit funds and get $10 No commissions, with automatic investing based on your portfolio

If you do not have SSN/ITIN but still want to trade U.S. stocks, take a look at the brokerages/platforms below. All of them allow registration using a full set of Chinese documents, and you can sign up with just an ID card or passport. None of them participate in China CRS

  • BBAE: Chinese-friendly; you can open an account without SSN/ITIN.
  • BIT (formerly Matrixport): You can open an account with just an ID card, and approval can be completed within a few hours.
  • Bitget: Identity verification can be completed with an ID card/Chinese passport.

If you want to invest in U.S. stocks from mainland China, see this summary

Referral Link

Right now BBAE has a new-user funding bonus, with up to $400 available. In addition, there is a referral bonus that can be stacked, for up to $100.

  • BBAE referral link (register through the link, or download the app yourself and enter invitation code stic4skdx)