Margin Rates

Margin Rates/Overview

Margin in your account can increase buying power and help unlock leverage for your trading strategy.


Margin trading enables you to amplify your purchasing potential by leveraging your assets. With Alphatrade, you can benefit from their highly competitive equities margin interest rates, going as low as 3.5 percent, which empowers you to fully utilize the buying power of your account to your advantage.

Margin Interest Rates1

Less than $50,000 $50,000 – $499,999 $500,000 – $1,999,999 $2,000,000 and above
9.50% 8.75% 5.50% 3.50%

Margin Requirements

Position Margin Accounts Cash Accounts
Day Trading2 Overnight
Long Stock Buy Stock or ETF 25% Value of the Position 50% Value of the Position 100% Cost of the Option
Short Stock Sell Short Stock or ETF 25% Value of the Position 50% Value of the Position Not Available
Important Notes


  1. Margin interest rates are subject to change based on the base rate and the amount of the debit balance. Alphatrade reserves the right to adjust the base rate, taking into consideration commercially recognized interest rates, prevailing market trends, liquidity in the marketplace, and other relevant industry conditions. Please note that the base rate is subject to change without prior notice.

  2. For day trading activities, it is essential to deposit and maintain specific levels of equity in day-trading accounts. These equity levels must be sufficient to adequately handle the risks that come with day trading. Learn more here: https://www.finra.org/investors/learn-to-invest/advanced-investing/day-trading-margin-requirements-know-rules

Margin requirements are structured for a diversified portfolio. Accounts that are using margin for holding concentrated positions may be asked to make immediate changes.

Special Margin Requirements: Due to low liquidity, volatility, or other conditions, some stocks and ETFs may have a special margin requirement. You can view a list of these symbols here: https://clientcenter.ecpfinance.org/support/myaccount/specialMargin/specialmargin.aspx

A minimum of $2,000 is required to open and maintain a position on margin, and a minimum of $2,000 is required to open and maintain a short stock position.

Please contact us for information about Alphatrade Securities margin requirements and concentration parameters.

Margin trading involves risks, and it is important that you fully understand those risks before trading on margin. The FINRA Margin Disclosure Statement outlines many of those risks, including:

  1. You can lose more funds than you deposit in your margin account.

  2. Your brokerage firm can force the sale of securities in your account.

  3. Your brokerage firm can sell your securities without contacting you.

  4. You are not entitled to an extension of time on a margin call.