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-$100. 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 + $40 bonus. [First layer: 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 $200 – $999, cash bonus $20
  • Cumulative net deposits of $1,000 – $9,999, cash bonus $40
  • Cumulative net deposits of $10,000 – $49,999, cash bonus $150
  • Cumulative net deposits of $50,000 – $99,999, cash bonus $200
  • Cumulative net deposits of $100,000+, cash bonus $400

[Second layer: exclusive referral bonus] Register BBEA 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 layer: deposit/transfer bonus] New users who deposit or transfer assets can also get extra rewards now, with up to $150 extra. The three subsidies can only be redeemed once. This subsidy can be stacked with the new user $400 bonus 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 may want to consider the other dedicated bonus below, which has a higher cap. New users and transfer-ins are both eligible.

  • When registering, enter invitation code stestu867.
  • If your first deposit meets the requirements, you can get up to $100 in rewards. 90 days after registration, a first net deposit of $2,500 – $9,999 earns a $10 reward; $10,000 – $49,999 earns $25; $50,000 – $99,999 earns $50; $100,000 – $499,999 earns $75; $500,000+ earns $100. You can only redeem one tier, and the coupon disappears once you qualify.

About BBAE

BBAE is a U.S.-based broker-dealer, operated and managed 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, offered entirely on an independent basis. In other words, it does not have any upstream routing and instead sends customer order flow directly to the exchange.

In fact, when choosing a broker, compliance is the most important factor. As a U.S.-based broker, BBAE has relatively complete qualifications, and among brokers that offer advisory services, there are still not many options at present, or the requirements are relatively high. BBAE is relatively friendly for beginners. BBAE has also recently launched a web platform, so there is no need to download software. You can simply enter the URL directly in your browser: https://trading.bbae.com/zh-CN/trends. Use the QR-code scanning function in the mobile app to log in directly, and you can trade common stocks. The options trading feature will also be launched in the next version of the web platform.

In addition, unlike U.S. brokers such as Interactive Brokers, BBAE has a dedicated mainland China line. When you go back to China during holidays, you can use mainland networks to register and trade smoothly. You do not need to worry about IP changes causing account restrictions. Also, if you use the China region App Store, you can download BBAE directly; the U.S. region version is BBAE Pro.

The advantages of BBAE can be summarized as follows

  • No SSN or ITIN required to register and receive rewards
  • Commission-free and platform-fee-free for life (options have fees; there will be a platform fee after 2026.7.1)
  • Direct connection to a U.S. dedicated line for smooth app use
  • Chinese interface with a good user experience
  • Supports spot Bitcoin ETF purchases
  • Fast account-opening process
  • Low-barrier advisory services
  • Free real-time quotes (for account balances above 200 USD)
  • Dedicated Chinese-speaking customer account managers

Account-opening bonus

BBAE currently offers a new-user funding bonus of up to $400. In addition, there is also a referral bonus that can be stacked, for an additional $50-$100 at most.

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

New-user bonus

The tiers are as follows. You need to complete cumulative net deposits within 90 days after registration. The reward will be issued automatically once you meet a tier.

  • Cumulative net deposits of $200 – $999, cash reward $20
  • Cumulative net deposits of $1,000 – $9,999, cash reward $40
  • Cumulative net deposits of $10,000 – $49,999, cash reward $150
  • Cumulative net deposits of $50,000 – $99,999, cash reward $200
  • Cumulative net deposits of $100,000+, cash reward $400

Notes:

  • Deposits must arrive within 90 days after the account is opened, and the funds must remain for 60 days
  • When depositing, it is recommended to add an extra $50 to avoid falling short after fees are deducted
  • Depositing via ACH from a U.S. bank card has no fee; international wire transfers from other banks cost about $10-30

Referral bonus

The first referral bonus tier is as follows

  • First option: When registering, enter invitation code stic4skdx. Make a one-time deposit of $2,000 and receive an extra $50 bonus. You need to make a single deposit of $2,000+ via ACH or Wire within 90 days after registration (it does not have to be your first deposit).

The second referral bonus tier is as follows

  • Second option: When registering, enter invitation code stestu867. For cumulative deposits, you can get up to $100 in rewards. 90 days after registration, cumulative net deposits of $2,500 – $9,999 earn $10; $10,000 – $49,999 earn $25; $50,000 – $99,999 earn $50; $100,000 – $499,999 earn $75; $500,000+ earn $100.

Notes:

  • Deposits must arrive within 90 days after the account is opened, and the funds must remain for 60 days
  • When depositing, it is recommended to add an extra $50 to avoid falling short after fees are deducted
  • Depositing via ACH from a U.S. bank card has no fee; international wire transfers from other banks cost about $10-30

Limited-time bonus

  • For wire transfers of $5,000 or more, $30 of wire fees can be reimbursed (ACH has no fee and is not reimbursable)
  • For transfers of $10,000 or more, $150 of transfer-out fees can be reimbursed

Before depositing, please contact customer service to register for the promotional bonus and make sure the funds remain deposited for 60 days; otherwise the bonus will be revoked.

Exclusive group

If you open a BBAE account through the link on this site, you can also join our exclusive BBAE group. A dedicated senior customer account manager will be available to answer all kinds of questions. You need to register and complete a $2,500 deposit before you can join. Please contact the Meika 101 assistant for details to join the group

Account-opening process

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

The detailed process is as follows

  • Open the BBAE app, tap "Register", choose "I have an invitation code", and enter invitation code stic4skdx
  • Fill in your personal information, including your name in pinyin, detailed address, marital status, number of dependents, and occupation (for recordkeeping only; nothing will be mailed and no verification will be performed)
  • 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 Application Agreement
  • Upload the front and back of your ID card and complete the pinyin signature to submit
  • Note: if you submit using a China IP, it may show that service is not available. Use a VPN to switch to an IP from another country or region

Note that if you register using a Chinese identity, you can enter your ID card, full Chinese identity information, and a Chinese address. If you register using 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: if you use a China IP plus an ID card when submitting the application, a pop-up may appear saying that account opening is unavailable. You only need to switch to another IP to submit. After that, usage is not restricted by IP. If you use a foreign identity, there is no IP restriction.

You can check the official summary for the detailed steps — it is very thorough

Account opening usually takes 1-2 business days for review and processing. You’ll receive an email after approval.

Account Types and Funding

Choosing an Account Type

Choose a margin account, which supports advanced account features and margin trading capabilities. For citizenship, select Mainland China or your actual country/region.

Funding Methods

Three funding methods are supported:

  • ACH funding (U.S. bank/Wise): Free, fastest
  • Wire transfer (non-U.S. bank): Fees of $1-30, recommended to fund $3,100 or more
  • Multi-currency funding: Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia, etc., minimum $50

Wire Funding Process

Funding by wire transfer through a Hong Kong bank card or non-U.S. bank usually arrives 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 (example: 7XJ12345)
  • Beneficiary address: One Dallas Center, 350 N. St. Paul, Suite 1300, Dallas, TX 75201
  • Memo: your name and BBAE account number

For tutorials on funding from specific banks, see 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, register and trade before then.

BBAE App

The app is called BBAE. After you finish opening your account, you can tap the relevant app store for your phone system directly on the page to download it. If you download it in Mainland China, it will be BBAE. BBAE has a dedicated line in Mainland China that connects directly to the U.S., so daily app usage and trading are relatively smooth. If you download it overseas, it will be BBAE Pro, and the routing is different from the domestic version. So in practice, there is not much difference between the two; each uses the line appropriate for its region, which makes trading smoother and avoids issues like those sometimes seen with Interactive Brokers, where connections may frequently fail. One more thing to note: if you use BBAE Pro, linking a bank account for ACH funding supports instant transfer linking, while BBAE uses small test deposits for verification. Of course, it also 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

Another feature of BBAE is that it offers Pre-IPO.

  • Alternative investments: investments outside stocks and bonds, such as private equity, Pre-IPO, venture capital, and real estate. They are characterized by high risk, low liquidity, long lock-up periods, and limited disclosure.
  • Investment goals: diversify a portfolio, pursue high returns, gain unique opportunities, and hedge against inflation.
  • Pre-IPO: investing in shares of a private company before it goes public, with the potential for high returns but also the risk of losing your principal.

Investment process:

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

Risks and restrictions:

  • Low liquidity and long time horizon
  • Opaque valuations and the possibility of a 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, they do not require complicated address proof or visa proof, so the overall account-opening process is fairly smooth. The current account-opening bonus is also pretty good, so if you have some extra cash, you can grab the bonus and try out their interface and trading.

Stock Investing Basics

Below are a few commonly used U.S. stock brokerages, along with their signup bonuses.

Overview Signup Bonus Quick Take
Moomoo $1,030 in stock + 8.1% APY Professional platform, no commissions, and free Level 2 market data. Good for both beginners and advanced traders. Chinese-language customer service available. Requires SSN.
TradeUp 50 shares of NVDA + chance to win 5 more shares + 4% for three months No commissions, supports both 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 bonuses that give free stock.
BBAE Up to $650 bonus 0 commission, 0 fees; Chinese-friendly, and you can open an account without an SSN/ITIN.
Robinhood 1 free stock No commissions, with an interest-bearing cash account option. Simple interface that works well for beginners.
Interactive Brokers Up to $1,000 Broad market access. Professional, comprehensive trading platform with high interest on cash balances.
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 rebates and $0 stock commissions.
Fidelity Brokerage Account Sign-up link Well-established brokerage with no trading fees, plus TurboTax included.
BIT (formerly Matrixport) $400 in stock Supports direct crypto deposits and withdrawals, does not participate in China CRS, and allows registration directly with an ID card.
SoFi Invest $75 for opening an account No commissions and supports Stock Bits.
WealthFront $5,000 managed free Automated investing and wealth management.
M1 Finance $10 for depositing funds No commissions, with automatic investing based on your portfolio allocation.

If you do not have an 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 an 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.

Referral Link

BBAE currently has a new-user deposit bonus of up to $400. In addition, there is also a referral bonus that can be stacked, for a maximum total of $100.

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