A forex bonus is usually a trading credit rather than cash. Its value depends on the eligible account, withdrawal conditions, expiry rules and how it is treated in the margin calculation.
Read the official terms for the specific promotion before registering, depositing or trading. Do not increase trading solely to meet a bonus condition.
Bonus types and how they work
Forex promotions can take several forms: a sign-up credit, a deposit credit, cashback linked to trading volume, or a limited-time campaign. Eligibility and withdrawal rules differ by promotion.
A credit may be usable as margin but not withdrawable as cash. Check what is credited, to which account and what happens to it when you withdraw or move funds.
- Eligible account type and verification requirements
- Credit rate, cap and whether the offer is for a first or later deposit
- Eligible instruments, campaign period and whether other offers can be combined
A trading credit is not cash
A bonus is commonly shown separately from the account balance. It may support margin, but the credit itself is often not withdrawable.
Whether a credit is included in margin calculations can differ by broker and account. The same headline amount can therefore work differently across accounts.
Estimate the cost of withdrawal conditions
A promotion may require a stated trading volume before profit can be withdrawn. That volume can involve spread, commission, swap and execution costs.
Before opting in, check which instruments and trades count, whether a minimum holding time applies and whether hedged or offsetting trades are excluded. Do not assume every transaction is counted.
- Required volume and eligible instruments
- Minimum holding time and excluded trade types
- Spread, commission and other costs for the account you actually plan to use
When credit can expire or be reduced
Bonus credit can expire, be cancelled or be reduced under the promotion rules. Common triggers include a withdrawal, an internal transfer, inactivity, expiry or a stop-out event.
The outcome may be full cancellation or a proportional reduction. Check the rule before moving money, including when you only plan to withdraw profit.
- Whether withdrawals reduce credit in full or proportionally
- Whether internal transfers, inactivity or expiry remove credit
- How the credit is treated following a stop-out
Check these conditions before opting in
Use the official promotion terms and the client portal to confirm the conditions that apply to your own account. General promotion pages may not show every restriction.
- Eligible account, platform, country and customer status
- Whether the credit itself or only profit can be withdrawn
- Expiry, withdrawal, transfer and margin-treatment conditions
- Any restrictions on scalping, automated trading or hedging
Margin treatment can change what a bonus means
Some credits are included in margin calculations; others are not. If they are included, the account can appear to have more room for an open loss, but market risk and stop-out risk remain.
Choose position size from funds you can afford to lose without relying on bonus credit. A larger available margin is not a guarantee against loss.
Review prohibited practices
Promotion terms can restrict conduct such as multiple accounts, coordinated hedging, certain high-frequency activity or use of automated trading. The rules differ by broker and promotion.
A breach may lead to cancellation of credit, reversal of promotion-related profit or restrictions on the account. If a planned trading method is unclear, check the terms before using the offer.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Can I withdraw the bonus itself?
A. Often no. A bonus is commonly issued as trading credit, while only eligible profit may be withdrawable after the applicable conditions are met. Check the promotion terms for the specific account.
Q. Should I accept every available bonus?
A. Not necessarily. Compare the required trading volume and account costs with the value of the offer, and check whether the account conditions suit the way you intend to use it.
Q. Can I receive more than one bonus at the same time?
A. It depends on the broker and promotion. Some offers cannot be combined, and one deposit may not qualify for more than one credit. Check the current terms.
Q. Can I start trading with a sign-up bonus only?
A. Some sign-up offers allow this, but eligibility, available margin and withdrawal conditions differ. Trading still involves the risk of losing the credit or any deposited funds.
Q. Is a bonus guaranteed once it is advertised?
A. No. Eligibility may depend on the customer, account, verification, application, timing and country. The current client-portal and promotion terms take priority.
Q. Should I choose a broker only because it offers a larger bonus?
A. No. A larger headline amount does not by itself make an offer more suitable. Compare the withdrawal conditions, account costs and margin treatment separately.
Q. What happens to bonus credit after a stop-out?
A. The treatment differs by broker and account. Terms may cancel credit in full, reduce it proportionally or keep it unchanged. Even where credit is included in margin calculations, a stop-out can still occur if losses grow. Check the applicable terms before opening the account.
Q. Does every trade count toward a volume requirement?
A. Not always. Terms may limit eligible instruments, exclude trades below a minimum holding time or exclude hedged and offsetting trades. Check which trades count before relying on a volume condition.
Sources and conditions
FX Textbook is edited from official platform documentation, broker-published information and applicable terms where available. Account conditions, services and rules can change. Confirm the current terms in the broker's registration flow before you act.
FX Textbook is an independent information site, not a broker or provider of personal investment advice. Forex and CFDs involve risk. You may lose some or all of your invested capital. No trading result is guaranteed.
NEXT STEP
Next: check current offers
Review active promotions, eligible accounts and official terms before taking any action.