Online Trading Broker

Can Bank buy and sell stock/Funds/ETF/Bond/Option?

Can bank like, Wells Fargo, Wa Mu, BoA, CITI, etc, (big banks) buy and sell stock/fund/ETF/bond/option, etc. ? Do they offer service like Scottrade, (online brokerage company)? What is the different between banks and brokerage company?

Public Comments

1. Almost all banks today offer brokerage services. Both banks and brokerage companies can also buy securities for their own account. Banks are regulated by an agency of the government (I forget which one). Brokerage companies are also regulated but not so strickly. There really is not a great deal of difference other than a bank will lend you money without any security. A brokerage firm will not.