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To open an international trading account with Bell Direct, you first require a Bell Direct Australian shares trading account.

Opening your account is easy – check our the instruction guide or watch our demo video now.

Download our instruction guide (PDF) here. 

Watch the demo video here:

Bell Direct clients with an individual trading account who use the Bell Financial Trust settlement.

International trading for other account types are on the way!

Don’t worry, our partner DriveWealth must ensure they have enough details to perform their “Know Your Client” obligations. They may need some more details, so we’ll be in touch shortly to obtain whatever is outstanding (usually a copy of your passport or drivers’ license).

You have 30 days to give us the information. In the meantime, you can transfer money to USD and trade on your account. However, if you do not provide the required information within the 30 days your account will be frozen.

Bell Direct has partnered with DriveWealth LLC, a US registered broker dealer, to provide the international trading service. Please review the documents in the attached DriveWealth Agreements and Disclosures.

We take your security very seriously.

DriveWealth is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporations (SIPC), which protects the Securities and funds in your US brokerage account with DriveWealth. Your investments are covered by SIPC up to US$500,000, including up to US$250,000 protection for cash in your account to buy securities. SIPC protection is only available in the event that DriveWealth fails. SIPC does not protect against a loss in the market value of your US Securities.

Initially you can trade securities listed on the US exchanges including equities, exchange traded funds (ETFs), exchange traded notes (ETN) and approved depository receipts (ADR).

We plan to expand your access to other markets in the future.

Any of your US dollars not required for settlement are invested into the Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund. You will receive a monthly pro-rata dividend based on the amount and duration each month.

Your investment is in ticker code DARXX, which is the Administrative Shares Class of the Dreyfus Treasury Securities Cash Management Fund.

To transfer funds to USD, first create your International Trading Account and make sure you have sufficient Australian dollars in your Bell Financial Trust account. See how to deposit and withdraw funds for more details.

When your account is created, follow these 5 steps: 

Step 1: Make sure you have at least the equivalent of $300USD (that is the minimum amount).

Step 2: Go to the Funds Transfer screen. There are links to the Funds transfer screen in a number of placed on the website, just look for the Transfer Currency link, or choose Funds transfer from the My account menu.

Step 3: Select the International Transfer tab. On the right hand side of the screen you can see your AUD Avail Transfer Funds and your USD Available to Trade and Withdraw.

Step 4: Make sure the Send box contains the Australian flag and AUD, and the Receive box the US flag and USD.

Enter the amount you would like to send or receive, hit the tab key, and the system will calculate the other currency based on the FX rate on the screen. Click next.

Step 5: Enter your PIN and then Confirm.

You’re ready. you will be able to trade immediately on the USD that you transferred.

Step 1: First, check your USD Available to Withdraw on the Order Pad, the Portfolio screen or the Transfer screen.

Step 2: Go to the Funds transfer screen.

There are links to the Funds transfer screen in a number of places on the website, just look for the Transfer Currency link, or choose Funds transfer from the My account menu.

Step 3: Select the International Transfer tab. On the right hand side of the screen you can see your AUD Avail Transfer Funds and your USD Available to Trade and Withdraw. Ensure the Send box contains the Australian flag and AUD, and the Receive box the US Flag and USD.

Step 4: Enter the amount you would like to send or receive, hit the tab key, and the system will calculate the other currency based on the FX rate on the screen. Click Next.

Step 5: Enter your PIN and then Confirm.

You’ll be able to trade immediately on the domestic market. Funds will usually be available to withdraw to your nominated external bank account within one business day.

You can place an order on the same screen as the domestic market. Either click on the trade icon on the left hand side of the screen or the buy and sell buttons you see on your portfolio or the quote page.

For a buy order check on the right hand side of the screen -US Available Funds, Available to trade  that you have sufficient funds to place your order.

For a sell order, the number of units you have available to sell will default into the Quantity field.

Unlike many other brokers, you can purchase fractions of international shares with Bell Direct. Enter the the amount you wish to invest in the Value field, click Market and then Next. You will see an estimate of the number of shares, including fractions, that you will purchase. (This is an estimate only based on the last available price. It may change, especially if placing your order out of the market hours).

Check out the various combinations that apply for international trading on the order pad.

The minimum amount you can transfer from AUD to USD is the equivalent of $300USD.

The minimum buy amount on any international share trade is $300USD.

The FX (foreign exchange) rate is displayed at the top of each screen. You will see an AUD to USD rate, and a USD to AUD rate. On the fund transfer screen you will also see the applicable rate for your transaction which will match the rates at the top of each screen.

Bell Direct takes a margin of 60 basis points on any FX transaction. For example, if you transfer $10,000 AUD to USD our margin will be $60USD, or if you transfer the equivalent of $10,000 AUD from USD then the margin will also be $60USD. This rate is highly competitive with other similar brokers.

As a special introductory offer, until the end of 30 November 2024 brokerage will zero. From 1 December 2024 brokerage will be $10USD or 0.1% whichever is the highest. Note GST is not applied to international brokerage.

All prices are in real time. Click to refresh the prices if you want the latest prices.

If you would like a copy of your W8BEN or W9BEN then please contact us on 1300 786 199 or support@belldirect.com.au

If you have existing holdings with another broker, for now we are not able to transfer the holdings into your account.

This is a feature we will develop in the future – stay tuned.

The process to view and cancel an order is the same as the domestic market.

Navigate to the Order tab at the top of the page, select Orders and scroll down to International Open Orders. Click on the cancel or view icons displayed under Details.

To cancel enter your PIN and confirm.

It is not possible to amend an International order. If you want to change it, cancel the order and place it again with the amended values.

We’re starting with US shares, with plans to add other markets down the track as demand increases. Our research shows that US markets make up the majority of what investors want and currently trade in Australia.

You will be notified by email of any corporate action that you need to respond to. Simply follow the instructions in the email.