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Brokerage Account Review🏦 Best Bank Integration

Merrill Edge

Merrill Lynch / Bank of America

Stock trades $0. Bank of America customers, retirement investors, research-focused investors.

At a Glance

Stock Trades

$0

Options Trades

$0.65/contract

Min. Deposit

$0

Research Tools

Advanced

Fractional Shares

Yes

Crypto Trading

No

Rates & Fees

Stock Trades

$0

Options Trades

$0.65/contract

Min. Deposit

$0

Account/Inactivity Fee

None

Full Transfer-Out Fee

$49.95 for a full account transfer

Key Features

Bank of America Preferred Rewards: earn 25–100 free trades/mo based on asset tier

Integrated with BofA banking — move money between accounts instantly

BofA Preferred Rewards Gold/Platinum: unlimited free trades with $100k+ in assets

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Effectively free trading for BofA customers with $20k+ assets
  • Excellent Merrill Edge MarketPro trading platform
  • Research from BofA Global Research rated #1 by Institutional Investor
  • Seamless bank-brokerage integration

Tradeoffs

  • No crypto trading
  • No paper trading
  • Best benefits require BofA relationship and asset minimums

Best for: Bank of America customers, retirement investors, research-focused investors

How to Apply

Decide which account type fits your goal — Merrill Lynch / Bank of America offers Individual, Joint, Roth IRA, and more.

Have your Social Security number, employment information, and a funding source (bank account or transfer) ready.

Open the account directly on Merrill Lynch / Bank of America's site or app; identity verification is required by federal law for all brokerages.

Fund the account with any amount — this broker has no minimum deposit requirement.

Review commission schedules and any account fees before placing your first trade.

How It Compares

Current product highlighted
ProductStock TradesOptions TradesMin. Deposit
Merrill Edge$0$0.65/contract$0
Fidelity Investments$0$0.65/contract$0
Charles Schwab$0$0.65/contract$0
E*TRADE$0$0.65/contract ($0.50 for 30+ trades/qtr)$0

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Merrill Lynch / Bank of America charge fees to trade stocks?

Merrill Lynch / Bank of America's stock trade commission is "$0." Options trades are priced at $0.65/contract, and other fees (like broker-assisted trades or account transfers) can still apply.

What's the minimum deposit for Merrill Lynch / Bank of America?

Merrill Lynch / Bank of America doesn't require a minimum deposit to open an account, so you can start with any amount.

Can I trade fractional shares and crypto with Merrill Lynch / Bank of America?

Merrill Lynch / Bank of America supports fractional shares, and does not offer direct crypto trading.

Are there any ongoing or account-closing fees with Merrill Lynch / Bank of America?

Account/inactivity fee: None. Fee to transfer your full account to another broker: $49.95 for a full account transfer. Transfer-out fees are common industry-wide and are charged by the broker you're leaving, not the one you're moving to.

How does Merrill Lynch / Bank of America compare to other brokerages?

See the "How It Compares" table on this page for a few close alternatives side by side, or browse the full list of brokerage accounts to compare commissions, minimums, and platform features.

Other Brokerage Accounts

Fidelity Investments

Stock trades: $0

Charles Schwab

Stock trades: $0

E*TRADE

Stock trades: $0

Fees and features shown are illustrative as of 2026 and subject to change — always confirm current terms directly with the broker before opening an account.

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