BCS Forex Review 2024
- Daytrading Review TeamBCS Forex will serve active traders looking for loyalty bonuses and access to Russian stocks. It will also appeal to traders familiar with the MT4 and MT5 platforms.
BCS Forex is a Russian forex and CFD broker registered offshore in St Vincent and the Grenadines. This unregulated broker offers low entry requirements and competitive trading conditions. It aims to provide high quality trading technology, reliable support and benefits for active traders.
Forex Trading
Go long or short on a modest range of 35+ currency pairs with spreads from 0.2 pips in the NDD account. You can also try out the platforms, accounts and forex trading conditions in the broker's free demo account.
Stock Trading
A small range of over 40 Russian and US stocks are available. Traders can utilize the integrated signals service to identify stock trading opportunities to follow and copy. There is also a useful economic calendar to keep track of market events.
CFD Trading
Access CFDs across indices, commodities and more with no commissions and just a $1 minimum deposit. CFD traders can access leverage up to 1:200 in the advanced MT4 or MT5 platforms.
Crypto Trading
BCS Forex only offers the BTC/USD pair, which is limiting vs the best crypto brokers. Leverage of 1:2 is available, although crypto trading is only available in MT5.
✓ Pros
- A choice of USD or EUR account types with a low $1 minimum deposit
- Both MT4 or MT5 are available, plus integrated signals and copy trading capabilities
- Loyalty program for active clients, with turnover bonuses, better trading conditions and travel points
- Free and fast deposits in USD, EUR or RUB, including bank wire and credit cards
✗ Cons
- Limited trading resources and outdated market analysis which trails the best brokers
- Traders from the US, UK, Japan and other countries are not accepted
- Narrow range of instruments compared to alternatives
- A high $100 inactivity fee after six months
- Only 1 cryptocurrency available
- High withdrawal fees from 2.5%
- Weak regulatory scrutiny
BCS Forex is an online broker offering over 420 tradeable instruments, including currencies, commodities, stocks, and indices. With a choice of two trusted trading platforms, as well as competitive spreads and leverage, read this review to find out if BCS Forex is right for you.
BCS Forex Company Overview
BCS-Forex Ltd was founded in 2004 and is registered under BCS Markets Ltd, in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Its partner company FG BCS Ltd is based in Nicosia, Cyprus.
With over 15 years of experience, the broker has expanded its FX services to include advanced trading platforms and comprehensive training to suit all levels of traders.
Trading Platforms
MetaTrader 4
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is a downloadable platform suitable for both beginners and experienced traders. Features include:
- 30 built-in indicators plus custom options
- 9 time-frames & 24 graphical objects
- Economic news feed
- Automated trading
- One-click trading
- Historical data
- Trailing stop
MT4 can be downloaded from the Trading Platforms page on the broker’s website.
MetaTrader 5
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) offers all the same features as MT4 but with added technical features including:
- 21 time-frames, 38 technical indicators, 44 graphical objects
- Advanced Market Depth (Level II pricing)
- Financial news & economic calendar
- Hedging & netting
MT5 can also be downloaded from the broker’s website.
Markets
BCS Forex offers multiple financial instruments:
- Currencies – Trade 35+ spot currency pairs, including EUR/GBP, USD/GBP, and AUD/USD
- Indices – Trade eight of the world’s leading indices including the FTSE 100 and US 500, as well as two Russian indices MOEX and RTS
- Stocks – Access over 40 US stocks including Tesla, IBM, and Facebook, plus over 30 Russian stocks
- Commodities – Trade precious metals plus oil and natural gas
- Cryptocurrency – Trade on Bitcoin USD
Spreads & Commission
Spreads vary depending on the account type. With the Direct account, spreads start from 0.7 pips on major currency pairs, such as the EUR/USD. With the NDD and Global accounts, spreads start from 0.2 points and 1 point respectively. Note that spreads are fixed on the Pro account and start at 1 pip for the EUR/USD.
Spreads on major indices such as the US 500 start at around 8 points and average around 40 for the FTSE and DAX.
Other costs include a rollover or swap fee charged on positions held overnight, as well as a $100 monthly inactivity fee charged to accounts left dormant for six months.
Leverage
BCS Forex offers fairly high leverage limits compared to competitors. The maximum leverage across all account types is 1:200. For specific assets, maximum leverage and minimum required margin levels vary as follows:
- Currencies – 1:200 leverage. 0.5% margin
- US stocks – 1:10 leverage. 10% margin
- RU stocks – 1:20 leverage. 5% margin
- Metals – 1:100 leverage. 1% margin
- Indexes – 1:17 leverage. 6% margin
- Energy – 1:9 leverage. 12% margin
- Bonds – 1:50 leverage. 2% margin
- Softs – 1:12 leverage. 9% margin
Mobile Apps
BCS Forex offers both the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms in a mobile app, which can be downloaded to any iOS or Android device.
The mobile app offers all the same features as the web platform but with the convenience of trading 24/7 anywhere on the go.
Mobile features include:
- Interactive charts with scaling and scrolling
- Minimum traffic consumption
- Push notification support
- User-friendly interface
Payment Methods
Deposits
BCS Forex offers several free deposit options, including bank transfers in EUR and USD, cards in USD, EUR, and RUB, e-wallets (QIWI and Yandex Monday) only in RUB, and internal transfer between accounts in USD, EUR or RUB.
Bank transfers take 2 to 3 working days, whilst e-wallet, card, and internal transfer options are instant. All methods are free, though there may be external fees for credit cards.
Withdrawals
Withdrawals can be made using the same options as above, but commission rates will apply. For bank transfers in EUR and USD, the commission is €40 and $35 respectively. Card payments and e-wallets are charged at 2.5%, while for Qiwi Wallet and Yandex Money the rate is 3.5%. Internal transfers are free.
Processing times also vary. E-wallets and internal transfers are instant, card payments take 1 to 3 days, and bank transfers take 2 to 3 working days.
Note that internal transfers between accounts are only possible within one trading platform (MT4 or MT5), not between both.
Demo Account
BCS Forex offers a demo account where beginners can test and learn various trading strategies. A demo account can be opened once you sign up for a Personal Account on the website. Users are free to choose between MT4 or MT5 but will need to specify some parameters upon sign-up, such as leverage and currency.
Deals & Promotions
Active and wealthy clients on BCS Forex can earn Tripcoins to spend on travel privileges such as flights and hotels. However, users would need to hold a total balance of at least $20,000 to benefit from a 500 welcome Tripcoins bonus.
Note 1 Tripcoin = 1.5 cents.
Regulation
BCS-Forex Limited is registered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and has an office in Cyprus. Despite this, the broker isn’t regulated by any of the well-known regulators, such as the FCA or CySEC. As a result, we’d recommend caution when opening an account, as you may not get the same degree of legal protection found at other providers.
Additional Features
BCS Forex offers several extra tools for traders, including:
- An economic calendar
- A training course for beginners
- Expert forecasts and market analysis
Account Types
BCS Forex offers four account types, which all use either MT4 or MT5 and require an initial deposit of $1. Leverage limits remain the same across all four options at 1:200 and the minimum position size is 0.01 lots.
The main differences between the accounts are; the instruments traded, the spreads offered, the execution type, and additional features, such as demo account availability. The Pro and Direct accounts both offer demo accounts and would be the preferred choice for beginners.
- NDD (non-dealing desk) – Uses MT4 & MT5. Trade on FX only
- Global – Uses MT5. Trade on FX, CFDs & cryptocurrency
- Direct – Uses MT5. Trade on FX, CFDs & cryptocurrency
- Pro – Uses MT4. Trade on FX & CFDs
Trading Hours
Trading hours vary depending on the market and account type. These are laid out on the Contract Specifications page.
For FX, hours for the Pro, Global, and Direct accounts are 24/5 (0:00 Monday to 23:55 Friday EET) and for the NDD account, trading hours are 24/5 (00:05 Monday to 23:55 Friday EET).
For gold, silver, and platinum, markets open on Monday at 01:00 and close on Friday at 23:55 EET.
Specific hours for stocks and other markets can be viewed on the broker’s website.
Customer Support
The BCS Forex customer support service is available Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm GMT+3. There is no telephone number, however, they can be contacted via email at support@bcsmarkets.com or by using the call-back request form.
There is also an online chat service that can be accessed on the right-hand side of the webpage. Upon testing the service, responses were received within a few minutes.
BCS Forex Ltd is registered at Suite 305, Griffith Corporate Centre, P.O. Box 1510, Kingstown, Saint-Vincent and the Grenadines.
Trader Security
To ensure data exchanges are safe and secure, both the MT4 and MT5 platforms comply with industry-standard security requirements, including 128-bit Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption.
BCS Forex Verdict
With years of experience, particularly in the Russian market, BCS Forex has a competitive offering for both beginners and experts. The broker offers a range of accounts, two of the most popular platforms, and a decent suite of education resources. Our only concern is the questionable regulatory status. To create a safer trading environment, we’d like to see a license with one of the widely-regarded regulatory agencies.
Top 3 Alternatives to BCS Forex
Compare BCS Forex with the top 3 similar brokers that accept traders from your location.
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Swissquote – Swissquote is a Switzerland-based bank and broker that offers online trading and investing. The company has a high safety score and is listed on the Swiss stock exchange. The firm offers a huge range of products, from stocks, ETFs, bonds and futures to 400+ forex and CFD assets. Hundreds of thousands of traders have opened an account with the multi-regulated brokerage. Clients can get started in three easy steps while 24/7 customer support is available to assist new users.
Go to Swissquote -
AvaTrade – AvaTrade is a leading forex and CFD broker, established in 2006 and regulated across 9 jurisdictions. Over 400,000 users have signed up with the broker which processes over 2 million trades each month. The firm offers multiple trading platforms, including MT4, MT5, and a proprietary WebTrader. 1250+ financial instruments are available for day trading, alongside a comprehensive education center and multilingual customer support.
Go to AvaTrade -
Vantage – Founded in 2009, Vantage offers trading on 1000+ short-term CFD products to over 900,000 clients. You can trade Forex CFDs from 0.0 pips on the RAW account through TradingView, MT4 or MT5. Vantage is ASIC-regulated and client funds are segregated. Copy traders will also appreciate the range of social trading tools.
Go to Vantage
BCS Forex Comparison Table
BCS Forex | Swissquote | AvaTrade | Vantage | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rating | 2.3 | 4 | 4.9 | 4.7 |
Markets | Forex, CFDs, indices, shares, commodities, cryptocurrencies | Forex, CFDs, Indices, Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Options, Futures, Cryptos (location dependent) | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Crypto, Spread Betting | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds |
Demo Account | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Minimum Deposit | $1 | $1000 | – | $50 |
Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots | 0.01 Lots | 0.01 Lots | 0.01 Lots |
Regulators | Independent | FCA, FINMA, DFSA, SFC | ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, ISA, CBol, FSA, FSRA, BVI, ADGM | FCA, ASIC, FSCA, VFSC |
Bonus | 500 Tripcoins | – | – | 50% Welcome Deposit Bonus, earn redeemable rewards in the Vantage Rewards scheme |
Education | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Platforms | MT4, MT5 | MT4, MT5, AutoChartist, TradingCentral | WebTrader, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader, TradingCentral, DupliTrade | ProTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView, DupliTrade |
Leverage | 1:200 | 1:30 | 1:30 (Retail) 1:400 (Pro) | 1:500 |
Payment Methods | 3 | 5 | 13 | 12 |
Visit | Visit | Visit | Visit | Visit |
Review | – | Swissquote Review |
AvaTrade Review |
Vantage Review |
Compare Trading Instruments
Compare the markets and instruments offered by BCS Forex and its competitors. Please note, some markets may only be available via CFDs or other derivatives.
BCS Forex | Swissquote | AvaTrade | Vantage | |
---|---|---|---|---|
CFD | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Forex | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Stocks | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Commodities | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Oil | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Gold | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Copper | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Silver | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Corn | No | No | Yes | No |
Crypto | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Futures | No | Yes | No | No |
Options | No | Yes | Yes | No |
ETFs | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Bonds | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Warrants | No | No | No | No |
Spreadbetting | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Volatility Index | No | No | Yes | Yes |
BCS Forex vs Other Brokers
Compare BCS Forex with any other broker by selecting the other broker below.
FAQ
What accounts does BCS Forex offer?
BCS Forex offers four different account types: Global, NDD, Pro, and Direct. Leverage limits and minimum deposits are the same across all accounts. The differences predominantly lie in the instruments traded and demo account availability. The Pro and Direct accounts are the preferred options for beginners.
How do I open an account with BCS Forex?
To open a trading account, you will need to first register for a Personal Account (PA) on the website. From within the PA portal, you will then be able to select which account you wish to open.
How much capital do I need to trade on BCS Forex?
The initial deposit across all accounts is $1, making it accessible for new traders. The minimum trade size is 0.01 lots.
What leverage is available at BCS Forex?
Leverage across all accounts ranges from 1:10 to a maximum of 1:200. See the broker’s website for a breakdown of specific leverage rates across different accounts.
Is BCS Forex regulated?
BCS Forex is not regulated or licensed with a major regulatory body. Instead, they are registered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Customer Reviews
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