Barclays
Bridges Financial Services
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Overview
Barclays was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in United Kingdom, while Bridges Financial Services was established in 2014 and is based in Australia. Barclays holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while Bridges Financial Services is regulated by ABN 60 003 474 977 among others. Barclays serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Bridges Financial Services has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at Barclays and $100 at Bridges Financial Services.
| Feature | Barclays | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) | ABN 60 003 474 977, AFSL No. 240837 |
| Founded | 2011 | 2014 |
| Country | United Kingdom | Australia |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Barclays and Bridges Financial Services, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Barclays has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $100 at Bridges Financial Services). Bridges Financial Services charges withdrawal fees while Barclays does not, giving Barclays an edge for frequent withdrawers. Bridges Financial Services charges deposit fees; Barclays does not. Overall, Barclays scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Barclays | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
Barclays offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Bridges Financial Services supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Bridges Financial Services supports social and copy trading features, which Barclays does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | Barclays | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Desktop, Tablet & Mobile apps | MetaTrader 4 |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Barclays and Bridges Financial Services compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.
| Feature | Barclays | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Barclays accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Bridges Financial Services supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Barclays | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | No |
| Skrill | No | No |
| Neteller | No | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Barclays and Bridges Financial Services offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 2 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Barclays | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |