Cashback for Christmas: investors can earn up to £10,000 by opening a new investment account

Retail investors can earn cashback by opening a new investment account before the end of December, as platforms roll out year-end offers designed to attract deposits and transfers. Deals vary widely by provider and tier, with the top-end incentive reportedly offering as much as £10,000 in cashback from Etoro. The opportunity comes with important conditions: cashback is typically a percentage of the money invested or transferred, and the balance required to reach the top tier can be substantial.

Etoro is among the best-known names with such offers. It provides up to 3% cashback, depending on your Etoro Club tier, with a maximum that can reach £10,000. Must deposit at least £500 or transfer at least £15,000, and the cashback is available on both managed and do-it-yourself stocks and shares ISAs. The Stocks and Shares ISA offered through Etoro is provided by Moneyfarm, a separate wealth manager. This is Money says you could earn a high amount of cashback, but you’d need to deposit or transfer a very large sum – more than about £330,000 – while also ensuring you’re in the highest Etoro Club tier. To qualify for the cashback, you must fully invest the initial amount within 30 days and hold at least 50% of this deposit on average in open investment positions over 24 months, or make 2.5 trades a month on average. You should receive your cashback by 28 February 2026, but Moneyfarm could claw it back if you fail a clause in the terms. Etoro also markets a cash ISA offering, with a stated rate of 4.58%.

IG has its own cashback offer, paying 10% back on total investments up to £200. The details say 10% cashback on investments made before 31 December, with cashback paid by 30 April 2026. You must keep the initial amount invested until March 2026. The offer covers IG’s investment accounts, ISAs and SIPPs. This is Money notes the deal is attractive for smaller sums, since a £2,000 deposit with the Etoro scheme would net £40. However, IG charges a £24 fee if you make fewer than three trades in a quarter, so setting up a regular monthly investment can help avoid this.

Freetrade is offering 1% cashback on ISA transfers and 2% on SIPP transfers. For an ISA transfer of at least £10,000 you get 1% back, capped at £1,000; for a Sipp transfer of the same amount you receive 2%, capped at £1,000. Both offers close on 31 December, and transfers must complete by 30 March 2026. Cashback is paid by 15 October 2026 for SIPPs and 30 October 2026 for ISAs. This is Money suggests that if your goal is simply to transfer an existing account, Freetrade’s offer is worth considering, but you may need to move a larger amount to make it worthwhile.

Prosper offers £100 cashback when you open and fund an account with £10,000. The money must stay on the platform for at least six months, and the cashback is paid within 14 days after that period. Prosper is app-only, and you must enter the code PROSPERCASH when signing up on the app. This is Money describes Prosper as a low-cost savings and investing platform that can be attractive for those looking to keep costs down; for higher investment sums, the other offers listed here often deliver larger cashback totals. There’s no fixed deadline for Prosper’s offer, but the company may withdraw it at any time.

The current crop of promotions should not be the sole reason to switch or open an account. Cashback is typically paid as a percentage of the deposited or transferred funds and may require maintaining certain investment activity over a defined period. Fees, available investment options, and the reliability of the platform are also critical factors to weigh. This is Money and other outlets have noted that the deals are time-bound and subject to changes, with some offers dependent on ongoing activity and specific product choices. Investors should read all terms and conditions carefully before proceeding, and consider a full comparison of the best investment platforms beyond cashback.

Overall, the season’s cashback deals mix modest, straightforward rebates with larger, high-bar incentives that reward substantial new money. For many savers, cashback can be a useful complement to a platform’s fee structure and investment lineup, but the optimal choice depends on long-term costs, the range of available assets, and how easy it is to fund or transfer funds. As with any financial decision, readers should verify current terms directly with the providers and consult independent reviews to ensure the offer aligns with their investing goals.