Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
BMO InvestorLine vs JPMorgan Chase
Where BMO InvestorLine and JPMorgan Chase differ
| Compare |  BMO InvestorLine |  JPMorgan Chase |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | CA$0 | $0 |
| Account fee | CA$0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds, CryptoCovers more |
| Margin rate | 8.75%Lower | 12.25% |
| Options contract fee | CA$0.90 | $0.65 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | $0 EFT, $10 wire | $25 wire fee |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | CA$0 | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | FINRA, SIPC |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.4% to 1.6% | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Chase Mobile app, Chase.com |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
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Key differences
- BMO InvestorLine scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Margin rate is lower at BMO InvestorLine: 8.75% vs 12.25%.
- Markets: only JPMorgan Chase offers Crypto.
- Support channels: only BMO InvestorLine offers Chat.
- Support channels: only JPMorgan Chase offers Help centre.
- Features: only JPMorgan Chase offers Fractional shares, Crypto.
Our verdict on each
BMO InvestorLine
BMO InvestorLine suits Canadian investors who want a bank-backed broker without account or inactivity charges, trading stocks and ETFs commission free. What sets it apart is the pairing of a CAD 0 stock trade fee with a CAD 0 account fee, though currency conversion and options add cost.
JPMorgan Chase
JPMorgan Chase takes a stock trade fee of $0 and an account fee of $0, and the account is a retirement wrapper rather than a trading-only platform. It suits beginners and existing Chase customers who want low costs, though the portfolio service needs $25,000 and support runs on phone and help centre only.
Score breakdown
| Area | BMO InvestorLine | JPMorgan Chase |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2HigherCommission-free stock and ETF trades, no account fee and no inactivity fee, with options and margin priced separately at CAD 0.90 and 8.75%. | 9.0 |
| Offer | 9.2 | 9.3Higher |
| Trust | 9.6Higher | 9.5 |
If neither fits
Nexo has margin rate at 1.9%, against 8.75% for BMO InvestorLine and 12.25% for JPMorgan Chase.
Nexo reviewWhat we checked
BMO InvestorLine
- finder.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- newsroom.bmo.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- hellosafe.ca: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- stockwatch.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- wowa.ca: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
JPMorgan Chase
- chase.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- stockbrokers.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- nerdwallet.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- finder.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | BMO InvestorLine | JPMorgan Chase |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 43 of 490 | 64 of 490 |
| Options trading platforms | 13 of 103 | 19 of 103 |
| Margin trading brokers | 6 of 22 | 9 of 22 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | BMO InvestorLine | JPMorgan Chase |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app, Options | Fractional shares, Options, Mobile app, CryptoCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. |
| Founded | 1988 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat | Phone, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | BMO InvestorLine | JPMorgan Chase |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | $25,000 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | BMO InvestorLine | JPMorgan Chase | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0below the median | $10 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.4% to 1.6%at the median | Not confirmed | 0.4 |
| Margin rate | 8.75%below the median | 12.25%highest quarter | 8.79% |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
BMO InvestorLine
Pros
- Stock and ETF trades cost CAD 0 and the account fee is CAD 0, so holding a portfolio costs nothing.
- The inactivity fee is CAD 0, so an untouched account is not charged.
- Support runs on phone and chat, giving a phone line and live chat.
Cons
- Margin borrowing is priced at 8.75%, so a leveraged position carries a borrowing cost.
- Options contracts carry a fee of CAD 0.90 each.
- Currency conversion is the hidden cost, at 0.4% to 1.6%, and deposits and withdrawals run $0 EFT, $10 wire.
JPMorgan Chase
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 and the account fee is $0, with a minimum deposit of $0.
- Investor protection stands at SIPC up to USD 500,000.
- The account list covers ira, roth ira and joint, so retirement and joint investors are served directly.
Cons
- Support runs on phone and help centre only, with no chat or email channel listed.
- Money moving out by wire costs $25 wire fee.
- An options contract costs $0.65 and margin borrowing is charged at 12.25%, so the commission free model covers share trades rather than every action.
Who each suits
BMO InvestorLine
Who it suits
- Investors who want a long term stock, ETF, bond and fund portfolio without a standing account charge.
- Traders who mainly trade Canadian equities and want phone and chat support for questions.
- Anyone already inside a bank relationship who values a long operating history.
Who should look elsewhere
- Day traders who live in currencies other than the Canadian dollar and would feel the 0.4% to 1.6% on every conversion.
- Options buyers who place frequent contracts and would pay CAD 0.90 each time.
- Leveraged traders, because margin costs 8.75%.
JPMorgan Chase
Who it suits
- People new to investing: the stated audience is beginners.
- Retirement and joint investors, since the account types cover ira, roth ira and joint.
- Investors who want options and crypto in one account, since the feature set includes fractional shares, options and mobile app.
Who should look elsewhere
- Forex and CFD traders: CFI (stocks, etfs and forex) and eToro (stocks, etfs and forex) list markets that the JPMorgan Chase list of stocks, etfs and options does not.
- Futures traders: eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, so a broader instrument set sits in a single account.
- Anyone starting a managed portfolio with a small sum: Vantage takes $5, while the JPMorgan Chase portfolio account asks $25,000.
Current offers
JPMorgan Chase
Current offer
Bonus
Earn up to $1,000 cash bonus: up to $1,000
Open and fund a J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account with qualifying new money by 10/21/2026; fund within 45 days, maintain to 90 days
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
BMO InvestorLine
How much does it cost to open and hold a BMO InvestorLine account?+
The account fee is CAD 0 and the inactivity fee is CAD 0, so there is no standing or dormant charge on the account. Stock and ETF trades themselves cost CAD 0. The costs that do appear are on currency conversion, options and margin.
What does it cost to trade a stock or an ETF?+
Stock and ETF trades are commission free, priced at CAD 0. The platform is listed as a commission-free model. Costs appear elsewhere: currency conversion at 0.4% to 1.6%, options at CAD 0.90 per contract, and margin at 8.75%.
JPMorgan Chase
How much does it cost to trade stocks?+
Stock trades cost $0 and the account fee is $0, with a minimum deposit of $0, so a simple buy and hold account starts with no charge on either side. The pricing model is listed as commission free, and nothing per trade is added on top.
What do options and margin cost?+
An options contract costs $0.65, and borrowing on margin is charged at 12.25%. Those are the places a fee appears, which makes share and fund orders the cheapest actions in the account. Anyone trading options or using margin should read both figures before committing money.
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