Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Charles Stanley Direct vs Mintos
Where Charles Stanley Direct and Mintos differ
| Compare |  Charles Stanley Direct |  Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1 | €50 |
| Account fee | £60 to £600 | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Funds | Bonds, ETFs, Crypto |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority | Latvijas Banka, LV LV |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Platforms | Charles Stanley Direct Trading | Web, iOS, Android |
| Stock trade fee | £10 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €4.90 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.5% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free bank transfer withdrawal; 2% card deposits |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.5% |
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Key differences
- Mintos scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only Mintos offers Latvijas Banka, LV LV.
- Founded is lower at Charles Stanley Direct: 1792 vs 2015.
- Markets: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Stocks, Funds.
- Markets: only Mintos offers Bonds, Crypto.
- Platforms: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Charles Stanley Direct Trading.
- Platforms: only Mintos offers Web, iOS, Android.
- Support channels: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Mintos offers Help centre, Community.
Our verdict on each
Charles Stanley Direct
Charles Stanley Direct suits UK savers who want a pension or ISA wrapper from a long established provider rather than a trading app. Investor protection is stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000, and a SIPP account fee runs £60 to £600 a year.
Mintos
Mintos is a cheap, commission-free platform for lending money to businesses through their loan marketplace, with an account fee of €0 and a secondary market for exiting early. It suits investors who want lending exposure in euro-denominated loans rather than a share dealing account, and accept that the money carries borrower default risk.
Score breakdown
| Area | Charles Stanley Direct | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4Ranks 126 of 138 brands on account fee and 159 of 161 on stock trade fee. | 8.9HigherAccount fee of €0, an inactivity fee of €4.90 and a minimum deposit of €50. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.2HigherMinimum investment of €50, target return of 9.2% and a secondary market. |
| Trust | 9.3Higher | 9.0 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Charles Stanley Direct | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Latvia | Not confirmed | LV_LV PSD_EMI LV_FCMC!723 |
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 124412 | Not confirmed |
Choosing between them
Pick Charles Stanley Direct if trust matter most.
Pick Mintos if cost and offer matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | Charles Stanley Direct | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 155 of 471 | 9 of 471 |
What each covers
| Markets | Charles Stanley Direct | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Crypto, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Legal entity | Raymond James Wealth Management Limited | SIA Mintos Payments |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Latvia |
| Founded | 1792Lower | 2015 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone | Email, Help centre, Community |
P2P lending
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Target return | Not confirmed | 9.2% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | €50 |
| Secondary market | Not confirmed | Yes |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | Mintos | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £10highest quarter | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €4.90above the median | €2.45 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.5%above the median | 0.45% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.5%below the median | 3% |
Median across 43 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Charles Stanley Direct
Pros
- Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and investor protection is stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000.
- A minimum deposit of £1 keeps the first contribution small, and it ranks 82 of 213 on our minimum deposit data.
- The group has been running since 1792, so the name sits behind a long investment history.
Cons
- A SIPP account fee of £60 to £600 a year is the heaviest cost here, and the stock trade fee of £10 is higher than the $0 eToro lists.
- Support runs on email and phone only, with no live chat listed.
- The listed account types are isa and sipp, so there is no general investment account or joint option here.
Mintos
Pros
- The account fee is €0, and Mintos ranks at 1 of 138 brands on that measure
- Investing is commission-free, and the minimum investment is €50
- A secondary market is available, so loans can be sold before they mature
Cons
- Card deposits cost Free bank transfer withdrawal; 2% card deposits, so topping up is dearer than a bank transfer
- An inactivity fee of €4.90 applies, against an inactivity fee position of 33 of 56
- The minimum deposit of €50 sits far above a site minimum deposit median of €4.64
Who each suits
Charles Stanley Direct
Who it suits
- SIPP holders who self-invest in funds and shares and want a familiar name with Financial Conduct Authority oversight.
- ISA investors who want to top up an existing holding without a large first payment, given the £1 minimum.
- People who prefer phone and email contact, since support runs on email and phone.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, where the stock trade fee is listed as $0, if you trade often rather than hold a pension.
- CFI, whose minimum deposit is listed as $0 in US dollars, if your budget is set in sterling.
- Vantage, whose minimum deposit is $5 in US dollars, if you want to start with a larger first payment.
Mintos
Who it suits
- Investors who want to lend to businesses and earn a target return of 9.2%
- Lenders who want a secondary market to sell a loan before it matures
- Euro-based investors who accept that defaults can reduce returns
Who should look elsewhere
- Share traders, who should look at eToro with a commission-free model and a wider market list
- Anyone wanting to start with a very small sum, since CFI takes a minimum deposit of $0
- Lenders who need a guaranteed buyback, as the return of 9.2% is a target rather than a promise
Country by country
| Country | Charles Stanley Direct | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Charles Stanley Direct
What does it cost to run a Charles Stanley Direct account?+
A SIPP carries an annual account fee of £60 to £600 and each stock trade costs £10. The account opens from a minimum deposit of £1, so the entry point is small, but the yearly charge is the number that shapes the total cost of holding. Both fees are quoted in pounds.
Is Charles Stanley Direct regulated, and is my money protected?+
The account is run by Raymond James Wealth Management Limited and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under licence 124412. Investor protection is stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000, which is the scheme limit the provider publishes. That protection sits with the UK regulator, so eligible claims run through the UK compensation system.
Mintos
What fees does Mintos charge on an account?+
The account fee is €0, and the platform is commission-free, so there is no dealing charge on an investment. The charges that apply are a currency conversion fee of 0.5%, card deposit costs set out as Free bank transfer withdrawal; 2% card deposits, and an inactivity fee of €4.90.
How much do I need to put in to start lending?+
The minimum deposit is €50, and the smallest single investment is €50. The two figures are close, so funding to the deposit minimum is enough to purchase a loan. For scale, the site median for a minimum investment is €25.
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