Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Charles Stanley Direct vs Police Friendly
Charles Stanley Direct vs Police Friendly: the differences
| Compare |  Charles Stanley Direct |  Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1Lower | £50 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, FundsCovers more | Stocks, Funds |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority | Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP | ISA, Lisa, Jisa |
| Stock trade fee | £10 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | £60 to £600 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | 25% government charge on non-qualifying withdrawals |
| Platforms | Charles Stanley Direct Trading | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
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Key differences
- Police Friendly scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only Police Friendly offers Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority.
- Founded is lower at Charles Stanley Direct: 1792 vs 1893.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Charles Stanley Direct: £1 vs £50.
- Markets: only Charles Stanley Direct offers ETFs.
- Account types: only Charles Stanley Direct offers SIPP.
- Account types: only Police Friendly offers Lisa, Jisa.
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.
Police Friendly
Police Friendly is a UK friendly society for long-term savers, not active traders, offering ISA, Lifetime ISA and Junior ISA accounts with a minimum deposit of £50. Regulated in the UK and backed by FSCS up to GBP 85,000, it fits households saving steadily for a home or a child's future.
Score breakdown
| Area | Charles Stanley Direct | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4Ranks 126 of 138 brands on account fee and 159 of 161 on stock trade fee. | 8.6HigherLow entry at £50 on isa, lisa and jisa accounts, offset by a charge on non-qualifying withdrawals. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.1Higher |
| Trust | 9.3Higher | 9.2 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Charles Stanley Direct | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 124412 |
Available in 1 country for both.
A third option
Spreadex has minimum deposit at £0, against £1 for Charles Stanley Direct and £50 for Police Friendly.
Spreadex reviewWhere these facts come from
Charles Stanley Direct
- charles-stanley-direct.co.uk: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradingbrokers.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- moneytothemasses.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Police Friendly
- policefriendly.org.uk: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Charles Stanley Direct | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 147 of 490 | 138 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 32 of 85 | 29 of 85 |
| Stocks and shares ISA providers | 6 of 21 | 5 of 21 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Raymond James Wealth Management Limited | Metropolitan Police Friendly Society Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1792Lower | 1893 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone | Email, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | Police Friendly | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1lowest quarter | £50above the median | £25 |
| Stock trade fee | £10highest quarter | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | £60 to £600highest quarter | Not confirmed | £0 |
Median across 16 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.
Police Friendly
Pros
- A minimum deposit of £50 makes the entry point manageable for steady savers.
- All three wrappers, isa, lisa and jisa, sit with one provider.
- Members are covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000 if the firm fails.
Cons
- A government charge cuts non-qualifying withdrawals, which limits access before the account matures.
- The investment range is limited to stocks and funds, with no wider market for ISA money.
- The £50 minimum deposit runs ahead of CFI at $0 and Vantage at $5.
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.
Police Friendly
Who it suits
- UK savers who want ISA, Lifetime ISA and Junior ISA accounts under one roof.
- Police service members and their families, drawn to a provider run as Metropolitan Police Friendly Society Limited.
- Long-term investors content with a stocks and funds range and no trading tools.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders after a wide market range: eToro covers stocks, etfs and forex.
- Anyone starting with the smallest possible deposit: CFI takes $0 and Vantage $5.
- Shoppers who judge cost by the entry deposit alone, since £50 sits above CFI at $0.
Current offers
Police Friendly
Current offer
Bonus
Open a Lifetime ISA - Earn up to GBP50 in Gift Cards: Up to GBP50 gift card
Pay GBP100 or more per month, or GBP50+ with Escalator; GBP30-99 gets GBP25; quote AUTUMN26
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Charles Stanley Direct | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
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.
Police Friendly
How much do I need to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is £50, which is more than some rivals ask at the start. CFI opens at $0 and Vantage at $5, so Police Friendly suits savers who can commit a modest sum each month rather than the smallest possible stake.
Is my money protected if the provider fails?+
Investors are covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000 under the UK compensation scheme, and the firm is authorised under the reference 110026. The regulator named is Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority, which supervises both conduct and prudential standards.