MultiBank Group Review 2023

Trust

In our trust category, we place the most importance on how a broker is regulated. In this section, we’ll take a look at how the different entities of MultiBank Group across the globe are regulated and how this impacts you as a trader. We rate regulators on a scale of 1 to 3, with 1 reflecting the highest level of trust.

• MEX Australia Pty Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) with AFSL number 416279. We rate ASIC as a Tier 1 regulator.
• MEX Digital Pty Ltd is licenced by ASIC as a Corporate Authorised Representative (AFS Representative Number 001285048) of Mex Australia Pty Ltd (AFSL 416279) and is registered as a Digital Currency Exchange with AUSTRAC with registration number 100724469.
• MEX Europe Ltd is authorised by Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) with licence number 430/23. We rate CySEC as a Tier 1 regulator.
• MEX Asset Management GmbH is authorised and regulated by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) with licence number HRB 73406. We rate BaFin as a Tier 1 regulator.
• MEX Atlantic Corporation is authorised and regulated by the Cayman Island Monetary Authority (CIMA) with licence number 1811316. We rate CIMA as a Tier 3 regulator.
• MultiBank FX International Corporation is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission of the British Virgin Islands (FSC) with licence number SIBA/L/14/1068. We rate FSC as a Tier 3 regulator.
• MEX Asset Management GmbH-Austria branch is authorised and regulated by the Austria Financial Markets Authority (FMA) with licence number 491129z. We rate FMA as a Tier 2 regulator.
• MEX Fintech Limited is authorised and regulated by Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department (HKCE) under licence number 18-11-02612. We rate HKCE as a Tier 2 regulator.
• MEX Global Markets Pte Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) with licence number CMS101174. We rate MAS as a Tier 2 regulator.
• Ikon Financial Services Corporation Ltd is regulated by the Tianjin Financial Government (TFG) under the registration number 120000400121019. We rate TFG as a Tier 3 regulator.
• MEX Pacific (V) Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC) with licence number 700443. We rate VFSC as a Tier 3 regulator.
• MEX Global Financial Services LLC of the UAE is regulated by the Securities and Commodities Authority of the UAE, as a Category 1 Trading Broker for Over-the-Counter Derivatives Contracts and Foreign Exchange Spot Markets, under ESCA license number 20200000031.

Why is it important to know where your broker subsidiary (entity) is regulated?

Different regulators provide different levels of protection. Not all regulators guarantee negative balance protection, segregated funds and a compensation scheme.

In the case of MultiBank Group, clients of all global entities have negative balance protection and segregated funds. The offshore MEX Atlantic Corporation clients have account insurance for up to $1 million per account from Lloyd’s of London.

In the table below we break down the protections and benefits for each entity.

Regulatory requirements are subject to change. The data listed above was gathered in March 2022.

Stability and Transparency

In our tests for the Trust category we also cover factors relating to stability and transparency. Here, we focus on how long the broker has been in business, the size of the company, and how transparent they are in terms of information being readily available.

MultiBank Group has a lengthy operating history of 17 years. According to their LinkedIn page, the company is headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and has 501-1,000 employees.

In our research, MultiBank Group showed a good level of transparency in their regulatory status, with a listing of all their entities and their regulators on their Regulations page.

Costs of trading via spreads, commission, and swaps are explained on the Contract Specifications page. MultiBank Group has a detailed section covering the history of the company, its management, and company news. The Client Agreement can be found on the Account Forms page. Overall, we judged that this broker has a high level of transparency.

Fees

Trading Fees

We tested the spreads at MultiBank Group across different asset classes using the MetaTrader 4 platform. The test was done at 8AM GMT and at 3PM GMT on March 17th 2022. We made our tests at two different times to allow greater perspective.

8AM GMT is the London open, when there is a great deal of liquidity in the forex market and therefore tighter spreads in currency pairs. 3PM GMT is during the New York trading session.

Swap Fees

Swap fees are the cost of holding a leveraged position overnight. Apart from forex, metals and spot oil, all products are swap free at MultiBank Group. The swap fees we measured at MultiBank Group were average.

In the table below you can see the Swap Long (the cost/credit of holding a buy position overnight) and the Swap Short (the cost/credit of holding a sell position overnight) for one full sized contract. A full sized contract is 100,000 units of the base currency (the first currency quoted in the pair). The data was recorded on March 16th 2022.

Non-Trading Fees

There is an inactivity fee of $60 USD per month after 90 days. This is relatively high for the industry.

Are Fees at MultiBank Group Competitive?

MultiBank Group has made an effort to keep fees to a minimum (with the exception of the inactivity fee) and they are better than most brokers in the forex and CFD industry.

Platforms and Tools

MetaTrader 4 Desktop

MultiBank offers MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 for desktop, which includes advanced functions such as copy trading and automated trading.

MetaTrader 4 is available in 39 languages, from Arabic to Vietnamese. The platform provides popular features such as:

• Alerts. This feature allows traders to be updated when an instrument reaches a specific price level. Alerts can be delivered via audio, an email, or a push notification to a mobile device.
• Watchlists. Traders can set up a list of their favourite instruments and follow live quotes in a panel called Market Watch.
• One-click trading. This feature allows traders to execute orders with a single click and no secondary confirmation. Being able to place a trade with a single click saves time and is especially useful for short term traders.
• Trading from the chart. MT4 also allows users the convenience of trading directly from the chart.

MetaTrader also delivers when it comes to the range of available order types and its charting functionality.

The following order types are available:

• Market Order. This is an order to buy or sell an instrument at the current best available price.
• Limit Order. This is an order to buy or sell an instrument at a specified price or better.
• Stop Loss Order. This is an order to buy or sell an instrument that is triggered when price reaches a specified level.
• Trailing Stop Order. This is a stop loss order that can be set at a defined percentage or dollar amount away from an instrument’s current market price. It is used to secure profits when you are in a winning trade, while not having to exit the position.

Charting features are robust. MetaTrader 4 offers:

• 30 technical indicators. These include classic trend indicators, volume indicators and oscillators.
• 23 analytical objects. These include lines, channels, Gann and Fibonacci tools.
• 9 time frames. Each instrument can be displayed in nine time frames, from one minute to one month.
• 3 chart types. Traders can choose between Bar Charts, Japanese Candlestick Charts and Line Charts.

MetaTrader is also popular due to its copy trading and automated trading features.

• Trading Signals. Signals in MetaTrader 4 allow users to automatically copy the activity of other traders in real time.
• Automated trading. MetaTrader 4 allows users to develop, test and apply Expert Advisors (EAs). EAs are programs that monitor and trade markets using algorithms. They find opportunities according to set parameters and then either create a notification or automatically open a trade.

The MetaTrader 4 desktop platform is one of the most feature rich and popular trading platforms in the world. It does not have the most beautiful interface and it does require some time and effort to learn, but that is typical of advanced platforms.

MultiBank Web Platform

The MetaTrader Web Platform (Web Trader) is a slightly stripped down version of the desktop platform. It allows you to trade without any additional software, only an internet connection is required. The Web Platform allows users to trade directly from any browser and operating system.

Popular features include:

• One-click trading.
• Trading from the chart.
• Watchlists with real time quotes.
• Trade History.
• Advanced charting with 37 indicators for technical analysis.

Copy trading and automated trading are also only available on the MT4 desktop platform.

MetaTrader 4 Mobile App

For mobile trading, MultiBank Group offers the MetaTrader 4 mobile app, which is available for Android and iOS. The app offers popular features such as alerts, 1-click trading and trading from the chart.

The MetaTrader 4 mobile app also provides a broad range of order types including pending and stop-orders. However, trailing stop loss orders are only available from desktop. In order to change the language of the MT4 app, you must change the language for your entire phone. As with desktop and web, the interface is not the most intuitive but the MT4 app offers an above average range of features.

Order Execution

MultiBank Group uses a non-dealing desk model of order execution and all orders go through an ECN to over 20 interbank liquidity providers.

Tradable Instruments

CFDs (Contract for Differences) are financial derivative products that allow traders to speculate in various markets without owning the underlying assets. Tradable instruments at MultiBank Group include the following assets:

• 55 Currency Pairs. A currency pair combines two different currencies, with the value of one currency quoted against the other. For example EUR/USD, which reflects the value of the euro measured in dollars.
• 27 Indices. An index is a basket of trading instruments that is used to gauge a market sector, stocks within an exchange or the economy of a country.
• 11 Cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, are digital currencies that are secured by cryptography.
• 20,000 Stock CFDs. A stock is a security that represents partial ownership of a corporation. Keep in mind that when trading stock CFDs you are speculating on the price of a stock without actually taking ownership of the underlying company.
• 31 Commodity CFDs. Commodities include raw products, such as gold and oil.

In the tables below, you can see a selection highlighting the variety of instruments available at MultiBank Group:

Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage.

In the category of Tradable Instruments, MultiBank Group is especially competitive in the area of CFDs on shares, indices and cryptocurrencies.

Customer Support

Support responses were remarkably fast at MultiBank Group. Via chat, replies were instantaneous, via email we received responses the same day and by phone we reached an operator within a couple of rings.

We tested support with a variety of questions, covering subjects such as their order execution policy and for which clients the Lloyd’s of London insurance applies to. Operators were well-informed and helpful.

Deposit and Withdrawal

In the tables below we break down the fees and processing times for each deposit and withdrawal method.

Deposits

Withdrawals

Account Types and Terms

Multibank Group offers three main account types: Standard, Pro and ECN. The main differences are in the minimum deposit and spreads.

* Note that for the ECN account there is a $3 per lot commission on certain instruments. For full details see here.

Demo Accounts

MultiBank Group offers demo accounts for MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Demo accounts are especially important for beginners as they allow them to practice their strategies and get comfortable with the trading platform without risking any real money.

The demo account features live quotes and simulates live market conditions in assets such as forex and CFDs on commodities, indices and stocks. Once users have got up to speed on a demo account, they can easily switch over to a live account.

Islamic Accounts

MultiBank Group offers a swap-free Islamic account that adheres to the principles of Sharia law. This account waives all swap charges/credits.

Leverage

One of the reasons that traders are attracted to the forex and CFD markets is the high degree of available leverage. Leverage is the use of borrowed funds to increase the size of your trading positions beyond what would be possible using only the cash in your account.

The maximum leverage for a Standard Account at MultiBank Group is 1:500. This means that with an account of $1,000 you can control up to $500,000 worth of positions in the market. Leverage is often described as a ‘double-edged sword’ as it can hurt you as much as it helps you. Traders must remember that it can amplify both their profits and their losses.

Account Opening

Account Application

The application takes an average of three minutes to complete. To open an individual account at the offshore entity of MultiBank Group, prospective clients must answer the following questions.

Personal Information:

• Client type (Individual, Joint Account, Corporate, Institutional/Corporate).
• First and last name.
• Country of residence.
• Date of birth.
• Mobile number.
• Expected deposit.

Trading Account Settings:

• Regulated entity.
• Platform (MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5).
• Account tier (Standard, Pro, ECN).
• Default leverage (1:100, 1:200, 1:300, 1:400, 1:500).
• Base currency (USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, CHF).
• Employment information.
• Source of funds.

Trading Capability Assessment:

• Questions relating to trading experience, margin, CFDs and risk.

Identity and address.

• Proof of identity (driving licence, passport, residence permit).
• Proof of address (utility bill).

Supported Countries

MultiBank Group takes clients from the majority of countries globally. However, clients are not accepted from Burma (Myanmar), Burundi, Central Africa Republic, Congo, Crimea region of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, Japan, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, United States, Venezuela, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

Research

The MultiBank weekly Market Forecast email includes coverage of upcoming economic releases in its This Week on Wall Street segment. Next, the newsletter covers trending assets and sentiment data (the percentage of buyers and sellers). Finally, the Ahead of the Markets section briefs traders on major market stories in assets such as the euro, gold, and oil. The newsletter is well written and succinct.

Education

MultiBank has created a range of courses covering all aspects of trading, from getting started to market analysis, trading strategies, and platform tutorials. Lessons are in video format, and those who prefer reading can download various ebooks. Both are well crafted and help traders establish a solid foundation of knowledge. Materials are easy to digest but also cover advanced topics in some depth.

MultiBank provides eight introduction courses and four in-depth courses, each containing a series of lessons.

Introduction courses cover themes like trading terms, economics, and social trading. I was impressed by the level of detail that the courses go into. The Advanced Lessons course covers candlestick charting and explains key patterns like the Shooting Star.

MetaTrader is not the most user-friendly platform available. MultiBank addresses this issue with two full courses dedicated to MetaTrader, covering desktop and mobile. A total of 11 lessons walk you through topics like installation, order types, adding indicators, and viewing your trading history.

For traders that prefer studying written content, MultiBank offers 11 e-books, including topics like trading strategies for beginners, trading psychology, technical analysis, and advanced strategies. I liked the focus on actionable trading ideas and the in-depth coverage of each topic. Trading strategies are clearly explained with an introduction, entry and exit conditions, technical indicators used, and chart examples of the strategy in the live market.

The Bottom Line

MultiBank Group is an impressive broker in many areas that count most to experienced traders. Low trading-related fees keep costs to a minimum for active traders. Deposits and withdrawals are free and fast, and traders can use various payment methods. Customer support is on hand in an instant. Tools for professional traders and money managers like MAM/PAM, VPS Hosting, and Fix API are available.

Beginners can take advantage of the new and improved educational materials. Traders have access to very high levels of leverage. Finally, the $1M insurance policy from Lloyd’s of London can provide peace of mind that funds are safe.

FAQ