The top stock brokers and top online banks offer particularly attractive deals, granting access to the best PEA and the best stock accounts. It can therefore be very interesting for the individual investor to transfer their envelopes if they are held with traditional players, more expensive and offering fewer services. Yet, relatively few investors in the Stock Market take the plunge, most often discouraged by the formalities represented by a PEA transfer or a stock account transfer.
We present in this article the advantages of opting for an online actor to invest in PEA and in a stock account, which solutions to adopt between transfer and closing for each of these two envelopes, our tips to shorten the transfer duration, and finally the practical modalities of transferring PEA and stock accounts to know and to anticipate well. Follow the guide !
How to transfer a PEA? The step-by-step in 30 seconds
To transfer a PEA to another bank or an online broker:
- open a PEA in the new establishment;
- transmit the latest PEA situation statement;
- sign the transfer request;
- let the new bank contact the old one;
- wait for the transfer of the securities and the tax history.
The procedure generally takes 3 to 6 weeks, depending on the number of lines held and the ongoing securities transactions.
Why transfer your PEA or your stock account?
Take advantage of the very attractive rates offered by online banks and online brokers
Online banks and online brokers almost systematically present prices lower than those practiced by traditional players on savings products related to the Stock Market.
The difference in stock market fees can be particularly significant, online players are on average three times cheaper than traditional players.
This pricing difference is explained by the fact that online banks and brokers do not charge:
- custody fees,
- account maintenance fees,
- subscription fees.
Moreover, tiered pricing can be particularly interesting for active investors. It is not uncommon for neobrokers to offer 0-commission deals and to provide their clients with free investment plans, for example.
However, note that this type of offers is generally provided only for the stock account; the PEA, specific to the French market, is almost systematically absent from the offering of these new online stock market players.
Online stock broker comparison 2026
Discover our stock broker comparison to choose the best PEA and/or the best stock account.
| Top Stock Brokers | Current Offers | See Offers |
|---|---|---|
| An action Renault offered until 16/03/26 + open a free demo account + stocks and ETFs at 0% commission (0.20% beyond €100,000 invested / month). Risk of capital loss* | ||
| Get up to $500 of free assets. Your capital is at risk* | ||
| 0 commission on stocks and ETFs + receive up to 20 free shares upon your deposit. Invest with a free personal manager. See T&Cs. Risk of capital loss* | ||
| Invest with 0€ commission and 5% interest on your invested cash. Risk of capital loss* | ||
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2% interest on your cash + invest from €1 on stocks, ETFs, programmed investment plans, cryptos and stock products. Risk of capital loss* | |
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0.08% on French and US stocks + Saxo Turbos at 0€ + Up to 2.66% interest on cash. Risk of capital loss* | |
 |
Stocks and ETFs at €1 per trade. Your capital is at risk* | |
| Invest with confidence in stocks, options, futures, currencies, bonds and funds on 150 global markets. Investing carries a risk of loss* | ||
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From €0.99 per stock order + transfer fees reimbursed and free training. Risk of capital loss* | |
 |
Transfer fees reimbursed 2x + from €0 per stock order with Boursomarkets. Investing carries a risk of loss* |
*See terms on the site.
Benefit from enhanced services to be well supported in your investments
Online brokers and online banks also emphasize education with a whole panel of tools designed to inform and train investors through:
- news updates;
- white papers;
- webinars;
- conferences;
- investment guides;
- demo accounts that allow you to learn trading.
To familiarize yourself with order placement, key indicators, etc., and to invest in the Stock Market while being well prepared.
Furthermore, an online broker or an online bank offers cutting-edge tools: the trading platforms available via the site or the app guarantee you can place orders easily, anywhere and anytime, as long as you have an Internet connection. BforBank, for example, offers free access to the online Trading Platform and ProRealTime technical analyses to its customers with a stock account, PEA or PEA-PME, whereas the public price is 15 euros per month.
Benefit from a wide choice of financial products addressing all investor profiles
Moreover, online brokers and neobrokers are also those who offer the broadest range of financial products, whether live securities on various global exchanges, but also stock products, or innovations such as fractional shares or cost-free investment plans.
How to choose the best solution between transferring a PEA and stock account or closing the PEA and stock account?
Stock Savings Plan: why transferring a PEA is a must
Regarding the PEA, transferring proves to be the most advantageous solution. Indeed, you can hold only one PEA (2 per tax household) and, given the tax advantages tied to the holding period, it is better to transfer your envelope than to close it to open a new plan. As a reminder, beyond 5 years of holding a PEA, you benefit from an exemption from capital gains tax but must still pay the social contributions of 18.6%.
Since the Pacte law, in case of withdrawals between 5 and 8 years, the PEA is no longer automatically closed and above all you can proceed with new deposits, provided you stay below the €150,000 ceiling. Beyond 8 years, the investor may opt for a payout in the form of a life annuity. This will be tax-exempt but subject to the social contributions of 18.6%.
Clémence’s view:
To avoid losing the tax precedence of your equity savings plan and to benefit from the tax exemption on capital gains, it is therefore recommended not to close your PEA but to transfer it.
Stock account: closure and opening may be more advantageous
Regarding the stock account, you can close it to open another with an online broker or an online bank. By opening a new stock account, you will avoid paying stock account transfer fees, which vary considerably depending on the number of securities you own, the type of account, and its overall value. But, conversely, this requires you to close your positions and then buy back these assets on your new stock account.
Clémence’s view:
By opening a new stock account, you will avoid paying stock account transfer fees, which vary considerably depending on the number of securities owned, the type of account, and its overall value. But, in return, this requires you to close your positions and then buy back those assets on your new stock account.
Transferring your securities from a stock account to a PEA: mission impossible
It is impossible to transfer securities from a regular stock account to a PEA. You can only acquire securities on a PEA via the associated PEA cash account. This PEA cash account can be funded:
- by the cash you transfer there from your ordinary current account;
- by the proceeds of the sale of securities previously held in the PEA;
- by the dividends paid on the securities listed in the PEA.
If you hold in your stock account securities eligible for the PEA and you wish to lodge them into the most tax-advantaged envelope, you would first need to sell your CTO-held securities, transfer the sale proceeds to the PEA cash account (via your current account), and then repurchase the securities from your PEA cash account.
Of course, this maneuver will incur brokerage fees, but the tax advantages of the PEA should still encourage you to use it.
How long does the transfer of a PEA or a stock account take?
Transferring a PEA or a stock account takes time. The transfer duration is variable.
- CTO transfer: a few days to 2 weeks
- PEA transfer: often 3 to 6 weeks
- the duration depends on the number of lines + ongoing securities operations (OST) + bank responsiveness
How to shorten the duration of the PEA or stock account transfer? Our tips
Clean up your portfolio during the transfer or account closure
In any case, whether it is a closure/reopening or a transfer, it will be prudent to take advantage of this change to perform a full cleanup of your portfolio.
However, this is even more true in the case of a transfer. First, because any transaction is impossible during a transfer. You will not be able to place stock orders or perform operations. You will therefore have every interest in closing your riskiest and most volatile positions, which will spare you many pitfalls if the transfer period coincides with strong market fluctuations. Moreover, as much as possible, it is better not to decide to transfer your stock account during a period of market volatility.
Then, because the more lines your envelope contains, the more expensive it will be to transfer stocks or ETFs if your broker charges per line in addition to the flat rate, hence the need to transfer a stock portfolio lightened of the least relevant titles.
Finally, the multiplication of lines can lengthen the transfer duration, and particularly foreign-listed securities. Take this point into account before initiating the transfer of your stock account.
Also note that the transfer duration for a PEA is much longer than for a stock account, as it can range from a few days for a stock account to several weeks for a PEA. Indeed, in the case of transferring a stock savings plan, the old institution must transmit to the new one a tax information form detailing its history, which is even more complicated to prepare the more titles you hold.
To get rid of financial securities that you deem no longer belong in your portfolio, or for which you do not wish to keep your positions during the transfer period, it is better to anticipate this change to sell your assets under the best possible market conditions.
Take into account title operations (OST)
Other factors lengthening the duration of the PEA transfer or the stock account transfer: title operations. Indeed, in case of dividend payments, splits and reverse splits, distributions of free shares, the transfer or closure of your envelope will be delayed. We therefore recommend avoiding transferring your PEA or stock account during the dividend distribution period.
Don’t forget to cancel any ongoing orders that could block the transfer or closure of your investment vehicle.
How to transfer a PEA or a stock account in practice? Our tips
Submit a transfer request to your new bank for your PEA or stock transfer
If it is a transfer, it is the new establishment you have chosen that will send a transfer request to the old one. For it to be able to do so, you will need to provide your new online broker or your new online bank with the latest statement of your stock account or PEA. It must notably include the references and the address of the old institution. In the case of closure, it is the account holder who must send the closure request to the old institution by registered mail with all relevant account information. It is then up to you to open a new account in the institution of your choice.
Anticipate the cost of transferring the PEA or closing the stock account
The transfer of a stock account and a PEA are, as mentioned above, chargeable. The same for a closure. It is therefore important to have sufficient cash in the cash account of your envelope to be able to pay these fees. If your provisions are insufficient, this would delay the transfer or closure of your investment vehicle. You could also be liable for penalties.
Online banks and online brokers often offer to cover PEA or stock account transfer fees, with a cap (usually around €2,000 or €3,000). You may even receive a welcome bonus up to €100. All these gifts, while welcome, are merely bonuses and should be treated as such. They should not become the sole factor in choosing your new broker. Especially since the transfer, if possible, is tedious and sometimes long. It is therefore better to choose your new establishment carefully.
What if the closure or transfer did not go through?
After more than two weeks, if your closure or transfer of PEA or stock account did not go through, do not hesitate to contact your advisor, or even your branch manager or the customer service representative. After more than a month, we recommend turning to the mediator of the Financial Markets Authority who will be able to assess the damage you suffer. It should also help speed up the processing of your file.
Also read about PEA:
Stock account, PEA: which management mode to choose for investing in the Stock Market?
The 7 little-known advantages of the PEA
PEA or life insurance: which investment to choose?
Which to choose between a stock account or a PEA?
How to close a PEA?
FAQ: PEA and stock account transfer
Yes. The transfer preserves the tax history of the PEA. It is generally the most interesting solution.
Fees vary by banks but can reach a few tens of euros per line of securities. Many online brokers reimburse these fees up to a cap.
No. Securities must be sold and repurchased from the PEA’s cash account.
To reduce brokerage fees, access more investment tools and benefit from more advanced trading platforms.
All of our information is, by nature, generic. It does not take into account your personal situation and in no way constitutes personalized recommendations for executing transactions and cannot be equated with financial investment advice, nor with any incentive to buy or sell financial instruments. The reader is solely responsible for the use of the information provided, with no recourse against the publisher Cafedelabourse.com. The publisher Cafedelabourse.com’s liability cannot be engaged in case of error, omission or ill-timed investment.
