Charles Schwab Corporation is one of the largest brokerage firms in the United States, providing a comprehensive suite of financial services to both individual investors and institutions. Their offerings include investment accounts, trading solutions, banking services, and retirement planning, all designed to help clients achieve their financial goals. With a strong focus on innovation and customer service, Schwab empowers investors with the tools and resources needed for informed decision-making in today's dynamic market. Visit schwab.com to learn more about how they can support your investment journey.
Charles Schwab receives overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many customers expressing frustration over account management and service quality. Reviewers frequently mention feeling trapped or scammed, particularly regarding issues with account security and the handling of funds.
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Complaints about bounced checks and confusing verification processes are common, leading to a perception of poor customer service. While some users appreciate Schwab's ThinkOrSwim platform and acknowledge the professionalism of certain staff members, these positives are overshadowed by the overall dissatisfaction. Many consumers advise against opening accounts, citing a lack of support and accountability. Overall, the sentiment is predominantly negative, reflecting significant concerns about the company's reliability and service.
Each source counts by its number of reviews. Only reviews written by people are scored.
Rating, volume, share of the score, six-month trend and fake-review risk for each source
Source
Rating
Reviews
Weight
6-mo
Fake risk
★
Trustpilot
Imported Trustpilot reviews
1.6
200
100%
-0.1
● Low
1.6 / 5 overall
=
200 reviews across 1 scored source
How fake risk works ⓘ
Reputation trend
Monthly average rating from reviews written by people · latest review Jan 2026.
Last 3 months
1.5▼ 0.1
12-month avg
1.6
All-time
1.6
Category avg
3.5
Monthly averageCategory average
Monthly average rating and review count
Month
Average
Reviews
Feb 25
1.5
24
Mar 25
1.7
13
Apr 25
1.3
22
May 25
1.4
9
Jun 25
2.3
14
Jul 25
1.4
13
Aug 25
1.9
11
Sep 25
1.4
11
Oct 25
1.5
12
Nov 25
1.4
10
Dec 25
1.7
15
Jan 26
1.5
29
What people praise & complain about
Share of positive (4–5★) and negative (1–2★) reviews mentioning each topic · based on the 200 most recent reviews.
Top praiseof 27 positive reviews
Customer service59%
16 mentions
Helpful support30%
8 mentions
Fast & efficient15%
4 mentions
Easy to use11%
3 mentions
“They have excellent online fillable PDF forms, extensive helpful information for new investors, good customer support...”
On “Customer service” · Jan 2, 2026
Top complaintsof 169 negative reviews
Account issues43%
73 mentions
Customer service38%
65 mentions
Payment issues11%
19 mentions
Fraud7%
11 mentions
“They lured me into opening account promising that as an European I will trade US ETFs through them”
On “Account issues” · Jan 21, 2026
How it compares
Same method for every company: overall rating, legitimacy checks, the average rating of reviews mentioning each area and the 6-month trend · Money & Insurance.
Overall rating and review count for this company and similar companies
I made a wire transfer to my own bank account under the same name of the brokerage account, and after A WHOLE WEEK they send me an email said they need to verify this wire transfer. If this is not the most horrible customer service then I don't know what is .
Went to schwab 4 months ago still waiting for a managed account, still waiting on asset orders to be completed, so far 600k is sitting in cash at schwab, no help, broken promises, lies, may have lost esop and 401k nua and cost basis by them moving to a ira.lost my dividends I use to get direct deposited, they put our self funder annuity in a ira....told that may be a issue later. Is this a issue for finra and sec? Or just normal customer service from schwab...they do have my money now.
BEWARE OF THINK OR SWIM PLATFORM. Very rude customer service agents, no technical support, yes people there in tech support but zero help. Don't even want to mention simulator trading, they removed miscellaneous fees as it is super expensive trading futures because it could cost up to $7 to trade one future and they never added back Misc fees amount back since TD to CHSCW switch it shows like there is no miscellaneous fees but miscellaneous fees are huge amounts of money; then they created a bug in November 2024, where when you place an order buying one future it sells 2. This has been an ongoing issue since the TD AMERITRADE consolidation and it seems there is no resolution. Developers know how to create the bug but they don't know how to fix it -very nice!
What types of accounts can I open with Charles Schwab?
Charles Schwab offers a variety of account types including individual and joint brokerage accounts, retirement accounts such as Traditional and Roth IRAs, as well as checking and savings accounts. Each account type is designed to meet different financial goals, so it's important to review the features of each to determine which best suits your needs.
Are there any trading fees associated with Schwab brokerage accounts?
Charles Schwab offers $0 commission on online stock and ETF trades, which makes it a cost-effective option for investors. However, there may be fees associated with certain mutual funds, options trading, and other specialized services, so it’s advisable to review the specific fee schedule on their website.
How can I contact customer support at Charles Schwab?
You can reach Charles Schwab's customer support team via phone, chat, or secure messaging through your online account. They also have a comprehensive help center on their website, where you can find answers to common questions and access resources for account management.
Is there a mobile app for managing my Schwab accounts?
Yes, Charles Schwab offers a mobile app that allows you to manage your accounts conveniently from your smartphone or tablet. The app provides features such as trading stocks and ETFs, checking account balances, transferring funds, and accessing market updates and research tools.
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What research tools does Schwab provide for investors?
Charles Schwab offers a robust suite of research tools including market analysis, stock screeners, and third-party research reports. You can also access educational resources such as articles and webinars to enhance your investing knowledge and help you make informed decisions.
Can I transfer my existing brokerage account to Charles Schwab?
Yes, you can transfer your existing brokerage account to Charles Schwab through a process called an ACAT transfer. Schwab provides an online tool to guide you through the transfer process, and they can assist with the necessary paperwork to facilitate a smooth transition.
What are the tax implications of withdrawing from my Schwab IRA?
Withdrawals from a Traditional IRA are typically subject to income tax, and if you take a withdrawal before age 59½, you may incur a 10% early withdrawal penalty. Roth IRA withdrawals may be tax-free if certain conditions are met, including the account being open for at least five years. It's advisable to consult with a tax advisor for personalized guidance.
Anyone can write a CrowdTrust review. People who write reviews have ownership to edit or delete them at any time, and they'll be displayed as long as an account is active.
I came from TD Ameritrade. They for a long time didn't support Option Alpha, and now refuses to make it easy to keep Option Alpha connected. Do better Schwab. I switched to Trade Station because of this.
I've been trading for over twenty five years and have had a td ameritrade account for over twenty.At one point I kept millions of dollars in td ameritrade. Ever since Charles Schwab has taken over i have made sure.I haven't put any more money into this company. There app. It freezes up constantly their solution trade on t o s. You have same day, aspiration, expiring options. They go in and pull it whenever they want. There is no set time.
Today, they costed me thousands of dollars. I belong to a trading group. It has over 10000 people. I'm going to make sure everybody there knows about it. All of my children. I'm gonna have them post this. Share this to whoever you have.Do not trade with charles schwab!!!!!!! No matter what what they will not help you. They have the worst rules and policies and customer service on the planet.Do not open a charles schwab account. Please. Anybody who trades stocks do not open app a Charles Schwab account, share with you every person that you know.
For more than two weeks now, I have been waiting for my payment, and they still haven't done anything about it. They are not reliable or straightforward at all. I wouldn't recommend them to anyone. I recommend PAIVA. They do pay.
For 19 years, I have been invested with Charles Schwab. The exceptional service that I receive; very professional very personal, very courteous; typify the experience that I had today. My sincere appreciation to Tim Cummins and Ebone for assisting me today. I highly recommend Charles Schwab. Thank you, Tim and Ebone. Thank you, Charles Schwab!
They are the most arrogant company I ever dealt with. Make no effort to “know their customer” and then make decisions on your account without providing explanation
I have been trying to verify my account for a month now. They gave me a multiple choice "quiz" about me to verify, the problem was none of the answers were right. so now I am currently locked out of my account and unable to access it until I find a Schwab branch. The people helping were nice though.
Good customer service with my investments. They are prompt and helpful with any questions. However, be aware of WHERE your certificate of deposit is invested. An investment with FLAGSTAR BANK thru Charles Schwab proved troublesome, but reputable banks pay their investments on the day they mature.
My grandpa had me open an account to send stocks to before he passed. Their system automatically closed the account as the transfer occured. Costing over $100k. Those stocks are lost forever I believe. Looking at the other reviews, they need to be de-licensed/ de-banked.
Foreigner with the internationl broker account. Super happy with both service, security and the great debit card for international travel. Trades has never failed me either.
Something is always not working properly, check back later is the response I get. I was a very happy TD A customer for 20 years, now I have nothing but incompetence. Terrible customer service
So wrong of them to put an hold on my account request asking me for more verification.I was first told if i can put in 150kDols i will remove 480k, i needed the ROI to finish my construction project which i tell them about but still decided to air me anyway and support wasn't helpful too. For some time i was on my own freaking out until i met the jury rose lane gp my closest pal,took crucial steps charging them reclaiming my earnings.
On numerous occasions trades are delayed or unavailable to be processed with ample cash balances in the account.
Contacting a Schwab agent is a slow and arduous process with prerecorded messages and when an agent is available they are slow and unable to respond quickly costing me thousands of dollars.
I have been a client for over 20 years. Practically every time I contact a customer service rep the issue is not resolved.
The common response is “a system technical issue”. Always some excuse for their inefficiency.
A terrible company to work with.
Schwab has cost me close to $100k because of their inability to do their job
Time to change brokers after 25 years
IRA cash reserves commingled with non-IRA account cash reserves
IRA cash reserves commingled in account summary with separate brokerage non IRA account, confusing brokerage NON IRA total cash reserves, available for trading in brokerage account. Cash available should be separate reserves in each account, not be summarized in brokerage account.
It's difficult to reach the correct party by telephone. Some agents are a combination of rude and condescending. Several either don't know the product, the service or the website where we are instructed to "enter it yourself for your convenience". Over the years it has been a continuous slide in overall service. Interactive Brokers has most of my assets and I have been very pleased with them.
BEWARE OF THINK OR SWIM PLATFORM. I have noticed that the data displayed on TOS desktop and TOS web is corrupted. Data for stock positions such as cost basis, profit or loss YTD and DAILY. both in percentage and dollars, can be incorrect. This makes it necessary to constantly check your portfolio against the Schwab dinosaur site to verify your true cost basis for stocks. What good is a platform with data you cannot trust. I have talked with their customer service on several occasions and they respond with they will let tech dept know. This has been an ongoing issue since the TD AMERITRADE consolidation and it seems there is no resolution.
Very disappointing, something is not functioning properly at this company.
I have applied to open a new account the 11 of January, today the 04 of february still did not hear a word from them. There was a missing document that was supplied from my side the 24 of January.
I rather chose interactive broker and pay the fees, my account was open within 24 hours!!! Shame on you Charles Schwab!!!!
Does Schwab offer any tools for retirement planning?
Yes, Charles Schwab provides several tools for retirement planning, including retirement calculators and personalized retirement planning services. These resources can help you estimate how much you need to save, evaluate your current savings strategy, and determine the best investment options for your retirement goals.
What are the benefits of having a Schwab checking account?
A Schwab checking account offers benefits such as no monthly maintenance fees, unlimited ATM fee rebates worldwide, and access to online bill pay and mobile check deposit. Additionally, it seamlessly integrates with your investment accounts, making it easy to manage your finances in one place.
How can I access my Schwab account statements and tax documents?
You can access your Schwab account statements and tax documents through the online account portal or mobile app. All statements are available in a secure digital format, and you can choose to receive them via email or download them directly for your records.
About Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab Corporation is one of the largest brokerage firms in the United States, providing a comprehensive suite of financial services to both individual investors and institutions. Their offerings include investment accounts, trading solutions, banking services, and retirement planning, all designed to help clients achieve their financial goals. With a strong focus on innovation and customer service, Schwab empowers investors with the tools and resources needed for informed decision-making in today's dynamic market. Visit schwab.com to learn more about how they can support your investment journey.