Broker Cash & Deposits
Where to park cash for interest, per currency. This is a FREE guide — NOT a strategy: broker cash rates FLOAT with central banks and promos expire, so there's no track record to backtest. We track these and re-check periodically; always verify the live rate before acting (every figure below read off the broker's own page on 17 September 2026). For the securities route (bonds / money-market ETFs), see the Safe Yield strategy.
| Broker | Rates | Type | Protection | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trade Republic | PLN 6% up to 200,000 zł · EUR tracks the ECB | Bank deposit | €100k deposit guarantee — the strongest here | Accrued daily, paid monthly, and only up to 200,000 zł — above that the balance earns nothing. The PL branch auto-withholds Belka; the EUR rate tracks the ECB and can drop the day after a cut. |
| XTB | First 90 days: PLN 2.70% · USD 3.40% · EUR 2.50% — then 1.35% / 1.70% / 1.00% | Broker interest | Investor-compensation scheme (~€22k) — NOT deposit insurance | The headline rate is the 90-day new-client rate, capped at €100k equivalent; after 90 days it halves. Rates are variable and can be reset weekly, and it's an investment firm, not a bank. |
| Interactive Brokers | USD 3.13% · EUR 1.70% · GBP 3.23% (Pro; Lite is ~1pp lower) | Broker interest | SIPC (US) / Irish ICS 90%, max €20k (EU) | The first $10k / €10k / £8k earns 0%, PLN earns 0% below 400,000 zł, and the full rate needs account value over $100k — below that you get a blended, lower rate. |
| Trading 212 | PLN 2.25% · EUR 2.50% · USD 3.40% · GBP 3.55% | Money-market fund (QMMF) + banks | ICF €20k on bank-held cash; QMMF value is an investment — NOT deposit-guaranteed | No balance limit and paid daily, but to get the rate you must consent to your 'cash' sitting in a money-market fund — that part is an INVESTMENT, and a Polish resident self-reports 19% Belka on it. Lightyear and Revolut Flexible use the same fund model. |
| DEGIRO | 0% on every currency | — | — | Pays nothing and charges 6.52% on debit balances — it keeps the carry. |
⚠️ Every rate above was verified on 17 September 2026 on the broker's own page, and they FLOAT with the Fed / ECB / NBP / BoE — promos expire and XTB resets weekly. We re-check these quarterly; verify the live rate on the broker's own page before acting. Public information, not advice.
Prefer the securities route (bonds / money-market ETFs, with a track record)? See the Safe Yield strategy →