All terms
Brokerage account (Depot)
An account that holds your securities such as stocks, ETFs and funds.
To buy stocks or ETFs you need a securities account (German: Depot) at a bank or broker. It usually comes with a cash account used to pay for purchases and receive sale proceeds.
Your securities are held as segregated assets. If the bank goes bust, they still belong to you, and you can have them moved to another account. Cash in the linked account is covered by deposit insurance up to 100,000 euros.
Example: you open a Depot online, verify your identity by video or app, and can then set up your first savings plan. In Germany, transferring a Depot to another provider is usually free.