How to Open a J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing Account
Key points:
• Opening a brokerage account online with J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing is simple.
• You do not need a deposit to open a J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account.
• You must have a U.S. residential address.
If you want to open a new brokerage account at J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing, this guide will help you get started quickly.
Instructions for New Clients
It only takes a few minutes to open a new account with J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing. First, go to
chase.com. Click the “Investing by J.P. Morgan” tab. A drop-down menu will appear with investing links.
Click “Invest on your own.” This takes you to the brokerage area. The next page will mention a $700 promotion and show a green button to open an account. Click the button to begin.
A pop-up window will show three account types: general investing, Traditional IRA, and Roth IRA. General investing is fully taxable and can be set up for one or two people.
For any account, you need a valid U.S. address and a Social Security Number. Without these, you cannot open an account. The only exception is a military address for a U.S. base overseas.
Once you choose the account, you’ll continue to the application. If you already have a JPMorgan account with chase.com login details, you can enter them, and the system will fill in some of your information for you.
If you don’t log in, the application’s first page will ask for your name, date of birth, Social Security Number, and some other details. You don’t have to be a U.S. citizen to open an account, but you do need a U.S. residential address.
You must provide a driver’s license or state ID to complete JPMorgan’s application. No other IDs are accepted, whether you’re an American or a foreigner living in the U.S.
Fill in the other required details and submit the application when you are done.
New customers can also apply for an account on a mobile device. Just tap the link at the bottom of the Chase app (without logging in) to start a new account. This opens a mobile-friendly page in your browser, where you can fill out the same application. In our tests, this process was easy to use.
Instructions for Existing Clients
If you already have a Chase login, open the mobile app and tap the wallet icon after you log in. It’s in the upper-left corner. On the next screen, you’ll see icons for different JPMorgan products. Tap “Invest on your own.” This brings up the same application as before, but in mobile format.
Current customers can also open investing accounts on the website. Log in to the Chase site and click the Investments tab on the main menu. In the drop-down, look for the column “Open an account.” Click “Invest on your own” to start a self-directed brokerage account. Follow the application instructions; it’s the same form with some information pre-filled.
Margin Capability
A new taxable account at JPMorgan can be set up as either a cash account or a margin account.
Minimum Deposit Required
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing does not require a minimum deposit to open an account. Keeping some money in the account will keep it from closing.
Special Note for Non-Americans
If you are not a U.S. citizen, you’ll need to provide:
- Country of citizenship
- Green Card status
- Resident-alien status (if you do not have a Green Card)
Soft Inquiry Alert
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing does a soft credit check when you apply. If you have a credit freeze, remove it before you apply, or your application will be rejected.
Getting Help
If you need help with the application, contact JPMorgan for support. The brokerage department is at 800-392-5749. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 9 pm Eastern Time. Saturday hours are 9 am to 5 pm.
How Long Does it Take to Open an Account?
It usually takes J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing about one business day to review your application and decide if you are approved. If they need more information, they’ll contact you by email. They will also email you when your account is approved, so check your inbox.
Updated on 2/1/2026.
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