FAQ

• Who is PCITrade Securities, Inc.?
• Who is EQTY?
• How is my money protected?
• How do I set up an internet trading account with PCITrade Securities Inc.?
• How do I fund my account?
• What should I do after I complete new account application form and fund my account?
• What are your online commissions?
• What is the initial requirement to open an account?
• How do I transfer securities and cash balances to my account?
• How does your trading platforms differ from other on-line brokerages?
• What is a margin account?
• How can I download forms from your site?
• Can I open a foreign account?
• How can I withdraw money from my account?
• Who can I contact for questions?

Who is PCITrade Securities, Inc.?

A: Founded in 1996, San Francisco, PCITrade Securities Inc.,  is a leading online/full service brokerage firm located in Fremont, California. surrounded by Silicon Valley High Tech environment. PCITrade offers financial full service and online transactions to assist our customers needs and interests. Please click on "About Us" for detail.

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Who is EQTY?

A: EQTY  of  New yark, clears PCITrade's securities transactions and handles all of the cash and securities for our customers. Penson has been a leader in the online trading business and with their extensive data infrastructure, they continue to provide efficient clearing services. For more information on Penson, visit them at http://www.ccls.com/background.html. or http://ccls.com/consolidateinfo.asp

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How is my money protected?

A: PCITrade Securities Inc. is a member of SIPC*, which provides primary coverage against physical loss following a liquidation. SIPC provides up to $500,000 to protect the assets in each account, which includes up to $100,000 for cash balances. Explanatory brochure available upon request or at http://www.sipc.org/.

In addition, Penson Financial Services, The clearing firm of EQTY,  has purchased a supplemental insurance policy for an additional $10,000,000 to protect customers against Penson's failure.

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How do I set up an internet trading account with PCITrade Securities Inc.?

A: There are 3 ways to setup your account:

• Print and Send: Print applications from your computer, fill them out, and mail them to us followed by the mailing instruction below. Simply choose the account type you wish to open and click on the forms which are required for the type of the account and print them out. Or you can go to Forms and Support to download the forms you need.
• Send Me Forms: Please notify us which forms are required for your account by click on “send me forms” and our customer service department will mail the new account package to you in the best time manner.
• Phone Request: Please call us at (510) 870-0593, and we will send you the forms needed to open an account. You will be given access to your new PCITrade account and trading privileges upon receipt of your signed application and funding of the account.

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How do I fund my account?

A: The following funding options are available: Account/Security Transfer, Wire Transfer, Personal Check Deposit, Cashiers Checks, ACH and Securities Certificates. EQTY Service, Inc.  does not accept any third party checks, credit card checks and money orders. Please check Funding for detail.

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What should I do after I complete new account application form and fund my account?

A: Complete all the document required for the type of account(s) you open with PCITrade, send them back to our Mailing Address (see Open Account for detail). After we process your (1.) account document and (2.) your deposit, we will confirm your account number, account password as well as your Server IP with you via mail. Once you receive this confirm package, please go to Software Download for next step.

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What are your online commissions?

A: Our basic online trading commissions are $9.95/trade. Please see Commission and Fees for a full list of our rates.

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What is the initial requirement to open an account?

A: Initial funding requirements for non-day trading accounts is a minimum of $2,000 cash or net equity in freely transferable securities or a combination of both. An initial funding and maintenance requirement for pattern day trading accounts is US$25,000 per regulatory requirements. We recommend a higher initial deposit for more flexibility in trading activities.

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How do I transfer securities and cash balances to my account?

A: If you are transferring funds from another brokerage firm, you will need to request a transfer form, which must be filled out, signed, and sent back to PCITrade Securities Inc.for processing. This is referred to as an ACAT transfer and under normal circumstances takes approximately 14-21 business days from the time we receive your paperwork. Click Account Transfer Form for downloading, or go to Forms and Support for more detail.

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How does your software differ from other on-line brokerages?

A: Most traditional online brokers offer web-based trading systems. This means that your order, when entered online, is simply a message to a broker who then places the trade for you. Many such firms have order flow agreements with particular Market Makers. With PCITrade's platforms, intermediaries are eliminated, which potentially result in more efficient transactions.

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What is a margin account?

A: A margin account involves Penson Financial Service, Inc. extending credit to you based on the marginable securities in your account as collateral. Margin interest is the amount you pay when you use Penson's credit to purchase a security.

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How can I download forms from your site?

A: The forms on the PCITrade.com site are in PDF format and require the program Acrobat Reader.

Follow the steps below to trouble shoot.

Acrobat Reader Viewers:
To configure Internet Explorer or AOL to use an Acrobat Reader viewer as a helper application:

1. Start your Acrobat Reader viewer.
2. Choose File > Preferences > General
3. Deselect Web Browser Integration in the Options section and then click OK.
4. Exit from the Acrobat Reader viewer.
5. Restart Internet Explorer or AOL.

Note: The next time you select a link to a PDF file in Internet Explorer, a dialog box will appear that asks what you would like to do with the file. If you select "Open this file from its current location," Internet Explorer will open the PDF file in your Acrobat viewer as a helper application. If you select "Save this file to disk," Internet Explorer will save the PDF file to your hard disk, from where you can open it later.

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Can I open a foreign account?

A: Due to regulatory issues, PCITrade Securities Inc. accounts are not available for residents of the following countries: Afghanistan, Australia, Angola, Burma (a.k.a. Myanmar), Canada, Cuba, France, Guam, India, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Netherlands, Nigeria, Russia, Sudan, and Syria. If you are a foreigner and not excluded from these regulatory countries, you may apply a foreign account with PCITrade by filling out a New Account Application and Online Service Agreement as well as Form W8BEN along with a copy of your passport. Once your account is established and funded, you will be able to start your investment activities. Please go to "Open Account" for detail.

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How can I withdraw Money from my account?

A: You can withdraw funds which is available in you account via the following alternatives:

• Check Book Writing for Account Withdraw: If you have a check book writing with you, you can withdraw funds which is available in your PCITrade securities account. If you don't have a check book writing and you would like to apply one, please Contact Us during our business hour.
• Withdraw by Requesting a Check:
  1. Complete a Check Request Form (http://apply.eclearinginc.com/Form/CheckRequest.pdf)
  2. Fax it to PCITrade at (510) 857-0113
     (The check will be delivered to you at your PCITrade account address within 3 to 5 business days.)
• Withdraw by Request a Wire-Out:
  1. Fill out a Wire Request Form (http://apply.eclearinginc.com/Form/WireInstruction.pdf)
  2. Fax it to PCITrade at (510) 857-0113
     ( The funds will be wired to your account on the same day if our office receives the request before 10:00 am Monday to Friday -PST.)

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Who can I contact for questions?

A: You can call and talk to a PCITrade customer representative at (510) 818-9668 or you can e-mail us at customerservice@pcitrade.com., or go to "Contact Us" for detail. Please note that inquiries regarding orders should be made by phone, as orders are time sensitive.

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Last Update: 06/18/2007