Kotak Securities: Overview
Kotak Mahindra Bank is a renowned bank that has well-established itself in the country and a pioneer in embracing newer technological implementations in the banking sector. It has thrived in offering surplus services and features to its customers to simplify the overall banking process.
With this, Kotak Mahindra also offers Kotak Securities, a subsidiary under its name that provides traders and investors alike to trade in the Stock Market. As a broker, it provides quite an impressive array of features and services, which does come in handy while trading and investing in the stock market.
Kotak Securities: An Overview of the Stock Broker
Established in 1994 in Mumbai, Kotak Securities comes under Kotak Mahindra Bank and offers services related to investing and trading in the stock market. Financial services are also included. The bank is targeted primarily towards India and has a broad chain of outlets that spans 1209 branches handling well over 11.95 lakh customers.
They offer trading facilities with the National Stock Exchange and the Bombay Stock Exchange. Furthermore, they are depositary participants of Central Depository Services (CDSL) and the National Securities Depository Services (NSDL). Adding to this, they were the first to come out with a mobile application that provided stock trading services right from your smartphone and get SMS alerts for any transaction made through the recipient’s account.
For all such efforts and paving the way of technological innovation, the broker has been felicitated with several prestigious awards such as best broker – 2018 by Triple A Asset Country Awards “Best advisors south Asia category,” “Early adopter of analytics” by machine learning conference in 2018 and several other recognitions.
As a full-service broker, there is a wide range of investments and trading that users can choose from. These options include mutual funds, IPO, currency derivatives, portfolio management, share/stock trading, share lending services, depository services, and much more.
Kotak Securities: Key Highlights
3-in-1 Demat account that helps in seamless transactions without any delay.24/7 customer care support that can be reached easily either through online chat, mail, or call. All your investment desires can be fulfilled through one platform. The broker has many investment options that would entice any trader/investor to choose the platform.
There are several trading platforms offered by the broker, with each focused on different areas. There are a desktop application, a mobile application, and a website as well. Kotak Securities offers a unique website/application just for traders/investors with a slower internet connection.
Types of accounts offered by Kotak Securities
1. Kotak Gateway
It’s a gateway to multiple features and services that the broker has to offer. The particular account offers multiple trading services and technological features with different brokerage charges for each trade executed.
2. Auto Invest
Reminiscent from its name, the account is opened by the user looking to invest in mutual funds, ETF’s and equities at a specific date of every month. The minimum investment required to open such an account is 5000 rupees.
3. Kotak Freedom
The account is provided to users looking to make mutual funds’ investments offered by the broker or other brokers.
4. 3-in-1 account
In this type of account, users get a Demat account, savings account, and trading account. These are interlinked with one another, making all trades, investments, and withdrawals a seamless process without any delay. Traders/investors can trade in IPO, Equity, currency derivatives, tax-free bonds, mutual funds, and much more.
5. Kotak Super Saver
The account provides users with a fixed brokerage fee. Often is a flat fee on orders executed. It typically comprises of a low margin account.
6. PMS
Portfolio management services are an integral step in maintaining records of your investment. For the same, the broker offers an account where an expert would help manage it to keep everything in order.
7. Kotak Privilege circle
Such an account is for the elite and veterans looking to open up trading accounts with Kotak Securities. Through such an account, users get to reap all the top shelf benefits offered by the broker. In addition to the same, they get dedicated customer services, KEAT premium, which is a tool that helps in giving a detailed orientation of your gains and losses made in any given period and much more.
8. NRI Account
For NRI’s to open a trading account in the country and invest/trade in the stock market.
Brokerage Plans Offered
1. Dynamic Brokerage Plan
These brokerage deals are suitable for those who make frequent trades and get some subsidized brokerage fees from the nominal rates.
2. Fixed Brokerage Plan
The brokerage plans involves a fixed rates irrespective of the trade being carried out. These are suited more towards traders/newbies entering the trading game.
3. Free Intraday Trading
Acting like an annual subscription plan, traders can pay a one-time fee of 999 rupees and avail of an exhaustive array of trading services. There is no brokerage charged on anything. It’s a perfect solution for those that have multiple trades being made in a day.
Trading Platforms Offered by the Broker
1. Mobile Stock Trading
There are dedicated mobile applications designed & developed by Kotak themselves, which offer services such as trading, portfolio manager, intraday chart viewing, and much more.
2. Website Based Trading
Quite a popular trading website that the traders and investors using Kotak Securities can execute their trades and interact with the stock market. Also, another version called “Xtralite” offers services to users with slow internet connections.
3. Trading Terminals
There two trading applications that Kotak securities offer for executing trades. These are KEAT Pro X and FASTLANE. Each comprises of a similar core performance; however, the interface and user experience is quite different.
Kotak Securities: Review
Kotak Securities is a broker that has been in the game of offering trading services for decades. It has the workforce, technological implementations, and much more to make it exceptionally stable and secure. Do take your time before you get into the full services broker as there are some cons related to the brokerage fee and the limited trading options it has to offer. Overall the broker is truly packed with multiple features that will not disappoint.
Kotak Securities: Account Opening Process
Opening a Demat and trading account with Kotak Securities is as simple as filling up the online application found on its official website. Get the verification process completed while submitting all the documents online and paying the one-time maintenance fee. After the entire process is completed, you should get your Demat and trading account opened successfully by receiving your account credentials.
Kotak Securities is one of the country’s leading stockbrokers offering affordable brokerage fees and cutting-edge technological trading applications and software’s. If you are looking to open a demat and trading account with them, we have illustrated all the respective steps below.
How to Open a Demat and Trading account with Kotak Securities
- Head to the website of Kotak Securities and click on the Demat account opening option.
2.Then fill up all the respective details in the given form. You will require supporting documents such as PAN card, Aadhar card and other documents in soft copies. - Once everything is filled, then read all the rules and regulations properly to understand the terms and condition associated while opening a demat and trading account.
- After that, an in-person verification would be carried out. However, this process required the person to visit one of Kotak securities branches and get themselves verified. But now it’s done through video calls.
- After the application and documents are verified, the account is opened. Once open, users do get their account number and other login credentials.
- A one-time AMC will be charged when you open the account which could be free for a year.
NOTE – There are different types of trading accounts offered by the stockbrokers. These include the standard trading account, 2-in-1 accounts and 3-in-1 accounts.
The entire process is carried out online with no physical documentation or verification required. Although the account opening process might be free, the AMC is relatively high compared to other stockbrokers.
Kotak Securities: Account Opening Charges
| Charge Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Trading Account Opening Charges | ₹750 |
| Demat Account Opening Charges | ₹0 |
| Trading Account AMC | ₹0 |
| Demat Account AMC | ₹600 per year |
Kotak Securities: Commodity Trading
Kotak Securities is a Bank based Stock Broker. It is a subsidiary of Kotak Mahindra Bank. Kotak Securities was incorporated in 1994 as a Full-Service Broker. Now it has over 7.5 Lakh, active clients. It is a member of NSE (National Stock Exchange), BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange), CDSL (Central Depository Service Limited) and, NSDL (National Securities Depository Limited).
It offers many investment products like Equities, Commodities, Currency, IPOs, etc.
Kotak Account Charges:
The account opening charges in Kotak Securities are Zero. There is a Monthly Maintenance Fee of Rs 50 every month. This translates to Rs 600 annually. These were some of the charges that you have to bear at the time of account opening. Now let’s look at an important aspect, Brokerage. Kotak Securities also provides a 3 in 1 account where it provides a savings bank account (Kotak 811 account) along with a Demat and a Trading account. All integrated into one.
Brokerage:
Kotak Securities has recently launched a new plan known as the “Trade Free Plan”. Under this plan, every intraday trades, in Equity, Commodities, Currencies, and derivatives will have no brokerage. This means that if you do intraday trades using the Trade Free plan, you will pay ‘0’ Brokerage on commodities trading. If you want to carry forward your position or take leveraged trades where you get more margin. You will have to pay Rs 50 Per Order. This is an excellent brokerage plan but in order to activate the Derivatives segment, you will have to deposit an initial sum of Rs 50,000. Without the initial deposit of Rs 50,000, you won’t be able to trade in Commodities or Equity Futures & Options.
Kotak Securties Account:
To conclude, Kotak Securities is a good option for intraday traders as the brokerage is completely free. Even for positional and swing traders, the brokerage is low at Rs 20 per order. The only demand for trading in commodities is that you have to make an initial deposit of a minimum of Rs 50,000. So traders and investors can consider Kotak Securities while opening a Demat account.