SBI Securities
SBI Securities Limited (formerly SBI Cap Securities Limited) is an Indian stockbroking and financial services company promoted by the State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest public-sector bank. Incorporated as SBI Cap Securities Limited, a subsidiary of SBI Capital Markets Limited (itself a wholly owned subsidiary of SBI), the company was subsequently renamed SBI Securities Limited to simplify its retail-facing brand. Headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, SBI Securities provides retail equity trading, equity and currency derivatives, commodity derivatives, mutual fund distribution, portfolio management, IPO services, and depository participant services through a 3-in-1 account model linking an SBI savings account, trading account, and demat account within the SBI Yono (You Only Need One) digital banking ecosystem.
SBI Securities is not listed on any stock exchange. Its competitive advantage relative to private-sector bank-backed brokers (HDFC Securities, ICICI Direct, Kotak Securities) is the unmatched geographic reach of State Bank of India’s branch network, comprising approximately 22,000 branches across India including extensive presence in semi-urban, rural, and defence-heavy locations that private-sector banks have not historically penetrated. SBI’s base of over 500 million account holders, the largest of any bank in India, provides SBI Securities with a structurally large potential distribution base for its 3-in-1 account product.
Founding and history
SBI Capital Markets and the formation of the stockbroking arm
State Bank of India established SBI Capital Markets Limited in 1986 as a wholly owned subsidiary for investment banking, project finance advisory, equity underwriting, and government securities market-making activities. SBI Capital Markets became one of the most active primary market managers for Indian government bond issuances and one of the lead managers for large-cap equity IPOs and public sector undertaking (PSU) disinvestments during the liberalisation era.
SBI Cap Securities Limited was incorporated as a separate retail stockbroking entity within the SBI Capital Markets group, enabling the parent to offer retail equity broking to SBI’s massive savings account customer base without conflating retail broking operations with SBI Capital Markets’ investment banking mandate.
3-in-1 account and distribution model
The 3-in-1 account became the core product proposition. By integrating SBI savings, trading, and demat accounts into a single authentication ecosystem (initially through SBI’s internet banking and subsequently within the Yono platform), SBI Securities eliminated the fund transfer friction that characterised standalone discount brokers. A client holding an SBI savings account could activate the 3-in-1 product and begin trading without opening a separate bank relationship or managing distinct login credentials.
This integration was particularly relevant to the segments of SBI’s customer base that were comfortable with SBI’s digital banking but not yet active in equity markets: government employees, defence personnel, public sector workers, teachers, and rural residents who banked primarily with SBI due to salary account mandates or proximity. For these segments, the 3-in-1 account lowered the adoption barrier for equity investing in a way that a standalone discount broker requiring UPI or NEFT funding could not replicate.
Renaming to SBI Securities
The renaming from SBI Cap Securities Limited to SBI Securities Limited was undertaken to create a clearer consumer-facing brand identity that distinguished retail broking from the SBI Capital Markets investment banking entity. The new name aligned with the broader State Bank of India brand recognition and simplified client communications.
Competitive pressure from discount brokers (2019-2025)
Like all full-service bank-backed brokers, SBI Securities experienced competitive pressure from the flat-fee discount broker model that grew dominant from 2019. Zerodha’s zero-delivery brokerage and Rs 20-per-order structure for F&O was structurally more attractive for cost-conscious active traders than SBI Securities’ percentage-based model.
SBI Securities’ response included introducing competitive subscription plans bringing intraday and F&O brokerage to Rs 20 per order for subscribers, and investing in the SBI Smart active-trader platform and the overall SBI Securities app. However, new account acquisition share trended toward discount brokers in the annual NSE statistics, with government-sector and rural clients representing SBI Securities’ most defensible customer segment.
SBI Yono’s integration with SBI Securities became a stronger retention mechanism as Yono expanded its financial services scope; SBI account holders who managed mutual funds, fixed deposits, insurance, and loans within Yono found the embedded SBI Securities trading access convenient.
Yono platform integration
SBI’s Yono platform, launched in November 2017, was designed as a super-app integrating banking, insurance, investments, and commerce for SBI account holders. SBI Securities’ trading access is embedded within Yono’s financial services menu, making the 3-in-1 account activation visible to the hundreds of millions of Yono users without requiring them to download a separate securities application. This embedded distribution is a structural advantage that SBI Securities shares only with HDFC Securities (through HDFC Bank’s iMobile/NetBanking) and ICICI Direct (through iMobile Pay and Internet Banking).
Ownership and corporate structure
SBI Securities Limited is a subsidiary of SBI Capital Markets Limited, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of State Bank of India (NSE: SBIN; BSE: 500112). The Government of India holds approximately 57-58% of SBI’s equity; the remainder is held by institutional and public shareholders. SBI is constituted under the State Bank of India Act, 1955. SBI Securities is an unlisted company.
Products and services
Equity trading
NSE and BSE equity delivery and intraday trading under standard and subscription plans. The 3-in-1 SBI account integration automates fund management.
Equity and currency derivatives
NSE and BSE equity F&O and currency derivatives. Option chain, margin calculator, and payoff analysis tools are available within the SBI Smart platform.
Commodity derivatives
MCX commodity futures and options covering gold, silver, crude oil, natural gas, and other exchange-traded commodities.
Mutual funds
AMFI-registered direct and regular plan mutual fund distribution. SBI Funds Management’s products (SBI Mutual Fund is one of India’s largest AMCs by assets under management) are naturally prominent, alongside all other registered AMCs.
Government securities and bonds
G-Secs, SDLs, corporate bonds, tax-free bonds, SGBs, and RBI Floating Rate Savings Bonds are accessible through the platform.
Insurance
Insurance products are available through SBI Life Insurance and SBI General Insurance, leveraging the SBI group’s insurance subsidiaries.
Portfolio management services
SEBI-registered PMS for qualifying clients above the Rs 50 lakh minimum.
NRI services
SBI Securities provides Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS) account services for NRIs investing in Indian equities under FEMA and RBI regulations, utilising SBI’s NRI banking operations for the underlying savings and foreign currency nonresident (FCNR) account infrastructure.
IPO applications
ASBA and UPI-mandate-based IPO applications for mainboard and SME listings.
Charge structure
| Segment | Brokerage (standard, approximate) |
|---|---|
| Equity delivery | 0.50% of trade value |
| Equity intraday | 0.025-0.05% |
| Equity futures | 0.025% |
| Equity options | Rs 100 per lot |
| Commodity F&O | 0.025% |
| Currency derivatives | 0.025% |
Flat-fee subscription plan (approximate):
- Intraday and F&O: Rs 20 per executed order (plan-dependent)
- Delivery: Nil
Account charges (approximate; verify at sbisecurities.in):
- Account opening: Nil or nominal for SBI account holders
- Demat annual maintenance charge (AMC): Rs 300-400 per annum
- Call-and-trade surcharge for telephone orders
- STT, exchange transaction charges, SEBI fees, stamp duty, and GST at regulatory rates
Technology platforms
SBI Securities app
The SBI Securities mobile application (Android and iOS) is the primary trading and investment interface for most retail clients. Integration with SBI Yono provides single-sign-on access for SBI account holders.
SBI Smart
SBI Smart is the enhanced trading interface targeting active equity and F&O traders. It provides charting with technical indicators, real-time market data, and a more information-dense layout than the standard consumer app.
SBI Securities web platform
The browser-based trading platform at sbisecurities.in provides equity, F&O, mutual fund, and fixed-income investment across the full product suite.
Regulatory registrations
- SEBI stockbroker: INZ000200933 (NSE, BSE, and derivatives)
- MCX member: for commodity derivatives
- NSDL and CDSL depository participant
- AMFI-registered mutual fund distributor
- SEBI-registered portfolio manager
- RBI-authorised PIS account provider: for NRI equity investing
Comparison with Zerodha
| Parameter | SBI Securities | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Government-promoted (SBI subsidiary) | Indian founder-owned private company |
| Branch network | ~22,000 SBI branches | Digital only |
| 3-in-1 account | Yes (SBI Bank) | No |
| Brokerage | 0.50% standard; Rs 20 flat (subscription) | Nil delivery; Rs 20 F&O |
| NRI services | Yes (PIS, SBI NRI accounts) | Limited |
| SBI Mutual Fund | Distribution available | Coin (direct plan) |
| API | Limited | Kite Connect (full) |
| Government sector reach | Strong (defence, PSU, rural) | Digital urban focus |
SBI Securities serves client segments that digital-first discount brokers have not fully penetrated: government employees, defence personnel, SBI salary account holders in rural and semi-urban locations, and NRIs using SBI NRI banking. For active traders who prioritise low brokerage, a developer API, and a specialised trading interface, Zerodha and other discount brokers are more attractive. For clients whose primary banking, insurance, and financial services relationship is centred on the SBI group, the 3-in-1 account model and embedded Yono access reduce the friction of switching.
For a detailed comparison, see Zerodha vs SBI Securities.
References
- SEBI SCORES broker registration, SBI Securities Limited (INZ000200933)
- NSE active client data, January 2026, National Stock Exchange of India
- Ministry of Corporate Affairs, SBI Securities Limited company filing
- SBI annual report FY2024-25, subsidiary disclosures, sbi.co.in
- SBI Capital Markets Limited company overview, sbicaps.in
- SEBI circular on true-to-label fee disclosure, September 2023
- MCX member directory, SBI Securities Limited
- AMFI distributor registration, SBI Securities Limited
- RBI master direction on PIS for NRI investment in Indian equities (Portfolio Investment Scheme)
- SBI Yono platform overview, sbi.co.in/yono