Basics · Forex Glossary
Segregated Account — Definition & Meaning in Forex Trading
A clear, practical definition of segregated account written for EU retail forex traders.
Quick Answer
Segregated Account: A bank account where client funds are held separately from the broker's operational funds. EU regulation requires all regulated brokers to maintain segregated accounts, ensuring that client money is protected if the broker becomes insolvent.
What does Segregated Account mean?
Segregated Account is a basics concept every forex trader should understand. A bank account where client funds are held separately from the broker's operational funds. EU regulation requires all regulated brokers to maintain segregated accounts, ensuring that client money is protected if the broker becomes insolvent. Traders encounter segregated account throughout day-to-day decision-making, and a solid grasp of the idea helps avoid costly mistakes — especially for EU retail traders operating under ESMA rules where leverage caps, negative balance protection, and investor compensation schemes all intersect with practical trading concepts like this one.
How is Segregated Account used?
In practice, Segregated Account is one of the first things a new forex trader encounters. You will see segregated account referenced in account statements, order tickets, platform documentation, and broker marketing. Internalising the idea early helps avoid confusion later when more advanced concepts build on this foundation.
Example
For example, a trader opening a 0.1 lot (10,000-unit) EUR/USD position at 1.0850 who later closes at 1.0875 would reference segregated account as part of the round-trip trade. The specifics depend on your broker and account type, but the core idea of segregated account remains consistent across EU-regulated venues.
Related Terms
Other basics concepts worth knowing.
Ask
The price at which a seller is willing to sell a currency pair. Also known as the offer price. When you open a buy (long) position, you enter at the ask price.
Base Currency
The first currency listed in a currency pair. In EUR/USD, EUR is the base currency. It represents the currency you are buying or selling.
Bear Market
A market condition where prices are falling or expected to fall. A bearish trader believes prices will decline and may take short positions.
Bid
The price at which a buyer is willing to purchase a currency pair. When you open a sell (short) position, you enter at the bid price. The bid is always lower than the ask.
Broker
A financial intermediary that provides traders with access to the forex market. In the EU, brokers must be regulated by authorities such as CySEC, BaFin, or the FCA.
Bull Market
A market condition where prices are rising or expected to rise. A bullish trader believes prices will increase and may take long positions.
Learn More
Deeper reading in our Learning Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Segregated Account mean in forex trading?
How is Segregated Account used by traders?
Why does Segregated Account matter for EU retail traders?
Where can I learn more about Segregated Account?
Keep building your forex vocabulary
Browse all 291 forex trading terms in our comprehensive glossary.