Withdrawal speed = broker processing time + banking rails + any verification friction. You control more of this than you'd think.
The verification bottleneck
The single biggest cause of delayed first withdrawals is incomplete KYC. Complete identity and address verification at signup — before you need money out — and your first withdrawal will process like your tenth.
Typical timelines at regulated brokers
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Broker processing | Same or next business day |
| EFT to your bank | 1–3 business days |
| Wire to your bank | Same day–1 day (fees apply) |
Related broker reviews
Want to compare your options in more depth? Read our full VT Markets review (9.3/10) and StarTrader review (9.1/10), or see how they stack up head-to-head in our VT Markets vs StarTrader comparison.
Why offshore "instant withdrawals" aren't
Withdrawal problems are the #1 complaint against weakly regulated brokers. A CIRO member or an FCA/ASIC-licensed international broker delaying withdrawals without cause faces real regulatory consequences; a broker with no verifiable licence mainly faces a bad Trustpilot review, which is a far weaker deterrent. Factor that into your choice, and test a small withdrawal early with any broker you haven't used before.