In short for EU clients: you cannot open a City Index account. In the European Union the StoneX group serves retail clients through StoneX Europe Ltd (Cyprus, CySEC licence 400/21) under the FOREX.com brand — the same group, the same regulator and the same compensation fund (up to €20,000). If you are looking for a StoneX broker, read our FOREX.com review. Checked on 3 November 2026.
| City Index at a glance | Checked 3 Nov 2026 |
|---|---|
| Brand status | retired in the UK on 12 Sep 2026 — replaced by StoneX Trading |
| Group | StoneX Group Inc. (USA), listed on NASDAQ (SNEX) |
| Company for EU clients | StoneX Europe Ltd (Cyprus), CySEC licence 400/21 — operates in the EU as FOREX.com |
| Investor compensation (EU) | Investor Compensation Fund (Cyprus) — up to €20,000 |
| City Index account from the EU | not available — the StoneX offer in the EU is FOREX.com |
| UK clients | same platforms, accounts and support — under the StoneX Trading brand (per StoneX) |
Chapter 1
What happened to City Index?
City Index was founded in London in 1983 and for decades was one of the best-known spread betting and CFD brands in the UK. In 2015 it was acquired by GAIN Capital (owner of FOREX.com), and in 2020 GAIN Capital was bought by INTL FCStone, which renamed itself StoneX.
On 9 September 2026 StoneX announced that City Index was relaunching as StoneX Trading. According to the announcement, the City Index UK brand retired on 12 September 2026 and all new account openings moved to StoneX Trading. Existing clients keep trading on the same platforms and accounts with the same support — the brand changes, not the service (StoneX press release).
Chapter 2 · Can EU clients open a City Index…
Can EU clients open a City Index account?
No. The City Index brand is not offered to retail clients in the European Union. The StoneX group serves them through StoneX Europe Ltd, a Cyprus investment firm licensed by CySEC (licence 400/21, since 24 May 2021) that passports its services across the EU. The CySEC register lists “CITYINDEX” as an approved trade name of this company, but the only approved websites are forex.com domains (CySEC register). In practice an EU client opens an account with FOREX.com.
If you see a website or ad using the “City Index” name aimed at EU residents, check which company is behind it and whether it appears in an EU regulator’s register — scammers often impersonate well-known brands.
Chapter 3 · I have a City Index account
I have a City Index account — what now?
If you hold a City Index account in the UK, StoneX says nothing needs to be done: your account, platforms and support stay the same and the name changes to StoneX Trading. It is worth logging in to the StoneX Trading website to check that your details and documents are up to date.
If you live in the EU and once opened an account through City Index, check in your agreement or client area which StoneX company holds it, and ask support how trading and withdrawals will work going forward. Request withdrawals only in the official client area — never through people who contact you and promise to “recover funds”.
Chapter 4 · Safety
Safety: who is behind the brand
The brand is owned by StoneX Group Inc., listed on NASDAQ (SNEX), with more than 80 offices worldwide (according to StoneX). In the UK the business is run by StoneX Financial Ltd, regulated by the FCA; in the EU by StoneX Europe Ltd, regulated by CySEC. Retail clients of StoneX Europe Ltd are covered by the Cyprus Investor Compensation Fund (up to €20,000) and negative balance protection on CFDs.
In the CySEC board decisions announced between November 2023 and 30 October 2026 we found no fines or settlements involving StoneX Europe Ltd.
Chapter 5 · Alternatives
City Index alternatives in the EU
- FOREX.com — the same StoneX group and the same EU company (StoneX Europe Ltd, CySEC 400/21).
- CMC Markets — listed company, regulated by BaFin in the EU.
- Pepperstone — low-cost Razor account, MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView.
- XTB — listed broker supervised by Poland’s KNF.
- Compare all brokers in our forex broker ranking.