ICICI Direct, the online investment platform of ICICI Securities (a subsidiary of ICICI Bank), is one of India’s oldest and largest full-service stock brokers — founded in 2000, with over 19 lakh active clients as of June 2025 and presence across all major financial products. Its demat account is the cornerstone of what is widely called India’s most popular 3-in-1 account: a seamlessly integrated combination of an ICICI Bank savings account, an ICICI Direct trading account, and an ICICI Direct demat account. This integration has made it a first-choice platform for investors who value banking convenience alongside investing capability, even if that convenience comes at a higher cost than discount brokers.
This guide covers everything you need to know about the ICICI demat account — from what it is and how it works, to charges, plans, features, and how to open one.
What Is an ICICI Demat Account?
A demat (dematerialised) account holds your shares, ETFs, bonds, government securities, and mutual fund units in electronic form — replacing the old system of physical share certificates. ICICI Direct acts as a Depository Participant (DP) registered with both NSDL (National Securities Depository Limited) and CDSL (Central Depository Services Limited), which are India’s two central depositories. Your securities are held in NSDL or CDSL — not with ICICI Direct itself — which means your holdings remain safe regardless of the broker’s operational status.
Types of ICICI Demat Accounts
ICICI Direct offers three primary account types based on investor profile.
Resident Individual Demat Account — the standard account for Indian citizens residing in India. This is what most first-time investors open.
BSDA (Basic Services Demat Account) — designed for small investors with portfolio value up to ₹10,00,000. BSDA accounts attract zero AMC if holdings are below ₹4,00,000, making them cost-effective for new investors starting small.
NRI Demat Account (Repatriable and Non-Repatriable) — for Non-Resident Indians. Repatriable accounts are linked to NRE bank accounts (funds can be sent abroad); non-repatriable accounts are linked to NRO accounts (for earnings from India).
Brokerage Plans at ICICI Direct
ICICI Direct serves clients under three primary plans.
I-Secure Plan — percentage-based brokerage, fixed regardless of turnover. Suitable for investors who prefer predictable cost structure.
Prime Plan (iVALUE) — one-time subscription fee of ₹299, with flat brokerage of ₹20 per order on equity intraday, futures, options, and commodities. AMC for iVALUE subscribers is ₹300 per year. Ideal for active traders migrating from full-service percentage brokerage to a flat-fee model.
Neo Plan — Zerodha-style flat brokerage at ₹20 per order across segments, with zero delivery brokerage, designed to compete directly with discount brokers.
Overview: ICICI Demat Account at a Glance
| Parameter | Details |
| Account Type | 3-in-1 (Savings + Trading + Demat) |
| Depository | NSDL and CDSL |
| Account Opening Fee | ₹0 (currently waived online) |
| AMC (Standard) | ₹500–₹700 per year (plan-dependent) |
| AMC (BSDA, <₹4L holdings) | ₹0 |
| AMC (iVALUE Plan) | ₹300 per year |
| Delivery Brokerage (I-Secure) | 0.275%–0.55% per trade |
| Delivery Brokerage (Neo/Prime) | ₹0 (zero delivery brokerage) |
| Intraday/F&O Brokerage | ₹20 per order (Prime/Neo) |
| DP Charge (Sell) | ₹20 + GST per scrip per day |
| Segments | Equity, Equity F&O, Currency, Commodity |
| 3-in-1 Integration | Yes — ICICI Bank, Trading, Demat |
| Research & Advisory | Yes — in-house equity research |
| Customer Support | 24×7 dedicated support |
Key Features
The 3-in-1 account structure is ICICI Direct’s defining feature — funds move automatically between your ICICI Bank savings account and trading account without manual transfer steps, and securities are instantly credited to your demat after T+1 settlement. ICICI Direct supports equity, equity F&O, currency derivatives, commodity trading, mutual funds, bonds, IPO applications, NCDs, and insurance — one of the widest product ranges among Indian brokers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Is ICICI demat account free to open?
A: Yes — account opening is currently free online. AMC (from second year onwards on standard accounts) applies based on the plan you choose.
Q2. What is the BSDA option at ICICI Direct?
A: A Basic Services Demat Account — zero AMC for holdings below ₹4,00,000. Automatically assigned for eligible single-account holders with qualifying portfolios.
Q3. Does ICICI Direct support mutual fund investing?
A: Yes — both direct and regular mutual fund plans are available through ICICI Direct, alongside SIP setup and portfolio tracking.
Q4. How many clients does ICICI Direct have?
A: Over 19 lakh (1.9 million) active clients as of June 2025 — one of India’s largest full-service broker client bases.
Q5. Can NRIs open an ICICI demat account?
A: Yes — both repatriable (NRE-linked) and non-repatriable (NRO-linked) demat accounts are available for NRIs.
