Schwab Stock Plan Services recently expanded availability of fully featured investment accounts to equity compensation plan participants in 18 additional countries. With the expansion, Schwab now offers fully featured accounts for participants in 52 jurisdictions outside the U.S. Many stock plan providers offer limited investment account features to international employees due to securities and tax law intricacies that vary widely from country to country. To implement the new capabilities, Schwab worked directly with legal and regulatory experts in each of the added countries to ensure adherence to applicable country-specific laws, securities regulations and exemptions.

Limited-purpose accounts typically only allow the holding and sale of equity awards, without the ability to invest in other securities. As a result, many international employees simply cash-out their equity compensation when a vesting event occurs. Fully featured accounts provide access to expanded products and services, including broader securities trading, options, fixed income, eligible offshore mutual funds, and a debit card.

Non-U.S. countries and U.S. territories eligible for fully featured accounts include: Argentina Czech Republic, Israel Qatar, Australia Denmark, Jersey South Korea, Austria, Ecuador Luxembourg, Spain, The Bahamas Finland, Malaysia Sweden, Belgium Germany Mexico Switzerland, Switzerland,ermuda Greece, Netherlands, Taiwan, Brazil Guam Norway, Thailand, British Virgin Islands, Guatemala Panama Trinidad & Tobago, Cayman Islands, Hong Kong Paraguay, Turks & Caicos, Chile Iceland, Peru, United Arab Emirates, China India Poland, United Kingdom, Colombia, Indonesia, Portugal, U.S. Virgin Islands, Costa Rica Ireland, Puerto Rico Uruguay, Newly added. In addition to offering fully featured accounts for participants in52 jurisdictions, Schwab Stock Plan Services continues to offer equity accounts worldwide, with the exception of OFAC-sanctioned countries, so employees can manage their equity compensation regardless of their location through a fully featured or limited-purpose account.