How to Use SRS to Buy SGX Shares, REITs and ETFs in Singapore: POEMS vs moomoo vs Tiger vs Bank Brokers

At the end of December 2025, shares, REITs and ETFs made up 24% of all SRS investments in Singapore, the largest single slice of the portfolio and ahead of the 21% still held as cash. Using SRS to buy shares is the most popular way to put the money to work, and it runs through a stockbroker linked to your SRS bank.

SRS settlement means paying for a trade from your Supplementary Retirement Scheme account instead of your own cash: the broker sends the order to the exchange, and your SRS bank pays for it and holds the shares inside the scheme. Citizens and PRs can put up to S$15,300 a year into SRS, and foreigners up to S$35,700, while uninvested SRS cash at DBS earns 0.05% a year.

Brokers that accept SRS settlement work with SGX-listed securities. At POEMS, for example, only SGX-listed securities are eligible for CPF and SRS investments, and the trades settle in Singapore dollars. Within SGX, shares, REITs and ETFs are all open to SRS money, counter by counter.

Four groups of brokers matter here: POEMS, moomoo, Tiger Brokers, and the bank-linked brokers DBS Vickers, OCBC Securities and UOB Kay Hian. They differ in how you link the SRS account, which counters you can buy and, most of all, what a single order costs once minimum fees kick in.

This guide explains how an SRS share trade settles, what POEMS and moomoo charge on S$1,000, S$5,000 and S$15,300 orders, the step-by-step route at each broker, where Tiger and the bank brokers stand, and how SGX-listed ETFs compare with the US-listed and UCITS ETFs that one platform opens up to SRS money.

Using SRS to buy SGX shares at a glance

Every broker here settles SRS trades through your DBS, OCBC or UOB SRS account.

Source: moomoo SRS investment page and Tiger Brokers CPF/SRS trading help page; POEMS SRS, POEMS pricing, POEMS CPF/SRS brokerage article, DBS Vickers SRS linking guide, UOB SRS account (as of 3 November 2026)

POEMS and moomoo publish SRS-specific charges, so they are the two brokers costed in full later.

Can you use SRS to buy SGX stocks, REITs and ETFs?

Yes. The scheme allows SRS money to go into shares, unit trusts, bonds, fixed deposits, ETFs and certain life insurance products, and SGX-listed REITs trade as shares. Direct property is excluded.

Three conditions apply to every order. You need an SRS account with DBS, OCBC or UOB, a broker account linked to it, and a counter the broker accepts for SRS. POEMS shows this inside the order ticket: if SRS appears under Payment Type, the product can be bought with SRS funds. moomoo asks you to check each counter for SRS support in its app.

Investment gains stay inside the scheme until you withdraw. At or after your prescribed retirement age, 50% of each withdrawal is taxable, and the same treatment covers money that came from share sales and dividends.

How an SRS share trade works, from order to settlement

An SRS trade involves three parties. You place the order with the broker, the exchange matches it, and your SRS bank checks the order and pays for it from your SRS balance. At DBS Vickers, choosing SRS as the settlement mode notifies your agent bank, which reviews the trade; once accepted, cash leaves your SRS account and the shares are deposited there on the settlement date.

How an SRS share order moves from broker to SGX to your SRS bank and back

Where the shares are held

Shares bought with SRS sit in your SRS account with the agent bank, separate from your own CDP securities account. As a result, shares bought via CPF or SRS cannot be sold from your CDP securities account. Tiger uses the same set-up, with holdings in custody at the agent bank and sale proceeds returned to SRS.

Income follows the shares. At DBS, returns and dividends from stocks and ETFs bought with SRS are credited back to your SRS account and count as SRS money when you later withdraw.

Trading rules that differ from a cash account

SRS trades settle on the usual T+2 cycle. Contra is not supported by the banks, and a same-day sell is revoked to cash settlement and can face an SGX buy-in. moomoo and Tiger also bar short selling and contra trading on SRS.

Settlement mode changes have tight windows. DBS Vickers allows an amendment of the settlement option only on the trade day before 5.30pm, and a switch from cash to SRS on the day after the trade needs bank approval and can attract late charges. Tiger's cut-off is 5pm on the trade day. At POEMS, asking for a cash sell contract to be settled in SRS costs a non-refundable S$54.50 handling charge, including GST, per request.

Orders also fail if the SRS side is not ready. If the SRS account is not linked or the balance is short, the trade becomes a cash trade, and at POEMS the affected contract can be force-liquidated or bought in.

Currency

SRS money is Singapore dollars, and most brokers keep SRS orders in SGD. CPF and SRS trades at POEMS can only be settled in SGD, and Tiger does not accept non-SGD stocks or ETFs for SRS. moomoo is the exception in this group: it lists selected USD-quoted SGX ETFs for SRS, with settlement converted to SGD at the applicable FX rate.

SRS trading costs compared: S$1,000, S$5,000 and S$15,300 orders

Minimum fees decide what a small SRS order costs. Each example adds the broker's fees, SGX's clearing fee of 0.0325% and trading access fee of 0.0075%, and GST at 9% on all fees. S$15,300 is the full year's cap for citizens and PRs placed as a single order.

SRS order costs at moomoo and POEMS on S$1,000, S$5,000 and S$15,300 orders, including SGX fees and GST

Example only. Source: moomoo SRS investment page; POEMS pricing, POEMS CPF/SRS brokerage article, OCBC Securities charges, GoBusiness GST rate (as of 3 November 2026). Assumes 9% GST on all fees and the POEMS Cash Plus Starter rate of 0.08%.

Why minimum fees matter for small SRS orders

On a S$1,000 order, moomoo's two S$4.99 minimums add up to S$9.98, close to 1% of the order before SGX fees. The platform fee minimum stops biting above about S$4,158 and the commission minimum above S$4,990, so from S$5,000 upwards the broker fees settle at 0.22% of the order value. POEMS Cash Management charges S$10 flat up to S$3,500, then the S$25 minimum applies until 0.28% overtakes it at about S$8,929.

That creates a gap at mid-sized orders. On S$5,000, the POEMS Cash Management fee of S$25 is more than double moomoo's S$11. On S$15,300, both have moved to their percentage rates, and the gap narrows to S$9.18 in broker fees.

POEMS Cash Plus: the low rate and its condition

Cash Plus charges far less, at 0.08%, 0.07% or 0.06% with no minimum commission, depending on the account's total asset value. The catch is prefunding: for SRS buy orders, at least 50% of the expected trade value must sit in the account as buying power before the order goes in, or the full amount for non-marginable counters. The cash can be withdrawn or reused once the SRS trade settles.

So a S$15,300 SRS order at the Starter rate needs at least S$7,650 of your own cash parked for about two days. Investors without that cash on hand use the Cash Management account and pay the higher rate.

SGX ETFs at POEMS carry no minimum commission

POEMS waives the minimum commission on SGX-listed ETFs, and the waiver covers cash, CPF and SRS trades. On a Cash Management account, a S$5,000 SRS order for an SGX-listed ETF costs S$14.00 in commission at 0.28%, against S$25.00 for a S$5,000 share order. Add S$2.00 of SGX fees and GST, and the ETF order comes to S$17.44.

One S$15,300 order or twelve monthly orders

Splitting the annual contribution into monthly SRS orders multiplies the minimum fees. Twelve orders of S$1,275 each hit the minimums every month at moomoo and on POEMS Cash Management.

Example only. Source: moomoo SRS investment page; POEMS pricing (as of 3 November 2026). Excludes SGX fees of S$6.12 a year in each case, and GST.

Monthly buying still has a place, since it spreads entry prices across the year. With per-order minimums, though, fewer and larger SRS orders keep the fee drag down. On POEMS Cash Plus, which has no minimum, twelve orders cost the same S$12.24 as one.

Broker fees on one S$15,300 SRS order compared with twelve monthly S$1,275 orders

How to buy SGX shares with SRS on POEMS

POEMS has the broadest SRS menu among these brokers. Besides SGX shares, ETFs and bonds, its SRS menu includes SRS-approved unit trusts from S$1,000, single premium life insurance, its SMART Portfolio robo from S$300 and managed accounts from S$25,000.

1. Open an SRS account with DBS, OCBC or UOB, and contribute in Singapore dollars.
2. Link it to POEMS. In POEMS 2.0, go to My Settings, My Account, then Bank A/C information; in POEMS 3, go to the Me tab, then Bank A/C Information. Link before 6pm for the update to take effect on the same working day.
3. Check your SRS balance covers the order and fees.
4. Place the trade. Open the counter, choose Place trade and select SRS under Payment Type.
5. Prefund if you use Cash Plus, keeping at least half the trade value as buying power until the trade settles.

Paying with two settlement modes splits the order: POEMS creates two contracts, each charged standard brokerage fees, so a partly SRS-funded order costs more than one full SRS order.

How to buy SGX shares and ETFs with SRS on moomoo

moomoo's SRS route covers supported SGX-listed shares, REITs and ETFs, in SGD and, for selected ETFs, in USD. It does not offer unit trusts, bonds or US stocks through SRS.

1. Link the SRS account. In the app, go to Accounts, then Account Management, then Link External Account and Link CPF/SRS Account. Searching "SRS" in the app reaches the same screen.
2. Choose your agent bank (DBS, OCBC or UOB) and enter your SRS account details.
3. Check the counter shows SRS support, then pick SRS as the funding source in the order ticket.
4. Review the order and the fees before you submit.

Sells need settled holdings. moomoo requires sufficient settled holdings in the SRS account for a sell, and a failed SRS sell can move to the margin account, where an SGX buy-in may follow.

Can you use SRS on Tiger Brokers?

Yes, for eligible SGX-listed shares and ETFs. At Tiger, SRS and CPF trading runs only through the Cash Boost account, with holdings kept in custody at your agent bank. There is no minimum SRS balance to start, and non-SGD stocks and ETFs are excluded from SRS trading.

Linking is quick by bank standards. In the Tiger Trade app, switch to the Cash Boost account, open the Portfolio tab, go to Total Buy Limit and choose Link SRS Account. Linking usually takes 10 to 30 minutes on weekdays between 9am and 6pm.

SRS trades at Tiger settle on T+2, and sale proceeds go back to your SRS account, not to Cash Boost buying power. Tiger's help page lists no SRS commission, so ask Tiger what an SRS-settled order costs before you compare it with POEMS or moomoo. Its general SGX tariff is a separate schedule for cash trades.

DBS Vickers, OCBC Securities and UOB Kay Hian

The bank-linked brokers suit investors who already keep their SRS account and online banking with the same group. At DBS, linking SRS to DBS Vickers opens up a broader range of Singapore-listed ETFs alongside SGX shares.

DBS Vickers

You link the SRS account from digibank online. Under Investment, open the brokerage account, choose Go to Vickers, then Account Management and Update CPF/SRS Account, and enter your SRS account number. Requests after the 4:30pm cut-off move to the next business day, and linking takes about two working days. After that, "SRS account/CPFIA" appears as a settlement mode in the order ticket.

Commission rates sit on a separate DBS Vickers schedule, which sets the rate for SRS-settled orders.

OCBC Securities

OCBC customers can buy SGX shares, REITs and ETFs with SRS through OCBC Securities. For ordinary online SGX trades, OCBC Securities charges 0.275% on orders up to S$50,000, and removed its S$25 online minimum commission from 5 October 2026. Ask OCBC Securities whether the same schedule applies when you settle through SRS.

OCBC also runs the Blue Chip Investment Plan, a monthly plan for selected SGX blue chips and ETFs. It starts from S$100 a month at 0.3% or S$5 per counter, whichever is higher, with an extra S$0.35 CDP fee plus GST per counter when you pay from an OCBC SRS account.

If you ever move SRS shares out of an OCBC SRS account, the withdrawal or transfer costs S$0.35 in CDP fees plus a S$10 transfer charge per counter, plus GST.

UOB Kay Hian

UOB's SRS investment range covers unit trusts, insurance, stocks, ETFs, REITs and Singapore Savings Bonds. For SGX trades settled through SRS, UOB Kay Hian's own linking steps and SRS charge schedule apply.

SGX ETFs and REITs you can hold in SRS

SGX gives SRS investors three broad groups of listed products. Singapore equity ETFs track the local market, and S-REIT ETFs hold a basket of Singapore REITs. Individual REITs trade like shares and suit investors who want to choose specific property trusts.

Some SGX-listed ETFs hold overseas markets, such as US or Asian equities, or bonds. The underlying exposure stays foreign: the currency risk, fund domicile and any foreign dividend withholding depend on what the fund holds and where it is set up. The ETF's prospectus and fact sheet show these details, along with its expense ratio.

Dividends from SRS-held REITs and ETFs return to the SRS account. REIT investors who rely on distributions for living costs before retirement age get no access to that cash without an early withdrawal, which is 100% taxable plus a 5% penalty.

SGX-listed vs US-listed and UCITS ETFs with SRS

A broker that accepts SRS stops at SGX. A USD-quoted ETF on SGX is still an SGX trade, so it does not open US or London listings. For investors whose plan includes funds such as an S&P 500 UCITS ETF listed in London, a different route is needed.

Of the platforms compared here, StashAway is the only one where SRS money can buy US-listed and UCITS ETFs directly; the brokers stick to SGX-listed securities and Endowus and Syfe reach global markets through unit trusts and index funds.

StashAway's ETF Explorer charges US$1, excluding GST, each time you invest in or withdraw from an ETF, with no monthly management or account fee. SGX-listed ETFs bought there carry an extra 0.09% operation fee on the amount transacted.

Example only. Source: StashAway ETF Explorer SRS page (as of 3 November 2026). Fees exclude GST.

SGX shares and individual REITs need a broker; US-listed and UCITS ETFs need a platform with an SRS route to those exchanges.

Which broker fits which SRS investor

The cheapest broker depends on order size, how often you buy and whether you can prefund. The costs apply to SRS-settled orders.

Source: moomoo SRS investment page; POEMS SRS, POEMS pricing, POEMS SGX ETF commission (as of 3 November 2026)

Best for lump-sum share buyers: moomoo, where a S$15,300 order costs S$33.66 in broker fees. Best for low per-order costs: POEMS Cash Plus, if you have the cash to prefund. Best for a mix of products: POEMS, with shares, unit trusts and insurance under one login.

Holding SRS shares at more than one broker is allowed, since all of them settle through your one SRS account. Keep track of where each holding sits, because transfers between brokers or banks can carry per-counter charges.

Invest your SRS in global ETFs with StashAway

Keep your SGX shares and REITs with your broker, and use ETF Explorer with SRS for the US-listed and UCITS ETFs an SGX broker cannot buy with SRS money. Both draw on the same SRS account at DBS, OCBC or UOB.

There is no minimum commission to work around: each buy or sell order costs US$1 (excl. GST), with no monthly fee, so twelve monthly orders into a US-listed or UCITS ETF come to US$12 a year before GST.

ETF prices rise and fall, so you could get back less than you invest.

Frequently asked questions

Investors buying SGX securities with SRS for the first time usually ask these.

Can I buy DBS shares or Singapore REITs with SRS?

Yes, through a broker that accepts SRS for that counter. SGX-listed bank shares and REITs are SGX securities, so POEMS, moomoo and the bank-linked brokers can settle them through SRS. Confirm the counter shows SRS as a payment option before you place the order.

Is every SGX ETF available with SRS?

Not at every broker. Each broker decides which counters it accepts for SRS, and POEMS shows SRS under Payment Type only for eligible products. Tiger excludes non-SGD counters, while moomoo accepts selected USD-quoted SGX ETFs.

Does moomoo support SRS for US stocks?

No. moomoo's SRS route covers supported SGX-listed shares, REITs and ETFs only. For US-listed ETFs with SRS money, you need a platform that offers an SRS route to US exchanges.

How much does POEMS charge for an SRS share order?

It depends on the account. A Cash Management account charges S$10 flat up to S$3,500 and 0.28% with a S$25 minimum up to S$50,000, while a Cash Plus account charges 0.06% to 0.08% with no minimum if you prefund at least half the order. SGX fees and GST come on top.

Can I day trade with SRS funds?

No. The SRS banks do not support contra trading, so a same-day buy and sell is revoked to cash settlement and can face an SGX buy-in. SRS trades settle on T+2, and a sell needs settled holdings in the SRS account.

Where do dividends from SRS shares go?

Back into your SRS account. Dividends and sale proceeds stay inside the scheme, so they are taxed only when you withdraw, with 50% of each withdrawal taxable at or after your prescribed retirement age.

Does my broker need to match my SRS bank?

POEMS, moomoo and Tiger all link to SRS accounts at DBS, OCBC or UOB, so any of the three banks works. A bank-linked broker can make the set-up simpler if you already bank with the same group.