Accounts & headline costs
Sections ↑Scottish Widows Share Dealing is the current brand of the self-directed service formerly called iWeb. Halifax Share Dealing Limited supplies stockbroking for the Share Dealing Account, ISA and SIPP investment account. The pension provider is separately identified as Embark Investment Services Limited; pension administration and share dealing therefore have different operational responsibilities.[1][5][16]
Account comparison01
Account and service routes at a glance
| Account / service | Customer and legal scope | Principal condition |
|---|---|---|
| Share Dealing Account | UK unwrapped self-directed account | No annual account fee; UK, funds and international investmentsSource 3Source 2 |
| Stocks and Shares ISA | Eligible UK adult ISA wrapper | No annual account fee; ISA contribution and transfer rules applySource 4Source 2 |
| SIPP | Pension provided by Embark Investment Services Limited; dealing by Halifax Share Dealing Limited | Standard 0.25% administration, capped at £16.50/month; qualifying legacy waiver belowSource 5Source 2Source 15 |
| Individual Client Segregation | Optional custody configuration for ISA/SDA | Large setup and annual charges; conversion requiredSource 9 |
Broker essentials02
Opening and account essentials
| Measure | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Opening fee | £0 for current Share Dealing and ISA accounts | Source 3Source 4 |
| Minimum example | Public Share Dealing page says investing can start from £50 | Source 3 |
| Stockbroking operator | Halifax Share Dealing Limited | Source 12Source 13 |
| Former brand | iWeb | Existing users access the rebranded service; company identity remains material.Source 1Source 11 |
| SIPP provider | Embark Investment Services Limited, company 09955930 | Source 5Source 19 |
Products & platforms
Sections ↑Availability03
Products and ownership structure
| Product or service | Published access | Boundary that matters |
|---|---|---|
| UK shares, investment trusts and ETFs | Online self-directed dealing | Stamp duty, levy and product costs can applySource 3Source 2 |
| Funds | Online fund dealing and regular investing | Fund annual and transaction costs remainSource 2Source 6 |
| International shares | Supported overseas markets | No dealing commission, but 1.5% FX adjustment each sideSource 8Source 2 |
| Regular Investment Plan | Scheduled purchases with no dealing commission | Eligible account, investment and funding schedule requiredSource 6 |
| Pension investments | SIPP investment range | Pension administration and statutory access rules applySource 5 |
Platforms & products04
Platform and workflow
| Platform / route | Documented capability | Practical boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Web service | Research, orders, transfers, cash and statements | Account permissions and market hours still governSource 1Source 3 |
| Scottish Widows app | Supported mobile account access and trading | Registration and device/security requirements applySource 11Source 3 |
| Research centre | Fund and investment information | Research is not personalised adviceSource 3 |
Fees & holding costs
Sections ↑Pricing & charges05
Primary pricing
| Cost layer | Published amount or basis | Scope and condition |
|---|---|---|
| Online UK share or fund trade | £5 | Per buy or sellSource 2 |
| Regular Investment Plan trade | £0 dealing commission | Supported scheduled purchase routeSource 6Source 2 |
| International online trade | £0 dealing commission | 1.5% FX adjustment applies on buys and sellsSource 8Source 2 |
| Dividend reinvestment | 2% of dividend, maximum £5 | Separate from ordinary dealingSource 2 |
| Standard SIPP administration | 0.25% p.a., capped at £16.50 monthly | Month-end investment value; legacy waiver can applySource 2Source 5Source 15 |
Pricing & charges06
Current and legacy SIPP administration
| Account group | Administration treatment | Other costs |
|---|---|---|
| Standard SIPP | 0.25% a year, capped at £16.50 per month | Dealing, investment and applicable event charges remainSource 2Source 5 |
| Legacy iWeb SIPP opened before 25 October 2024 | Administration fee waived until November 2028; first fee then due | The waiver does not waive dealing or underlying investment costsSource 15 |
Pricing & charges07
Secondary and event-driven charges
| Item | Published treatment | When it matters |
|---|---|---|
| UK stamp duty | Normally 0.5% on chargeable purchases | Irish stocks and exemptions differSource 2 |
| Panel on Takeovers levy | £1.50 on applicable trades over £10,000 | Market levy, not broker commissionSource 2 |
| ISA repair or void | £25 per service | ISA/SDA administration scheduleSource 2 |
| CHAPS / same-day payment | £25 ISA/SDA; £30 SIPP | Standard payment routes can differSource 2 |
| Sale to cover charges | £10 ISA/SDA; £9.50 SIPP | Charged where holdings must be sold to meet feesSource 2 |
International online dealing has no separate dealing commission, but the service applies a 1.5% foreign-exchange adjustment on both purchases and sales. Regular scheduled purchases have no dealing commission; selling those investments uses the normal tariff. Fund expenses, stamp duty and applicable market levies remain separate.[2][8][6]
Execution & trading rules
Sections ↑Specifications08
Orders and execution controls
| Instruction or situation | Documented operation | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Online UK order | £5 commission at the displayed market terms | Spread and market movement remainSource 2Source 3 |
| International order | Conversion from/to GBP is compulsory under the service | Final exchange rate shown after executionSource 8 |
| Regular investment | Scheduled route with commission waiver | Execution date and eligible investments governSource 6 |
| TradePlan | Conditional instruction in Share Dealing Account | £2 setup charge is deducted from dealing charge when executedSource 2 |
Trading & service hours09
Sessions, exceptions and outages
| Issue | Published route | Operational implication |
|---|---|---|
| Unconfirmed order | Check order history before resubmission | A duplicate instruction can create two positionsSource 1 |
| Telephone dealing and support | 0345 070 7129; overseas +44 113 239 1275 | Web chat cannot place or amend deals or TradePlans; telephone dealing follows the applicable tariffSource 17Source 2 |
| Corporate action | Follow account messages and deadlines | Inaction can result in default treatmentSource 1 |
Deposits, withdrawals & transfers
Sections ↑Transfer terms10
Cash movements
| Route | Published operation | Restriction or timing |
|---|---|---|
| Debit card / bank funding | Current account funding methods | Account name and verification controls applySource 18 |
| Sale proceeds | The trade confirmation records settlement; the account shows cash available to withdraw | Cash shown for trading can differ from cash available for bank paymentSource 18 |
| ISA/SDA cash interest | 0% | The operator retains interest it receives on cashSource 2 |
| SIPP cash interest | 3.00% gross variable on balances of at least £1 at the review date | Calculated daily and paid annually in March; different from ISA/SDA cash at 0%Source 16 |
| Withdrawal | Bank-payment route; CHAPS available for a fee | Only cleared unrestricted cash can leaveSource 2 |
Transfer terms11
Portfolio transfers and closure
| Action | Published position | Customer consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer in | No Scottish Widows transfer charge | Delivering provider can charge or require saleSource 7Source 2 |
| Transfer out | No platform transfer charge | Receiving provider initiates; unsupported assets may need sale at £5 per tradeSource 7Source 2 |
| Paper certificate transfer | Indicative processing around 15 working days | Irish certificates are not accepted under current guidanceSource 7 |
| ISA transfer | Use the formal ISA transfer route | Withdrawing cash personally is not the same as preserving the wrapperSource 7Source 4 |
Protection & regulation
Sections ↑Protections & eligibility12
Entity and protection boundaries
| Arrangement | Published arrangement | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Stockbroking operator | Halifax Share Dealing Limited, FCA FRN 183332 | Brand name and legal entity are separate factsSource 12Source 13 |
| SIPP provider | Embark Investment Services Limited; company-published FCA reference 737356 | A separate legal role from Halifax Share Dealing Limited’s dealing serviceSource 5Source 16Source 19 |
| Standard custody | Omnibus client segregation at the central securities depository | Not an individually named CREST accountSource 9 |
| Individual Client Segregation | Optional segregated client position at the CSD | £1,000 setup and £6,500 annual cost; not market-loss insuranceSource 9 |
| FSCS investment claims | Up to £85,000 per eligible person, per failed firm for covered investment claims | Subject to eligibility and the reason for the loss; ordinary market losses are excludedSource 14 |
| Cash management account | Client cash held under FCA rules, not a bank account | 0% ISA/SDA interest and retained interest are separate from protectionSource 2 |
Protections & eligibility13
Individual Client Segregation
| Term | Published condition |
|---|---|
| Scope | Conversion covers all Share Dealing Accounts and ISAs held by the customer with the operatorSource 9 |
| Setup | £1,000Source 9 |
| Annual service | £6,500, billed in October; opening-year fee is pro-ratedSource 9 |
| Investment outcome | Segregated custody does not cover market losses; normal dealing and investment charges continueSource 9 |
Opening an account & support
Sections ↑Official support and complaint routes
Share Dealing enquiries and dealingTelephone
+44 113 239 1275Source 17
Scope Published international number; within the UK call 0345 070 7129. Web chat is available after login but cannot place or amend trades.
Hours Monday–Friday 08:00–21:00 UK time; US bank holidays 08:00–18:00; UK bank holidays 14:00–21:00 for US markets.
Formal complaintWebsite
https://www.scottishwidows.co.uk/contact-us/complaints.htmlSource 10
Scope Complaint to the responsible company before eligible external referral.
Existing iWeb account accessWebsite
SIPP administration contactWebsite
https://www.scottishwidows.co.uk/investing/help-and-guidance/contact-us.htmlSource 17
Scope For pension administration, the published UK number is 0345 124 1451. Dealing enquiries use the Share Dealing number.
For an unresolved service complaint, Scottish Widows directs eligible clients to the Financial Ombudsman Service after the firm’s complaint process. Keep the complaint with the responsible service: SIPP administration questions have a separate telephone route from securities dealing.[17][10]
Additional services
Sections ↑Reference table14
Special services and operating conditions
| Service | What it adds | Condition or limit |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Investment Plan | Scheduled purchases without dealing commission | An Investment Plan places orders; a Subscription Plan separately supplies money from the bankSource 6 |
| Dividend reinvestment | Automatic reinvestment where supported | 2% charge capped at £5Source 2 |
| Individual Client Segregation | Optional custody structure | High fixed costs can dominate a smaller portfolioSource 9 |
To stop regular investing completely, cancel both the Investment Plan and its separate Subscription Plan if one was set up. Stopping the order schedule does not automatically cancel the bank funding instruction. Existing investments remain in the account and their subsequent sale is chargeable.[6]
Company background & evidence
Sections ↑The facts15
Company and research context
| Measure | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Current brand | Scottish Widows Share Dealing | Source 1Source 11 |
| Former brand | iWeb | Source 11 |
| Stockbroking operator | Halifax Share Dealing Limited | Source 12Source 13 |
| FCA reference | 183332 | Source 13Source 12 |
| SIPP provider | Embark Investment Services Limited | Source 5Source 19 |
| Selected terms refreshed | 2026-10-29 | Source 2Source 1 |
- Headquarters
- Halifax and Leeds, United Kingdom
- Founded
- Halifax Share Dealing Limited incorporated 1996; iWeb brand rebranded in 2026
Legal entities & licences
These are source-dated records, not a blanket assessment of the broker. Read each issuer, identifier, status and scope together.
Halifax Share Dealing Limited
| Issuer & identifier | Recorded status | Date & scope |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Conduct Authority183332 | Authorised | Checked 16 Oct 2026Current operator identified on Scottish Widows Share Dealing pages. The brand transition does not by itself create a new legal account provider.Source 12Source 13 |
Embark Investment Services Limited
| Issuer & identifier | Recorded status | Date & scope |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Conduct Authority737356 | Authorised | Checked 29 Oct 2026FCA reference and authorised status are published by the SIPP provider; this targeted review confirmed corporate identity at Companies House, not the live FCA permission detail.Source 5Source 16 |
Additional Information
Sections ↑Reference table16
Checks before relying on a quoted condition
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Brand versus entity | The rebrand does not itself create a new counterpartySource 1Source 12 |
| International zero commission | The 1.5% FX adjustment is the principal explicit trading chargeSource 8 |
| Keep cash for charges | SIPP and administrative fees can trigger a sell-out if cash is insufficientSource 2 |
| ICS charges | £1,000 setup plus £6,500 annually; annual billing is in October with an opening-year pro-rata chargeSource 9 |
Sources & further reading
- Share Dealing services and iWeb rebrand Scottish Widows · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Share Dealing costs and charges Scottish Widows · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Share Dealing Account Scottish Widows · Accessed 16 Oct 2026
- Stocks and Shares ISA Scottish Widows · Accessed 16 Oct 2026
- Scottish Widows SIPP and legal provider Scottish Widows · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Regular Investment Plan Scottish Widows · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Transferring investments Scottish Widows · Accessed 16 Oct 2026
- International trading charges and FX example Scottish Widows · Accessed 16 Oct 2026
- Individual Client Segregation service Scottish Widows · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Scottish Widows complaints Scottish Widows · Accessed 16 Oct 2026
- Existing iWeb/Scottish Widows Share Dealing access Scottish Widows · Accessed 16 Oct 2026
- Scottish Widows investment platform legal information Scottish Widows · Accessed 16 Oct 2026
- FCA Firm Checker: Halifax Share Dealing Limited Financial Conduct Authority · Accessed 16 Oct 2026
- FSCS investment protection Financial Services Compensation Scheme · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- SIPPs opened before 25 October 2024: administration fee waiver Scottish Widows · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- SIPP terms, cash interest and provider Scottish Widows · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Share Dealing contacts, dealing support and complaint escalation Scottish Widows · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Existing-customer funding and account-management guide Scottish Widows · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Embark Investment Services Limited: company 09955930 Companies House · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
This profile reports dated public information, including broker-published services and terms. It does not independently test or guarantee execution, pricing or withdrawals. Inclusion is not an endorsement. Permissions and protections apply only to the named legal entity, service and client category; check the current official records and your contract.