Hello Investors: Free Facebook Shares if You Open An Account With 8Securities

Facebook has gone public today (as NASDAQ:FB), and Hong Kong-based financial trading startup, 8Securities (who just announced $1.5 million of additional funding this morning), is offering something of a treat. 8Securities will provide US$200 worth of Facebook shares to every customer who opens an account with 8Securities.

Co-founder, Mikaal Abdulla, explains that although Facebook’s IPO has generated much buzz in Asia, there are only a few economical ways for them to access Facebook shares. Thus, 8Securities aims to be the platform for individual investors to trade economically in Asia. The only requirement is that the account needs to have a minimum funding of $10,000HKD. Mikaal also explains to me why his company is giving out free Facebook shares:

Our competitors spend their marketing budgets on expensive TV, print and outdoor advertising which is very traditional. We are simply choosing to give that value directly to our customers and we hope they help us spread the word. We will support this campaign through social and online marketing.

8 Securities claims to offer the best price in Asia when trading US stocks at only $8.88USD per trade with no hidden cost. The startup raised $8 million two months ago. And since then it has seen many active investment accounts from Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, and Singapore. The most popular stocks traded are Apple, Google, and Sina.