Scottrade

Scottrade began as a single-branch brokerage in St. Louis, Missouri, founded by Rodger Riney in 1980. Over the following decades, the company steadily built a reputation for accessible investing and a strong customer focus, which fueled its expansion into a national network. By the mid-2010s, Scottrade operated more than 500 branch offices across the United States, making it one of the largest retail brokerage footprints in the country as of September 2017.

A major milestone came in September 2017, when Scottrade was acquired by TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation in a $4 billion transaction. This marked the end of Scottrade’s independent operations. All of its 503 branches and client accounts were integrated into the TD Ameritrade network, and the Scottrade brand was retired. By November 2017, every location had been rebranded or closed, with no new sites opening under the Scottrade name.

During its final years, Scottrade’s coast-to-coast presence set it apart from digital-only competitors, offering in-person service and accessibility in both major and secondary markets. The company’s rapid growth and eventual consolidation reflect broader trends in financial services, where scale and technology have become increasingly important. The transition of Scottrade’s real estate portfolio created opportunities for landlords and developers, as hundreds of well-located branch sites became available for new uses or tenants. Many of Scottrade’s former locations continue to shape the landscape for financial and professional services tenants today, underscoring the lasting impact of its national branch network on retail real estate. Key contacts for these sites have since transitioned to TD Ameritrade or, following another industry merger in 2020, to Charles Schwab.