Founded in 1999 as PRE.IPO AG and later rebranded, flatex was one of the first online discount brokers in Germany. Its mission is to provide private investors with fair, simple, and secure access to capital markets and stock exchange trading. flatex GmbH operates as a tied agent of flatexDEGIRO Bank AG, which provides the banking and brokerage services. The company is now part of the pan-European flatexDEGIRO AG, one of Europe's largest online brokers, which also owns the DEGIRO brand. The platform allows clients to trade stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds, certificates, and CFDs.