Retained Margin is an account state that activates automatically when your portfolio value (equity) falls below USD $2,500. When this happens, Hapi temporarily pauses your margin loan to protect your account.
What happens when you enter Retained Margin?
What you'll see in the app
Your Available Margin drops to $0 — you can no longer use margin for new purchases
The buffer bar disappears and is replaced by a bar showing how much you need to recover to exit this state
If you had margin in use, your Buying Power will appear negative, reflecting your outstanding debt
If you had no margin in use, you'll still enter Retained Margin but without showing a negative balance
What you can and can't do
✅ You can sell assets to reduce your debt or recover equity
✅ You can deposit funds to restore your equity above $2,500
✅ You can receive dividends normally
❌ You cannot open new positions while in this state
❌ You cannot withdraw funds if you have margin in use
Why does this happen?
Your equity is the real value of your portfolio after subtracting your margin loan:
Equity = Market value of your assets + Cash - Margin used
If the market drops and your equity falls below $2,500, Hapi activates Retained Margin as a preventive measure to keep your account from going into deficit.
How to exit Retained Margin
You have two options:
Option 1 — Deposit funds
Make a deposit to bring your equity back above $2,500. Once it's processed, your margin will reactivate automatically.
Option 2 — Sell assets
Sell some of your positions. By reducing your margin used or increasing your cash, your equity rises and you can recover access to margin.
Is this the same as a Margin Call?
Not exactly. A Margin Call happens when your buffer falls below the maintenance requirement — in that case you have a set period to cover the difference. Retained Margin is a prior or alternative step: your loan is paused directly when you fall below the minimum equity of $2,500.
Frequently asked questions
Did I lose my margin line? No. Your margin line is still there. As soon as your equity exceeds $2,500, it will reactivate automatically.
Am I still charged interest while in Retained Margin? Yes. If you have margin in use, interest keeps accruing on that amount until you cover it.
Can I still see my positions? Yes. Your assets remain in your portfolio and you can view their value in real time.
How long do I have to resolve this? There's no fixed deadline, but we recommend acting as soon as possible to avoid the situation worsening if the market continues to fall.
Have questions? Write to us at [email protected] and we'll be happy to help.