Exchange Memberships

Leasing or purchasing a CME or CBOT exchange membership helps traders to reduce exchange fees and save on their overall trading costs. This is not something that is appropriate for all traders, however, it can be advantageous for those trading high volumes on a daily basis. The application process can take a few weeks and a Blue Ridge Futures representative can help you through the process.

CME Lease

ECMP (Electronic Corporate Membership Program)

The CME introduced a new Electronic Corporate Membership Program (ECMP) to offer a flexible, cost-effective alternative for electronic proprietary trading groups and trading arcades that are not eligible for CME's existing membership categories and fee incentives.  Program participants will be eligible for special GLOBEX® transaction and clearing fee incentives for all CME interest rate, commodity, foreign exchange and E-miniâ„¢ stock index products. CME members who have held trading privileges during the last two years are not eligible for the new program. Corporate Members that do not lease seats (ECM-W's) but meet the minimum volume requirements (25 RT's per day on average for the previous 3 months) receive reduced rates of $1.28 RT for E-mini Equity Index Products and $1.18 RT for Foreign Exchange products. Corporate members that lease seats receive additional discounts for products traded in their division.

Individual Member Application for the CME

You must submit an application for CME membership, which includes questions on your educational, employment, residential and disciplinary history. The application form must be typewritten, filed with a $1,750 non-refundable fee, and include two 2" x 2" passport-quality color photographs and either a certified birth certificate or passport. Your name will be sent to all CME members, and your photograph will be posted on the trading floor

During this posting period, members are encouraged to notify the CME Membership Department if they have any pertinent information about you. Additionally, the NFA must grant you a registration as either a floor broker or a floor trader, or a temporary license to act as such, before you can begin trading on the CME trading floor (does not apply to GLOBEX traders). You can log on to www.nfa.futures.org for registration, you will also need fingerprints. Fingerprinting can be done at the NFA office, 300 S. Riverside Plaza, Ste 1800, Chicago IL, 60606. 

CME Membership—Leasing a Seat

Individuals who own, hold, or have owned or held memberships in any division in the past two years cannot participate in the ECM Program.
Leasing a seat is a two step process. First, you must apply for and be approved for an Individual CME Membership ($1,750 application fee). After membership is approved, you must enter a lease agreement with a seat holder. The lease arrangement is normally coordinated with your clearing firm. A $500 one-time lease application fee is charged when initially leasing a seat. Seat lease prices are variable

To request assistance from a Blue Ridge Futures representative, please send an email to sales@blueridgefutures.com or call 877-500-3559.