Clearing members protect buyers and sellers from financial loss by assuring performance on each traded contract. Although many different customers trade at CME Group, all trades are ultimately conducted between CME Clearing and a clearing member.

Clearing members play a valuable role in the clearing process. They are highly capitalized, closely monitored and carefully selected companies that stand behind all trades made through CME Group. All CME and CBOT trades must go through a CME Clearing member. NYMEX trades must go through a NYMEX clearing member.

Specifically, clearing members represent the trades made through all Futures Commission Merchants (FCMs) trading on the exchange. Traders who are not themselves clearing members must have a relationship with a clearing member to be able to trade at CME Group. CME Clearing members must also have individual memberships at CME and/or CBOT.

CME Requirements for Clearing Firms
Clearing Firm Members