Blue Flame Credit Union

What Blue Flame Credit Union does

Blue Flame Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative financial institution founded in 1954 and headquartered at 2000 Continental Blvd, Charlotte, NC. It serves a defined membership community composed primarily of Duke Energy / Piedmont Natural Gas employees and their immediate family members, along with individuals who live, work, attend school, or worship in Mecklenburg County, NC. The credit union operates from a single full-service branch with walk-in and drive-through access (relocated to its current headquarters in August 2022) and is federally insured by the NCUA.

The institution offers a full suite of retail banking products including share savings, free checking, money market accounts, share certificates (APY up to 3.90% on 60-month terms effective January 2026), IRAs, youth and young adult accounts, and seasonal accounts. Lending products span new and used auto loans (3.99%–5.99% APR), Mastercard credit cards (9.90% purchase APR, 5.95% balance transfer APR with no transfer fee), HELOCs (6.75% variable APR), RV/boat/powersport loans, personal loans, secured loans, and overdraft lines of credit. Mortgages are originated through Member First Mortgage and student loans through a Sallie Mae referral partnership; insurance and investment products are distributed via TruStage, AFLAC, and CMFG Life referrals.

The technology stack is entirely vendor-supplied: Fiserv powers Virtual Branch online banking and loan origination, the TouchBanking mobile app (iOS and Android) provides account access and mobile deposit up to $3,000 daily, and the CO-OP Shared Branch Network extends physical distribution to over 5,000 branches and 30,000+ surcharge-free ATMs nationwide. The credit union generates revenue primarily through net interest income on member loans, with ancillary income from deposit fees, skip-a-payment charges ($25), and referral/affiliate compensation from insurance, investment, student loan, and mortgage partners. Member proceeds are returned through lower loan rates, fee-free core services, and certificate dividends consistent with its cooperative structure.

Name

Blue Flame Credit Union

Legal name

Blue Flame Credit Union

Website

https://blueflamecu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Blue Flame Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative founded in 1954, serving Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas employees and Mecklenburg County, NC residents from a single Charlotte branch with Fiserv-powered digital banking and CO-OP shared branching.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Banking (Credit Union)

NAICS

Credit Unions (522130), Credit Unions (52213)

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022), Personal Credit Institutions (6141)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Credit Unions (Retail/Consumer Focus) (FSABAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Retail Lending (Personal Loans, Auto, Credit Lines) (FSABAAAB), Credit Cards & Revolving Credit (FSABAAAC)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Consumer lending
• Credit union services
• Deposit accounts
• Mortgage lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Interest Income on Loans: Blue Flame Credit Union earns interest income by lending to its members across vehicle loans, mortgages, personal loans, credit cards, and HELOCs. Interest rates vary by product — auto loans as low as 3.99% APR, Mastercard as low as 5.95% balance transfer APR, HELOC at 6.75% variable APR.
2. Deposit Account Fees and Service Charges: The credit union generates fee revenue from checking account maintenance, overdraft fees, wire transfers, stop payments, skip-a-payment requests ($25 per skip), early certificate withdrawals, and ATM/debit card services. Most core services carry no extra charges per their fee schedule.
3. Insurance and Protection Products: Blue Flame earns referral/compensation fees through partnerships with TruStage (auto & home insurance, life insurance, AD&D), AFLAC (critical illness and accident insurance), and CMFG Life (debt protection). Borrower Security Debt Protection costs are added monthly to loans.
4. Sallie Mae Student Loan Referrals: Blue Flame refers student loan applicants to Sallie Mae Bank and receives compensation for each referral. Blue Flame is not the creditor; Sallie Mae Bank makes the loans.
5. Investment Products Referrals: Through partnership with TruStage / CUNA Mutual Group, members are referred to securities, mutual funds, annuities, life insurance, and college savings plans. Blue Flame earns referral fees.
6. Share Certificate and Savings Dividends: Members hold share certificates and savings accounts that earn APY. The credit union uses these deposits to fund lending operations. Certificates offer APY up to 3.90% (60-month term, effective January 2, 2026).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Blue Flame Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative that provides retail banking products and consumer lending to its members in Mecklenburg County, NC, and to Duke Energy/Piedmont Natural Gas employees and their families. Core offerings include deposit accounts (savings, free checking, money markets, share certificates, IRAs, education savings, young member accounts) and a full lending suite (auto loans, Mastercard credit card, mortgages, HELOCs, RV/boat/powersport loans, personal loans, secured loans, debt consolidation, and student loan referrals), delivered through a single Charlotte branch plus the CO-OP shared branch and ATM network.

Product overview

Blue Flame Credit Union operates as a not-for-profit financial cooperative serving Mecklenburg County, Charlotte NC since 1954. The company offers a comprehensive suite of deposit products (Regular Savings, Free Checking, Christmas/Vacation Savings, Certificates, IRA/Education Savings, Money Markets, Young Member Accounts) and lending products (Auto Loans, Mastercard Credit Card, Mortgages, Home Equity Line of Credit, RV/Boat/Powersport Loans, Debt Consolidation, Personal Lending, Secured Personal Loans, Student Loans via Sallie Mae). Digital banking services include Virtual Branch Online Banking, Mobile Banking App (TouchBanking), 24-Hour Telephone Teller, Direct Deposit, eStatements, and Skip A Payment. Additional services encompass ATM/Debit Cards, Overdraft Protection, Vehicle Protection (GAP/Warranty), Debt Protection, TruStage Insurance products, AFLAC Insurance, Investment Services via TruStage, Wire Transfers, Disaster Relief Program, Branch Services, and Shared Branching through CO-OP network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Regular Savings Basic variable-rate savings account serving as the foundational membership account for Blue Flame Credit Union members.
• Free Checking No-fee checking account enabling point-of-sale transactions, ATM access, direct deposit, online bill pay, and eStatement delivery for members.
• Christmas and Vacation Savings Specialty club savings accounts designed for holiday and vacation expenses, with dedicated payout windows in December and May respectively.
• Share Certificates

Quantifiable outcome

• Members could save over $4,800 in interest by consolidating $10,000 credit card debt at Blue Flame's 5.95% APR vs. industry average 21.99% APR over 60 months
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and supporting.

• Sallie Mae BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Flame partners with Sallie Mae to offer student loans to members. Sallie Mae Bank is the creditor for these loans; Blue Flame receives referral compensation. The partnership covers Smart Option Student Loans for undergraduate and career training students, plus graduate loans for specific fields of study. Blue Flame does not charge origination fees on referred loans.
• Member First MortgagecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBlue Flame has partnered with Member First Mortgage (NMLS #149532) to offer mortgage products that members would not otherwise access through the credit union directly. Products include FHA, USDA, VA, Jumbo, Conventional, and Construction Loans.
• CO-OP Shared Branch NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBlue Flame is a member of the CO-OP Shared Branch Network, providing members with access to more than 5,000 shared branches across the country where they can conduct deposits, withdrawals, and other transactions using their Blue Flame account number.
• CO-OP ATM NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBlue Flame provides members with access to over 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs through the CO-OP ATM network, spanning all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, and military bases worldwide.
• TruStage (CUNA Mutual Group)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerBlue Flame partners with TruStage / CUNA Mutual Group for insurance and investment products. TruStage provides auto & home insurance, life insurance, accidental death & dismemberment insurance, and investment products including securities, stocks, mutual funds, annuities, life insurance policies, and college savings plans. TruStage AD&D coverage ($1,000 no-cost base) is a fully paid member benefit.
• AFLACminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBlue Flame has partnered with AFLAC to provide members access to Lump Sum Critical Illness insurance (up to $100,000 for heart attack, stroke, coma, paralysis, major organ transplant, end stage renal failure) and Accident insurance with emergency treatment, hospitalization, and death benefits. AFLAC pays benefits directly to the member. Contact: Naveed Ulhaq at (704) 284-9324.
• CMFG Life Insurance CompanycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCMFG Life Insurance Company underwrites the MEMBER'S CHOICE Borrower Security Debt Protection (disability, loss of life, involuntary unemployment coverage) offered by Blue Flame. CMFG Life also underwrites TruStage Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance products. The cost of Borrower Security Debt Protection is added to members' monthly loan payments.
• Vizo Financial Corporate Credit UnionsupportingTechnology or IntegrationVizo Financial Corporate Credit Union serves as the receiving financial institution for incoming wire transfers to Blue Flame Credit Union. Routing number for incoming wires: ABA 253184317.
• Route 66 Extended Warranty (Mechanical Repair Coverage)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerBlue Flame offers Route 66 Extended Warranty (Mechanical Repair Coverage) to members as vehicle protection. The warranty is available for any make/model, includes zero deductible, 24/7 roadside service, rental car benefits, 30-day money back guarantee, and is transferable upon vehicle sale.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Wells Fargo: Major national bank headquartered in Charlotte that competes with Blue Flame for the same Mecklenburg County retail deposits, consumer loans, and credit card relationships, but with substantially broader product breadth and scale.
• Bank of America: Large national retail bank with a major Charlotte presence, offering checking, savings, credit cards, mortgages, and auto lending that overlap with Blue Flame's product suite and compete for the same Mecklenburg County households.
• State Employees' Credit Union (SECU): North Carolina's largest credit union, providing the same full suite of retail banking, consumer lending, mortgages, and deposit products across the state, including Mecklenburg County; a much larger incumbent competitor serving overlapping employer-group and geographic memberships.

Direct peers

• Self-Help Credit Union: North Carolina-based community credit union serving Mecklenburg-area residents and employees of partner organizations, with comparable deposit, consumer loan, and member-ownership model and shared focus on financial education.
• Local Government Federal Credit Union: North Carolina community credit union with an employer-sponsorship-driven membership model, offering a parallel retail banking and consumer lending product suite and not-for-profit cooperative economics.
• Allegacy Federal Credit Union: North Carolina-headquartered community credit union serving employer groups and geographic communities, with comparable deposit, consumer lending, mortgage, and insurance referral partnerships, and a similar not-for-profit cooperative identity.
• Truliant Federal Credit Union: Carolinas-headquartered community credit union offering a similar retail banking, lending, and credit-card product suite, including auto loans, mortgages, HELOCs, and digital banking, with comparable not-for-profit cooperative economics.
• Coastal Federal Credit Union: North Carolina community credit union offering the same core suite of savings, checking, certificates, auto loans, mortgages, and credit cards through a cooperative structure with NCUA insurance and Fiserv-powered digital banking.
• Founders Federal Credit Union: Charlotte-area credit union serving employer groups and geographic communities, with similar auto loan, mortgage, certificate, and digital banking offerings and a comparable cooperative ownership structure.

Regional players

• Duke University Federal Credit Union: Durham-headquartered employer-sponsored credit union operating in North Carolina with comparable deposit, lending, and digital banking offerings for a defined employee and family membership community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/blueflamecreditunion
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blue-flame-credit-union

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Blue Flame Credit Union