Last year, Discover purchased the mortgage business known as Tree.com Inc. and began to fund residential loans under that business entity. Now Discover Financial Services says that it will begin offering home equity loans as it pushes further into the direct banking market. Discover will offer fixed-rate home loans up to $100,000. The company feels that the real estate market has shown a sustained recovery and demand for homes is rising. The company also wants to tap into the market of homeowners who want to consolidate debt.

For more on this story read, “Discover to begin offering home equity loans.”