Discover — status

Discover.com is the online presence of Discover Financial Services, a leading American financial services company. Its business model is unique because it operates a closed-loop payment network, meaning it is both the card issuer and the payment processor. This differs from companies like Visa and Mastercard, which are networks only and rely on other banks to issue their cards. Discover's history dates back to 1985 when it was launched by Sears, Roebuck and Co. Its core value proposition was a no-annual-fee card with a cash back rewards program, a revolutionary concept at the time. The company has since grown its portfolio beyond credit cards to include a variety of other financial products. Discover's primary revenue streams come from a combination of net interest income and non-interest income. Net interest income is earned from the interest on its loan portfolio, which includes balances on credit cards, personal loans, student loans, and home loans. Non-interest income is generated from various fees, such as late payment fees, and more significantly, from interchange fees that merchants pay to accept Discover cards. Since Discover is both the issuer and the processor, it keeps a larger portion of this fee revenue compared to open-loop networks. The company's offerings are diverse and include the popular Discover it® Cash Back card, known for its rotating 5% cash back bonus categories. It also provides student and secured credit cards to help people build credit. Beyond credit cards, Discover offers a full range of consumer banking products, including checking and savings accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit (CDs). Its banking services are primarily online, which allows it to offer competitive interest rates. Discover also owns and operates two other payment networks, Pulse, a major debit network, and Diners Club International, a global payments network. This gives Discover a broader global reach and allows it to process transactions for other financial institutions.