Supermarkets are blessed with positive cash flow: when they sell, cash is immediate, while suppliers are usually paid a month or more later. There are therefore opportunities to use the 'average holdings' of this positive cash flow to turn it into a profit centre; for example by making real estate loans to customers. A mortgage is a long-term loan (although there is always the option to securitize it), but in practice the average cash flow balance is also long-term.
That's what the British supermarket giant did Tesco, which has just launched a range of mortgage loans for first-time homes since 6 August; limiting himself, however, prudently (the lesson subprime teaches) to those who can finance 20-30% out of their own pockets. For now the rates do not seem competitive with those of traditional banks, but Tesco is offering additional points on consumer 'loyalty cards', and also gives the possibility to skip two installments per year (which are added at the bottom).
