In a logical extension of the auto industry’s "employee pricing" gimmick, online lender, E-Loan launched a similar program for loans. This email arrived in our in-box yesterday morning. We are not customers, but have signed up for marketing messages (click on inset for closeup).

According to the email message, the discount on an auto loan amounts to 0.25%. On a mortgage, the savings are 0.5% of the loan amount. The sale runs through Labor Day weekend only, ending Sept. 6, 9am Pacific Time (click on inset on right, for an archived copy of its landing page).

In addition to the email blast, the special is splashed across its website (click on inset for archived copy of E-Loan’s homepage, Sept. 2, 2005).

Note also, the prominent Red Cross link in the middle of the page for making donations to aid Hurricane Katrina victims.

—JB