E*Trade Group Inc. has launched E*Trade Mortgage to originate mortgages directly online. E*Trade Group, the Menlo Park, CA-based parent of E*Trade Securities and E*Trade Bank, is an online portal that provides personal financial, investing and banking services. The company bought LoansDirect, an online mortgage originator, on Feb. 1, 2001, and rebranded the acquired company to help diversify its internet financial and banking services.