first direct launches new offset mortgage

first direct has launched a market leading fee free offset base rate tracker mortgage at a rate of 0.99% above the Bank of England Base rate for the life of the loan, currently 5.99%.

The offer is available from Monday 18 August and is for remortgages only.

In addition to being completely fee free, the mortgage has an offset facility which links day-to-day savings and current account balances to the mortgage, meaning customers only pay the interest on the difference. This reduces the total amount owed and cuts the interest payable. For example, someone with a £100,000 mortgage and £20,000 in savings would only pay interest on £80,000.

Chris Pilling, Chief Executive of first direct commented, "In the current market conditions the costs of a new mortgage can prove too much of an extra burden to customers. Our new fee free offset tracker offers a great mortgage rate with no costs at all, apart from the loan itself.

"Also with the offset facility it means that even if customers only credit their salary every month with no extra savings they will be better off than with the equivalent non offset mortgage at the same rate."

The first direct offset lifetime tracker offers:

availability to move their mortgage to a new property for free, as many times as they like;
maximum LTV is 80%;
minimum loan size is £30,000;
the flexibility to make unlimited overpayments in either lump sums or regular payments;
ability to redraw funds at the prevailing rate at any time during the term of the loan.
an immediate rate change following Bank of England announcement.

For more information visit firstdirect.com