Not wanting to be left behind as retailers across the country slash their prices, HSBC-owned UK internet bank First Direct has launched a new year sale of its own, covering seven of its top products, including mortgages, loans, insurance and cards.

<p>The &#0039;big 7&#0039; sale offers, which will be available until February 22, 2007, cover a variety of the bank&#0039;s products. <br /><br />In the mortgages segment, First Direct is offering a fee-free remortgage on its variable rate offset mortgage, saving a GBP299 arrangement fee and a GBP99 external valuation, while, from its personal loans range, the bank will be giving 25% interest back for loans from GBP5,000 to GBP25,000 over a minimum of 24 months, provided the customer completes loan repayments in full on the agreed date. <br /><br />From its insurance stable, meanwhile, First Direct will be paying GBP7 cashback for seven months on both life and home insurance policies, as well as offering a discounted monthly subscription to its &#0039;firstdirectory&#0039; travel and insurance benefits package for the first seven months.<br /><br />These offers will be complemented by an offer of three bottles of wine from Laithwaites when savers transfer GBP7,000 or more into a new or existing e-savings account, and a promotion whereby customers taking out a new First Direct credit card or gold card and using it at least seven times before the end of April can also claim three bottles of Laithwaites wine.<br /><br />Finally, the bank&#0039;s customers will also be given the chance to win prizes, including an Audi A4 Cabriolet or GBP2,000 to spend on jewelry, in a promotional prize draw.</p>