First-e customers will be invited to compare, select and buy online the mortgage most tailored to their needs, from a variety of well-known lenders. Xelector, a start-up Internet comparison shopping service for financial products, is piloting the service with 2000 customers of first-e.

"Working with Xelector is allowing us to find innovative new ways of delivering best value to our customers," says Richard Thackray, UK country manager at first-e. "Customers are demanding more and more financial services over the Internet because of the convenience it offers, and mortgages are high on the priority list. With Xelector’s technology and service, we are able to offer a comparison shopping service, to match individual needs."

"We are very pleased to be working with first-e Group, the first Web site partner for our UK online mortgages service," says Jussi Laurimaa, CEO of Xelector. "First-e...has a large customer base and a customer value proposition that fits very well with our own. Rather than just being able to comparison shop for mortgages online, customers will actually be able to apply over the Web as well."

To ensure customers have the assistance they need when comparing and selecting a mortgage, trained mortgage specialists are available by email and phone to answer queries. The first-e branded service also offers customers general information, such as how to calculate the likely amount they can borrow, as well as other details about the process of buying a mortgage and jargon-free definitions of financial terms.

Marlborough Stirling has worked with Xelector to provide consultancy on data collection, and has also customised its Omiga software to support the service.