OREANDA-NEWS. April 16, 2008. Only one month ago SAMPO bankas became the first bank in Lithuania to start an active mortgage loan refinancing campaign intended for those who took out a mortgage loan several years ago and have since realised that the payable interest rate is on the increase, reported the press-centre of SAMPO bankas.

In addition to other types of encouragement to "wake up", several thousand home owners throughout Lithuania were presented with symbols of the refinancing campaign - alarm clocks. The loud alarm clocks decorated with the logo of the campaign constitute a playful illustration of the main idea of the campaign: people should "wake up" and consider the real possibility to make the burden of their mortgage loan lighter.

Product Management Department Director of SAMPO bankas, Darius Jasinskis is happy that the refinancing campaign has proved successful: "Compared to the period prior to the beginning of the campaign, the average number of clients showing interest in the possibility of refinancing their loan at SAMPO bankas has tripled and now amounts to 25 percent of all mortgage loan applications. The flow of phone calls has also intensified considerably - people would like to obtain detailed information on the possibility of refinancing their mortgage loans. This proves that the need to refinance mortgage loans has increased, and people need this option." Mr Jasinskis added that most clients have a positive attitude towards the unusual encouragement to "wake up" made by SAMPO: "Most of the clients who received our alarm clocks had already seen the Wake Up campaign ad, and were pleased to accept the campaign symbols given to them as a present," Mr Jasinskis said.

SAMPO bankas started the refinancing campaign a month ago, with the guarantee that any client who has a mortgage loan and complies with a credit risk check and other requirements will be provided with better loan conditions, which might entail a reduced margin, another loan currency, a different term and loan repayment method, etc.

Upon review of the interest currently paid by the client and upon proposal of a lower margin, real financial benefits obtained by reducing the monthly payment, or the amount saved over the entire loan period, will be evaluated using special calculations. Loan refinancing is also an excellent opportunity to change other credit conditions (e.g. the currency or the loan term) free of charge, which would be subject to additional fees at other banks.

Further information on mortgage loan refinancing conditions may be obtained by calling the short number 1636 or visiting the bank's website.

AB SAMPO bankas belongs to Danske Bank (Denmark) which is one of the largest Scandinavian and Western European groups of financial services. Danske Bank acquired Sampo banks in Finland and Baltic States in November 2006 and completed the purchase transaction in February 2007. In July 2007 Danske Bank Group acquired the qualifying holding of AB SAMPO bankas.

In terms of Tier I capital Danske Bank is the 25th among banking groups at the Western European and the 42nd – at the global level. Banks belonging to Danske Bank occupy leading positions in Scandinavia and also have their branches set up in Ireland, Baltic States and Russia. Danske Bank Group employs more than 24 thousand of people.