HSBC has launched what is thought to be Britain's lowest-ever mortgage deal with an interest rate of less than 1 percent, raising concerns of a return to riskier lending practices to try to boost flagging profits.

Europe's largest bank is offering customers the chance to borrow money at a fixed interest rate of 0.99 percent for two years if they have saved a deposit of 35 percent of the property's purchase price, the bank said on Tuesday.

Read more on: uk.reuters.com