Halifax brand to be scrapped after 173 years on high street


The 173-year-old Halifax brand is being scrapped and all customer accounts will be changed to Lloyds over time, Lloyds Banking Group says.

The bank, named after the West Yorkshire town where it was founded as a building society, granted its first mortgage in 1853.

It later grew to become one of the UKโ€™s largest building societies.

It became a division of the Bank of Scotland in 2006, and part of Lloyds Banking Group three years later.

Lloyds Banking Group said that there is nothing that customers need to do and they will be contacted about the changes.

The banking giant confirmed the move after reports in May said it was considering phasing out Halifax as a standalone brand.

Halifax customers will have their accounts switched to Lloyds
Halifax customers will have their accounts switched to Lloyds (Getty Images)

At the time that rumours began swirling, a Lloyds spokesperson said: โ€œWe regularly look at the role our brands play in supporting our customers.

โ€œOur banking customers can already use any Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland branch, and see any of their products and services in any of their apps.โ€

It is understood that the decision was rooted in efforts to simplify the groupโ€™s portfolio, with the distinction between Halifax and Lloyds seen as becoming less prominent in recent years.

Jas Singh, Lloyds Banking Groupโ€™s chief executive of consumer relationships, said on Tuesday: โ€œAs Halifax changes to Lloyds, our Halifax customers will keep everything they know and love today โ€“ the same fantastic app design, the same friendly faces in our branches โ€“ even the same sort code and account number.

โ€œBut as Lloyds customers, theyโ€™ll get the best innovation and experiences we offer.โ€

Lloyds said that it remains committed to the town of Halifax and the wider Yorkshire and Humber region, where some 3,000 staff are based at its Trinity Road office.

No job cuts are being announced as part of the shake-up, and Halifax branches will either be rebranded to Lloyds or shifted to a Lloyds branch nearby throughout 2027.

The closure of Halifax will not affect customersโ€™ account numbers, nor their automatic protection under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

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