Halifax Brand to Be Phased Out After 173 Years
The Halifax brand will disappear after 173 years on the high street, with all customer accounts rebranded to Lloyds. Lloyds Banking Group, which has owned Halifax since 2009, confirmed the move following reports in May that it was considering phasing out Halifax as a standalone brand. The decision is rooted in efforts to simplify the group’s portfolio, as the distinction between Halifax and Lloyds has become less prominent in recent years.
Lloyds will become the group’s lead brand in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, while Bank of Scotland will remain unchanged. Halifax, founded in West Yorkshire in 1853, was one of the UK’s largest building societies before losing that status in 1997 after listing shares on the London Stock Exchange. It later merged with Bank of Scotland and was acquired by Lloyds Banking Group.
What Customers Need to Know
Jas Singh, Lloyds Banking Group’s chief executive of consumer relationships, said: “As Halifax changes to Lloyds, our Halifax customers will keep everything they know and love today – the same fantastic app design, the same friendly faces in our branches – even the same sort code and account number. But as Lloyds customers, they’ll get the best innovation and experiences we offer.” Customers will be contacted over the coming days and weeks through the Halifax app, online banking, email and by letter. They will be invited to move to the Lloyds app and digital banking, and their accounts will be rebranded to Lloyds over time.
Halifax will stop opening new accounts as part of the phase-out. No job cuts are being announced, and Halifax branches will either be rebranded to Lloyds or shifted to a Lloyds branch nearby throughout 2027. Customers have been able to use branches of all three brands for help since a change last year.
Commitment to the Region
Lloyds said it remains committed to the town of Halifax and the wider Yorkshire and Humber region, having recently invested £116 million in the Trinity Road office where some 3,000 staff are based. The office will feature a celebration of the Halifax brand through the years.
