Lloyds Banking Group has announced the end of the Halifax brand after 173 years on British high streets. All customer accounts will be rebranded to Lloyds over time. The group, which has owned Halifax since 2009, confirmed that no action is required from customers, who will be contacted about the changes.
Background of the Decision
The move follows reports in May that Lloyds 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, also part of the group, will remain unchanged.
History of Halifax
Halifax was founded in West Yorkshire in 1853 and granted its first mortgage, growing to become one of the UK’s largest building societies. It lost its building society status in 1997 after listing shares on the London Stock Exchange, then merged with Bank of Scotland and was later acquired by Lloyds Banking Group. Today, Halifax is one of the UK’s biggest mortgage lenders and serves millions of customers with current and savings accounts.
Customer Experience and Transition
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.
Commitment to Yorkshire and Branches
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. No job cuts are being announced as part of the shake-up. Halifax branches will either be rebranded to Lloyds or shifted to a nearby Lloyds branch throughout 2027.
However, hundreds of high street branches have been shut in recent years, and more will close under existing plans. Lloyds recently announced 79 new closures on top of 95 already planned over the coming year across the three brands, leaving the group with 531 branches in total across the UK. Since last year, customers have been able to use branches of all three brands for help, regardless of the brand on their account.
