Halifax customers have been reassured as the switchover to Lloyds continues. People who bank with Halifax are being greeted with messages about the need to switch over to the Lloyds banking app in the near future.
The message, which can be seen on the Halifax banking app, says: "We're changing our Halifax brand to Lloyds. It's time for you to move across to the Lloyds app. The Lloyds app is very similar to this one, so will feel familiar to use."
Lloyds confirms switchover timeline
Lloyds says it hopes to complete the switchover in the coming months. It follows the announcement in July confirming that the 173-year-old Halifax brand was coming to an end.
A spokesperson said: "We want to reassure Halifax customers that there is very little changing for them. Their account details will stay the same and, over time, we’ll update our branding.
"If customers don’t already use it, we’ll let them know well in advance when they need to switch to the Lloyds app. We’ll contact customers through our usual trusted channels, including the Halifax app, Online Banking, email, and letter where appropriate. We’ll always explain clearly if customers need to do anything. As always, we’ll never ask customer to move money or share their PIN, password, or security codes."
Background to the brand change
Lloyds Banking Group, which has owned Halifax since 2009, had been rumoured to be making the switch for a couple of months before the announcement. It is understood that the decision was rooted in efforts to simplify the group’s portfolio.
Halifax is one of the UK’s biggest mortgage lenders and has millions of customers also using its current and savings accounts. Lloyds was at pains to point out that very little would change for customers.
Speaking at the time of the announcement, 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."
Financial impact and local reaction
Lloyds Banking Group revealed in late July that its profits have jumped by nearly a quarter, as its boss unveiled a new four-year plan to deepen the use of AI and further digitalise the bank to help drive a fresh £2 billion of cost cuts.
Lloyds said it remained 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. 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.
This will leave the group with 531 branches in total across the UK. But the move has not gone down well everywhere. Scott Patient, who was the deputy leader of Calderdale Council until recently, said he feared the move could be "retrograde" and might be "more damaging to (Lloyds) than they realise".
Mr Patient told the Press Association: "It’s a well known and well loved brand that really has defined the town, not just here but across the country and further.
"In this age of consumerism and mass capitalism it’s a shame it’s not thinking about the brand value, and the pride people have in towns and places."
