Lloyds Banking Group has confirmed it will retire the Halifax brand after 173 years, removing the name from UK high streets. The group will stop opening new Halifax accounts and begin migrating existing customers to Lloyds branding over the coming days.
No Branch Closures Planned
The dismantling of signage at 190 Halifax-branded branches will start in early 2027. Lloyds assured that no branches will close as a result of the change. The group operates 531 branches overall, with the Halifax sites to be rebranded.
The decision, first reported in May, follows a review of Lloyds' branding strategy. It has sparked dismay among loyal customers and residents of Halifax, West Yorkshire, the town the brand is named after.
Historical Background
Lloyds has operated three brands—Lloyds, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland—since 2009, when the financial crisis forced the government-brokered rescue of HBOS with £20bn in taxpayer cash. Halifax traces its roots to the Halifax Permanent Benefit Building Society, founded in the mid-1800s to address housing shortages. By 1928, it was the world's largest building society, demutualizing in the 1990s and merging with Bank of Scotland in 2001.
Customer Assurance
Jas Singh, Lloyds' consumer relations boss, 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." Sort codes and account numbers will remain unchanged.
The Bank of Scotland brand will be retained for customers in Scotland, while Lloyds becomes the sole brand in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Strategic Shift
The announcement comes ahead of Lloyds CEO Charlie Nunn's strategic plan due with half-year results in July. His current five-year plan, ending in December, focused on digital and mobile banking. Speculation grew last year when Nunn allowed customers to use any group branch and standardized staff uniforms.
