Halifax Brand to Be Phased Out After 173 Years
The Halifax, established in the West Yorkshire town in 1853, will see its brand retired after 173 years, with all customer accounts transitioning to Lloyds.
Lloyds Banking Group, which acquired Halifax in 2009, confirmed the decision following reports in May that indicated plans to phase out Halifax as a standalone brand.
The group emphasized its ongoing commitment to the town of Halifax and the broader Yorkshire and Humber region, where 3,000 employees work at the Trinity Road office.
Halifax Labour MP Kate Dearden expressed her disappointment, describing the move as "bitterly disappointing" and noted she has engaged in discussions with Lloyds to "ensure their commitment and continued investment in Halifax long into the future".
Lloyds Banking Group's chief executive of consumer relationships, Jas Singh, assured customers that minimal changes would occur.
"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," he said.
No job losses have been announced as part of this transition. Halifax branches will either be rebranded as Lloyds or consolidated with nearby branches throughout 2027.
The decision reportedly aims to simplify the group's portfolio, as the distinction between Halifax and Lloyds has diminished over recent years.
'Enduring Relationship'
The Halifax was founded in West Yorkshire in 1853, granting its first mortgage that same year, and grew to become one of the UK's largest building societies.
Dearden characterized the bank as a "local institution built on the hard work and investment of working people."
"While the Halifax brand will disappear, Lloyds can still play a major role in our local economy by investing in Halifax and creating the opportunities our young people need to thrive," she said.
The Halifax's headquarters building on Trinity Road has been a landmark for many years.
Calderdale Council's Reform leader Dan Sutherland stated that Lloyds Banking Group's relationship with Halifax as a place would remain "strong and enduring."
"We know the Halifax brand is important for many generations of local people who care about the town's heritage and are proud of the brand's part in our local traditions, family history and Halifax's profile across the world," he said.
"We are reassured Lloyds has made it very clear the business is absolutely committed to the town, having recently invested £116m into a major transformation of the iconic head office building at Trinity Road, to make it fit for the future."
The Calderdale Labour Group described the bank as "part of our town's identity and heritage."
In a statement, the group said:
"For generations, local people have been proud of the name and what it represents. While we welcome the commitment to keep branches open and protect customers' accounts, many residents will be saddened to see such an iconic name disappear from our high streets."
Luddenfoot Labour councillor Scott Patient expressed concern that the move could be "more damaging to [Lloyds] than they realise."
"I feel with one hand they giveth, and with the other hand they taketh away," he said. "I think once you have something that's existed for that long, there's a real sense of pride, that we're a place, not just a bank."
A History of The Halifax
Founded in 1853 as the Halifax Permanent Benefit Building Society in West Yorkshire, the institution became the Halifax Building Society in 1873.
Building societies emerged across English towns during the Industrial Revolution, enabling working people to purchase homes through savings accounts and loans.
The first mortgage granted by Halifax was to Esau Hanson, who borrowed £121 to buy land for a house on St John's Lane.
By 1928, Halifax Building Society had become the largest building society worldwide, with assets totaling £47 million.
During the 1980s, building societies began competing with traditional banks, and on 2 June 1997, Halifax was floated on the UK stock market.
In 2001, Halifax merged with the Bank of Scotland to form HBOS, which was subsequently acquired by Lloyds Banking Group in 2009.
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