Lloyds Banking Group announced on July 1, 2026, that it will phase out the 173-year-old Halifax standalone brand, merging all customer accounts into Lloyds.
The transition will occur throughout 2027 without job cuts or immediate disruption.
The banking giant, which has owned Halifax since 2009, cited efforts to streamline its portfolio as the distinction between the two brands faded.
Jas Singh, chief executive of consumer relationships at Lloyds Banking Group, assured customers that services will remain familiar during the transition.
“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,” Singh said.
The decision has sparked widespread disappointment from local officials in West Yorkshire. Former deputy leader of Calderdale Council Scott Patient expressed strong reservations about erasing the historic identity.
“It’s a well known and well loved brand that really has defined the town, not just here but across the country and further,” Patient said.
Patient warned that the move could backfire.
“I think it might be more damaging to them than they realise,” he said, adding that the brand holds deep cultural value for residents.
“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.”
He characterized the removal as a “retrograde step” and noted the contradiction of Lloyds investing heavily in local offices while withdrawing the name.
“I’ve no idea why they’ve done it.
It’s a shame, they’ve just invested a lot of money into their headquarters, they’re clearly investing in Halifax, but I feel with one hand they giveth and with the other hand they taketh away,” Patient said.
Calderdale Council Leader Dan Sutherland expressed official disappointment but acknowledged the bank’s continued physical presence and recent investments.
“We are disappointed that Lloyds Banking Group has decided to gradually phase out the use of Halifax Bank as a standalone brand.
We know the Halifax brand is important for many generations of local people,” Sutherland said.
He noted that Lloyds recently invested £116 million into transforming the iconic head office building at Trinity Road.
“I will be meeting with senior colleagues at Lloyds in the coming weeks to strengthen our long-term working relations,” Sutherland added.
The Calderdale Labour Group issued a collective statement saying they are “deeply disappointed” by the decision.
“The Halifax name is more than a banking brand – it is part of our town’s identity and heritage, recognised across the UK and beyond,” the group said.
“We urge Lloyds to recognise the significance of the Halifax name and to demonstrate its long-term commitment to our town and the communities it serves.
Halifax deserves to be celebrated, not erased.”
Halifax was originally founded as a building society in West Yorkshire in 1853 and currently employs 3,000 personnel at its Trinity Road facilities.
