Lloyds Banking Group has confirmed that it is scrapping the historic Halifax brand after 173 years on the UK high street. Over the coming months, all existing Halifax customer accounts will be rebranded as Lloyds, marking the end of one of the country's most recognisable high-street banking brands.
The decision is part of a wider strategy by Lloyds Banking Group, which has owned Halifax since 2009, to simplify its business portfolio. While Halifax will be phased out across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the group has confirmed that Bank of Scotland will remain its lead brand for Scottish customers.
In this article, we explain the key changes, how your accounts will be affected if you are a Halifax customer, and what you need to do next.
What does the Halifax rebrand mean for your money?
For existing Halifax customers, day-to-day banking will remain largely unchanged. Lloyds has assured customers that the transition will be seamless and there will be no immediate disruption to your services. Lloyds Banking Group's chief executive of consumer relationships Jas Singh 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".
Here is a breakdown of what you need to know:
- Account details - Your account number and sort code will not change.
- Cards and PINs - Your debit and credit card details, along with your PIN, will remain exactly the same.
- Payments - All direct debits, standing orders, and regular repayments will continue to be processed without interruption.
- Benefits - There are no immediate changes to your account features, meaning any packaged account perks you currently use, such as travel or mobile phone insurance, will remain fully active for now.
- Protection - Your money remains fully protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to the £120,000 limit. If you also already hold an account with Lloyds Bank, you do not need to worry about your balances being combined. Lloyds Banking Group has confirmed that existing Halifax accounts will continue to operate under the Bank of Scotland plc banking licence. This means your Halifax money will remain protected completely separately from any money you currently hold with Lloyds Bank plc.
While the underlying features of your accounts will not change today, they will eventually be rebranded as Lloyds accounts. If you hold multiple Halifax accounts, these updates may happen at different times, but the bank will notify you before any changes take effect.
What is happening to Halifax branches and the Halifax banking app?
As part of the phase-out, Halifax will immediately stop opening new accounts. Over the next few months, existing customers will be invited to switch from the Halifax app and online banking platform to the Lloyds equivalents.
How this affects you depends on whether you already use Lloyds for your banking:
- If you already bank with Lloyds - You are all set and do not need to do anything new. Your Halifax accounts will automatically appear in your existing Lloyds app and online banking. If your current Lloyds login is for a business account, those details will now also work on the Lloyds personal app and online banking, while keeping your business and personal accounts completely separate.
- If you do not currently bank with Lloyds - You simply need to download the Lloyds app and start using it whenever you are ready. The bank has stated that both apps function in a very similar way, so the transition should feel familiar and just as easy to use.
In terms of physical branches, Lloyds has confirmed there will be no job losses or immediate closures resulting directly from this announcement. Throughout 2027, the 190 existing Halifax branches will either be rebranded as Lloyds branches or, if there is already a Lloyds branch close by, customers will be redirected to the existing Lloyds site in their community.
Do you need to do anything?
No, there is no action you need to take. Lloyds Banking Group will contact Halifax customers directly over the coming days and weeks via letter, email, and through the banking app to explain the next steps.
However, the bank has issued a warning regarding potential scams during the transition process. Fraudsters often use high-profile banking changes as an opportunity to trick customers. It is important to remember the following in order to keep your money safe:
- Lloyds and Halifax will never ask you to share personal details, security information, or move money via phone, email, or text.
- Any QR codes or links sent by the bank will be for general information only and will never require you to log in or verify your identity.
- If you receive a message asking you to transfer funds or share your PIN, it is a scam. Do not respond and report it to the Police.
Access to Lloyds accounts and rewards
As Halifax customers transition to Lloyds, they will gain access to Lloyds' existing range of financial products and services. This includes access to Lloyds Rewards and popular current accounts such as Club Lloyds and Lloyds Premier, which offer features like interest on credit balances and fee-free spending abroad.
To welcome transferring customers, Lloyds has automatically entered eligible Halifax current and savings account holders into its Super Prize Draw. Providing you keep your eligible account open, you will be included in monthly draws running from August to November 2026, with cash prizes ranging from £1,000 up to a £1,000,000 jackpot.
If you are a Halifax customer and would prefer to move your money elsewhere, it is always worth shopping around. The current account market is highly competitive, and you can easily switch providers using the free Current Account Switch Service (CASS). We provide a list of the best switching deals in our article 'Best bank account switching offers'.
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