Halifax to rebrand as Lloyds: what it means for customers

Lloyds Banking Group has announced that the Halifax brand will be phased out and replaced by Lloyds, ending one of the UK’s best-known high street banking names after 173 years.

The move will see Halifax bank accounts, branches and digital banking gradually transition to the Lloyds brand, with branches expected to rebrand or consolidate with nearby Lloyds locations during 2027. Existing customers will not need to take any immediate action. Lloyds says account numbers, sort codes and Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protection will remain unchanged, while the same staff and branches will continue serving customers throughout the transition.

The decision has prompted questions from millions of customers about whether Lloyds and Halifax are already the same bank, why the rebrand is happening and what it means for their accounts.

Are Halifax and Lloyds the same bank?

Yes. Halifax and Lloyds have been part of the same banking group since 2009.

Following the financial crisis, Lloyds TSB acquired HBOS, the parent company of Halifax and Bank of Scotland, in a deal that completed in January 2009. Since then, Halifax has operated as a separate customer-facing brand within Lloyds Banking Group alongside Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland.

Although customers have continued to see different branding, many of the underlying banking systems have become increasingly integrated. Since early 2025, customers of Halifax, Lloyds and Bank of Scotland have been able to use branches across all three brands, and many Halifax customers already manage their accounts through the Lloyds banking app.

Is Lloyds taking over Halifax?

Not exactly.

Lloyds is not acquiring Halifax because it already owns it. Instead, Lloyds Banking Group is retiring the Halifax brand and bringing customers under a single Lloyds brand in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Bank of Scotland will continue operating as a separate brand exclusively in Scotland.

As part of the transition:

• Halifax will stop opening new accounts.
• Existing accounts will gradually become Lloyds accounts, with customers invited to move across to the Lloyds app and online banking in stages.
• Halifax branches will either be rebranded as Lloyds or, where another Lloyds branch is nearby, customers will be served by that existing branch, this is expected to happen throughout 2027.
• Halifax mortgages sold through intermediaries will continue until 2027 before rebranding as Lloyds Intermediaries.
• No branch closures or job losses have been announced as part of the rebrand itself. That said, Lloyds Banking Group has closed more branches than any other UK banking network in recent years, so this doesn’t rule out closures under separate, already-announced plans.

Why is Halifax rebranding as Lloyds?

Lloyds Banking Group says the change reflects years of integration between its banking brands and allows it to focus investment on a single consumer banking brand. Reports that the group was considering phasing out Halifax first surfaced in May 2026, ahead of this confirmation.

According to the bank, Halifax customers will gain access to products and services currently offered under the Lloyds brand, including Club Lloyds, Lloyds Premier and Lloyds Rewards, plus additional features within the Lloyds mobile banking app.

The group also says simplifying its branding will let it concentrate future investment into one digital platform while maintaining one of the UK’s largest branch networks. Lloyds has also pointed to continued investment in the town of Halifax itself, including its Trinity Road office in West Yorkshire, where thousands of staff are based.

For customers, Lloyds says there will be no changes to account numbers, sort codes or the security of their savings. Halifax deposits will continue to be held within Bank of Scotland plc for FSCS purposes, kept separate from funds held with Lloyds Bank plc. The bank has also warned customers to be alert for scammers, stressing that it will never ask customers to move money or provide security details as part of the rebranding.

When did Lloyds Bank take over Halifax?

The takeover dates back to the global financial crisis.

In 2008, Lloyds TSB agreed to acquire HBOS, the banking group that owned Halifax and Bank of Scotland, after HBOS experienced severe financial difficulties. The transaction completed in January 2009, creating Lloyds Banking Group.

Halifax itself is far older, founded in West Yorkshire in 1853, when it issued its first mortgage before growing into one of the UK’s largest building societies. For 173 years it has carried its own identity, including the 17 years since being brought into Lloyds Banking Group.

The Halifax name is now set to disappear from UK high streets as branches are rebranded during 2027, alongside the wider rollout of accounts and digital services under the Lloyds name.

For existing customers, however, Lloyds says the transition should be largely seamless, with the same accounts, staff and banking services remaining in place throughout the process.