When is Halifax changing to Lloyds? Why the bank brand is being axed and what it means for your money

LLOYDS Banking Group is retiring the 173-year-old Halifax brand, moving customer accounts and high-street branches under the Lloyds banner. The decision marks the end of an era for one of Britain’s most famous financial names. If you bank with Halifax, you might be wondering what’s going on and what it means for your cash Credit: Getty Existing account holders will be migrated over to the Lloyds Bank system Credit: PA Founded in 1853 as the Halifax Permanent Benefit Building and Investment Society, the institution grew from local Yorkshire roots into the nation’s largest mortgage lender. Bosses say consolidating under one banner across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland allows the bank to cut duplicate IT systems and focus investment on customer perks. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! By retiring Halifax, Lloyds aims to pool resources into digital tech upgrades, higher-yielding savings accounts, and expanded loyalty schemes like Club Lloyds. But if you bank with Halifax, you might be wondering what’s going on, and more importantly, what it means for your cash. When is the change happening? The first phase of the transition began on July 1, from which new customers have no longer been able to open new Halifax accounts via the brand’s app or website. But the all-important next step begins on Monday, October 5, when the bank will start to gradually close the Halifax app and online banking platforms. By this time, Halifax will stop taking on new-to-bank customers entirely; existing account holders will be migrated over to the Lloyds Bank system. What does it mean for your money? The brand shift is strictly an administrative name change, and your money will remain fully protected in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Most read in News Money (Lloyds Banking Group customers in Scotland are unaffected and will see no changes, as the Bank of Scotland brand will remain active.) Account numbers and sort codes are both expected to stay exactly as they are. Mortgages, fixed-term savings, overdraft limits, and credit card interest rates will carry over with identical terms, meaning your balances and rates will remain untouched. Likewise, Direct Debits, salary payments, standing orders, and household bills will continue seamlessly without any manual re-entry required. You can keep spending on your current blue Halifax debit or credit card until its expiry date, at which point Lloyds will automatically send a like-for-like green replacement. All 190 physical Halifax branches will also stay open for normal staff and counter services – work to switch signage to Lloyds will begin in early 2027. Do you need to do anything? The major change you will notice is how you access your cash online. Halifax’s mobile app will close permanently on Saturday, October 31. In a recent email to customers, the bank said: “To keep managing your accounts online, you need to move across to the Lloyds app and online banking.” When you log in to your Halifax app or online banking, you’ll soon see an invite on your screen. All you need to do is select “Get started” from the invite screen or the prompt at the top of your account summary page. The bank says it will safely guide customers through the move in a few easy steps. You will not need to create any new passwords or memorable details, and all your existing payees, statements, and digital letters will be waiting for you in your new digital inbox. Beware of scammers Major banking changes can present a litany of opportunities to fraudsters, who may look to take advantage of customer confusion during the switchover. Lloyds has said that it will never ask you to share your personal details or move money by phone, email, or text. Any links or QR codes they share will be for general information only. If you get a message asking you to log in or verify your details via a link, it is a scam — do not respond. The only safe action you need to take is to log directly into your official app or online banking and follow the on-screen invite. Comment now