Lloyds Banking Group respond to reports that historic Halifax Bank brand could end
Lloyds Banking Group have responded to reports that the historic Halifax Bank could disappear from high streets after 173 years.
The first Halifax bank was founded in Halifax as the Halifax Permanent Benefit Building Society in 1852.
Halifax textile manufacturer Esau Hanson was the first person to be granted a Halifax mortgage, borrowing £121 to buy land for a house in St John’s Lane, where the Trinity Road office is located today.
In 1997, the bank was floated on the stock exchange and merged with the Bank of Scotland in 2001. Then in 2009, HBOS PLC was taken over by Lloyds TSB and the Halifax became part of Lloyds Banking Group.
Reports today said Halifax Bank will no longer be a standalone brand and stated that Lloyd’s Banking Group had announced it will merge with Lloyds Bank, meaning customers would not be able to open new accounts with Halifax from July 1.
But the Courier understands that no decisions have been made by Lloyds regarding the future of their brands.
Lloyds made a significant investment in the recently re-opened office in Trinity Road, and customers can still walk into any Halifax, Lloyds or Bank of Scotland branch for their banking.
If Lloyds did decide to make any changes, there would be no change to customers’ account numbers, nor would there be any impact to Financial Services Compensation Scheme protection.
A Lloyds Banking Group spokesperson told the Courier: “We regularly look at the role our brands play in supporting our customers. Our banking customers can already use any Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland branch, and see any of their products and services in any of their apps – there are no changes for our customers today.”
There are currently Halifax branches on Bethel Street in Brighouse and Market Street in Halifax.