Halifax customers urged to ‘do one thing’ before Lloyds switchover | Personal Finance | Finance

Halifax customers are being told that they ‘need to do one thing’ before the brand is replaced by Lloyds. It was announced earlier this month (July 1) that the Halifax name, which is 173 years old, will be phased out by owners Lloyds Banking Group.

Halifax customers are being assured that their banking details, including their accounts, account numbers, and sort codes, will remain the same. No job cuts in relation to the decision have been announced.

The move has still caused consternation for some though given the iconic brand’s name and association with the Yorkshire town after which it was named. Despite very little changing for customers, Halifax account holders are being urged to ‘do one thing’ before the rebranding is complete.

In a message on Halifax’s social media account, the bank said: “The Halifax brand is changing to Lloyds. Your account details will stay the same. There’s no change to your account features and benefits today, but over time, the brand of your Halifax accounts will change to Lloyds.

“You only need to do one thing. If you use the Halifax app and online banking, we’ll send an invitation to move across to Lloyds. It will be in your Halifax app and online banking, so you’ll know it’s from us.

“We’ll help guide you through the process in a few easy steps. There’s no new passwords or memorable details to set up, and the Lloyds app is safe and secure, just like the Halifax app, and we’ll be here to answer all of your questions. We look forward to welcoming you to Lloyds.”

Lloyds Banking Group’s chief executive of consumer relationships, Jas Singh, said that many of the things people liked about Halifax will remain the same wehn under the Lloyds banner.

“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,” he said.

But not everybody was convinced by the move. Scott Patient, who was the deputy leader of Calderdale Council until recently, said he feared the move could be “retrograde” and might be “more damaging to (Lloyds) than they realise”.

He told PA: “I’ve no idea why they’ve done it. I think it might be more damaging to them than they realise.

“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.

“I think once you have something that’s existed for that long, there’s a real sense of pride, that we’re a place, not just a bank.”