Exact date Halifax banking app will stop working and what customers need to do now
Halifax has warned customers that they’ll soon no longer be able to access the banking app as the brand is set to close after more than 170 years.
Named after the West Yorkshire town, Halifax was originally founded as a building society way back in 1853 before becoming a bank in the 1990s.
In 2009, Halifax became part of Lloyds Banking Group but in July this year, it was announced that it would be phased out completely and rebranded as Lloyds Bank.
This week, Halifax warned its millions of customers that the Halifax app will start closing down from 5 October and will be shut down completely from 31 October.
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From then on, customers will need to download and start using the Lloyds app for online banking.
In an email sent to customers, the bank said: “Just a quick reminder that from 5 October, as part of the Halifax brand changing to Lloyds, we’ll start to close the Halifax app.”
Customers are now being urged to move over to the Lloyds app now to avoid losing access to their online banking.
Switching is, thankfully, pretty easy with Halifax noting that existing customers will find the newLloyds app familiar.
“In just a few easy steps, you’ll be up and running, with everything you need ready for you - your accounts, payments you’ve set up, and any letters and statements we’ve sent to your digital inbox,” the email continued.
Meanwhile, new customers will not be able to open accounts with Halifax.
What do Halifax customers need to do now?
Other than downloading the Lloyds app, if they want to keep up with online banking, the switch doesn’t require very much for customers.
Lloyds Banking Group has previously confirmed that all existing accounts will move to Lloyds branding over time, meaning customers don’t need to worry about making the switch themselves.
The banking group has also confirmed that customers' account numbers and sort codes will remain the same, meaning they do not need to update information on bills and direct debits.
Customers will also be sent out new Lloyd’s-branded debit and credit cards.
“‘There’s no change to your account or policy features and benefits today,’ Lloyds said.
“Over time, the brand of your Halifax accounts and policies will change to Lloyds.
“Updates may happen at different times, and we’ll always let you know before anything changes.”
Lloyds has reassured Halifax customers that their money will remain in the same place meaning they will not need to transfer any money during the changeover.
Meanwhile, new customers will not be able to open accounts with Halifax.
As for Halifax’s physical banks, they’ll also be switching to Lloyd’s branding with around 190 premises across the UK gearing up for the change.
Alongside that, Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland customers can also use one another’s ‘branches for banking, like withdrawing money or depositing cheques’.
The bank has issued a scam warning
Halifax has warned that if anyone gets in touch asking customers to move money then it’s a scam.
The bank has put together a scam warning with a series of 'golden rules' to explain that neither it nor Lloyds will ever contact their customers about certain things.
Your bank will never contact you asking you to do any of the following:
- Share or reset a passcode, password or full banking details
- Move money to another account
- Log in or verify yourself using a link or QR code
- Screenshare your device
If you're contacted by someone who says they're from your bank and tells you to do one of those four things then you can be sure it's a scam.
Halifax said: "Emails from us will always include your name, last four digits of an account you have with us or part of your postcode.
"We might send you links to more information or to our secure app to take you straight to the information you need."
You can find more information on the closure of Halifax here.
Claire Reid