Halifax Locations Near You

This institution is one of the most recognised financial names on the high street and has maintained its own identity despite takeovers from other banking groups. It has a diverse and interesting history and has racked up some impressive achievements. Here are some interesting facts about this UK bank division that you may not have heard before:

• The very first mortgage from the bank was handed out in 1853 and was for £121.

• It had become the largest building society in the world by 1913.

• They were the first bank to insist that all customer-facing banking consultants held professional qualifications before being able to work.

• Many of its products and services have won awards, including ‘Best Overall Lender’.

• They are one of the leaders in mortgages, providing a significant portion of new homeowners with a mortgage.

This financial institution is now a bank and part of Lloyds Banking Group. It offers a full and diverse range of financial services which are available in their branches and also online. They also provide a mobile banking app to support their range of products. Anyone using their services will be backed by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, which protects funds up to £85,000.

A range of current accounts is offered, including student, fee-free, and fee-paying packaged accounts. Some of the benefits included in packaged accounts are breakdown cover, home emergency cover, mobile phone insurance, and travel insurance. Other financial products offered include savings and investments, loans, credit cards, car finance, mortgages, share-dealing, and travel services, including foreign currency. They don’t provide business banking—only personal banking services. Other divisions within Lloyds Banking Group offer business banking instead.

The story began in 1852 at The Old Cock Inn in Halifax, where a small investment and loan group was set up for the benefit of the local people. This was the beginning of the Halifax Permanent Benefit Building Society, which was established in December 1852. The group grew rapidly, attracting more than 700 members within a year. By 1913, it had grown to become the largest building society in the world with assets of £3 million. This grew to £27 million by 1927 when it merged with the Halifax Equitable. This created a new super-sized building society which was five times the size of its nearest competitor.

Over the years, the bank continued to enjoy success, diversifying its product range in 1986 when the laws surrounding building societies were relaxed. In 1997, its members voted in support of demutualisation, moving to a ‘plc’ status. Its flotation on the stock market on 2nd June created over 7.5 million shareholders instantly.

In 2001, it merged with the Bank of Scotland, creating the HBOS group. Under the subsequent restructure, it kept its brand but ceased to exist as an independent entity, becoming a division of the Bank of Scotland. In 2009, the financial crisis saw concerns raised about the future of HBOS. These were allayed when the group was acquired by Lloyds Banking Group, which it has remained a part of ever since.