Calderdale Council’s Reform leader Dan Sutherland said Lloyds Banking Group’s relationship with Halifax as a place would remain “strong and enduring”.
“We know the Halifax brand is important for many generations of local people who care about the town’s heritage and are proud of the brand’s part in our local traditions, family history and Halifax’s profile across the world,” he said.
“We are reassured Lloyds has made it very clear the business is absolutely committed to the town, having recently invested £116m into a major transformation of the iconic head office building at Trinity Road, to make it fit for the future.”
Calderdale Labour Group said the bank was “part of our town’s identity and heritage”.
In a statement, the group said: “For generations, local people have been proud of the name and what it represents.
“While we welcome the commitment to keep branches open and protect customers’ accounts, many residents will be saddened to see such an iconic name disappear from our high streets.”
Luddenfoot Labour councillor Scott Patient said he feared the move might be “more damaging to [Lloyds] than they realise”.
“I feel with one hand they giveth, and with the other hand they taketh away,” he said.
“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.”
A history of The Halifax
In 1853, the Halifax Permanent Benefit Building Society was founded in West Yorkshire. In 1873, it became the Halifax Building Society.
Building societies were set up across English towns during the Industrial Revolution. They allowed working people to buy their own homes through savings accounts and loans.
The first person to be granted a Halifax mortgage was Esau Hanson, who borrowed £121 to buy land for a house in St John’s Lane.
By 1928, the Halifax Building Society was the largest building society in the world, with assets of £47m.
During the 1980s, building societies began to compete with traditional banks, and on 2 June 1997 the bank was floated on the UK stock market.
In 2001, the Halifax merged with the Bank of Scotland to form HBOS, which was bought by Lloyds Banking Group in 2009.
Source: Lloyds Bank
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Image source, Getty Images
