Lloyds Banking Group announces it is ending the Halifax banking brand in the UK after 173 years. The group says it will stop opening new accounts under the Halifax name and begin a process of moving existing Halifax accounts to Lloyds branding over the coming days. Sources report that the transition is primarily a branding change rather than requiring customers to take action immediately. Lloyds tells customers they do not need to do anything, and that they will be contacted about the changes as accounts are updated. Multiple outlets describe Halifax as a former building society whose high-street presence is set to shrink as the brand is withdrawn. The reporting is consistent that existing customer accounts will be transferred to Lloyds over time, with customers receiving communications about what to expect during the migration. Overall, the decision means Halifax’s name will gradually disappear from UK high streets while Lloyds takes responsibility for customer accounts under its own brand.