Independent BankAdvisor review
Halifax Overview
Halifax is one of the UK's best-known high street banking brands and forms part of Lloyds Banking Group. Lloyds Banking Group has confirmed that Halifax is changing to Lloyds over time, with existing customers moved across in stages.
Quick facts
FSCS protection
Protected up to £120,000
Trust score
1.7 / 5
Monthly fee
£0-£3pm
Account type
High street bank
Account summary
Key features
| FSCS Protection | Yes — eligible deposits protected up to £120,000 per person under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme |
| Monthly Fee | Everyday Account: £0 | Reward Account: £3 per month | Ultimate Reward Account: monthly fee applies |
| Current Accounts | Everyday, Reward, Ultimate Reward, Student and Graduate account options available |
| Savings Accounts | Easy-access savings, fixed-rate products, Cash ISAs and Regular Saver accounts available |
| Mortgages | Wide range of residential and remortgage products for first-time buyers, movers and existing homeowners |
| Credit Cards | Purchase, balance transfer and everyday spending credit cards available |
| Branch Access | Large UK branch network alongside online and mobile banking |
| Mobile App | Halifax app supports account management today, but customers will eventually be invited to move to Lloyds app and online banking |
| Digital Payments | Apple Pay and Google Pay supported |
| Overdraft | Arranged overdrafts available subject to eligibility and credit assessment |
| Telephone Banking | Telephone support and online banking available alongside app access |
| Insurance | Travel, home and other insurance products available through Halifax |
Halifax at a glance
- The most important thing about Halifax right now is not a product feature. Lloyds Banking Group has confirmed the brand is being folded into Lloyds, with customers moved across in stages.
- Existing accounts continue to work during the transition, and account numbers, sort codes and current account features are expected to carry over. But anyone opening a Halifax account today is choosing a brand with a known end date, and that belongs at the front of any comparison, ahead of rates or app features.
Halifax services
Current accounts, savings and Cash ISAs, fixed-rate savings, mortgages and remortgages, personal loans, credit cards and insurance, managed through the Halifax app, online, by telephone or across its branch network.
The practical question is less what Halifax offers than how long it will offer it under this name. Customers are being invited onto Lloyds app and online banking in stages, so treat the migration as the deciding factor and check where your own account sits in it.
May suit
- OKWell-established UK bank backed by Lloyds Banking Group
- OKHalifax brand is changing to Lloyds over time
- OKFull FSCS protection up to £120,000
- OKLarge branch and ATM network across the UK
- OKReward Current Account offers ongoing value for eligible customers
- OKStrong range of mortgage products
May not suit
- !Travel spending fees can be higher than specialist digital banks
- !Reward Account requires eligibility criteria to maximise value
- !Savings rates are not always market leading
- !Overdraft costs can be expensive if regularly used
- !Less innovative than some challenger banks
- !App budgeting tools are more limited than Monzo or Starling
Our Assessment of Halifax
We like Halifax because it has historically combined the security and product range of a major high street bank with a modern digital banking experience. The Lloyds transition is now an important part of the review: existing customers should see continuity in account details and FSCS protection, but should expect Halifax branding, app access and online banking to move toward Lloyds over time.
Continue Reading
Continue with the Complete Halifax Review
You've read the summary. Our Complete Review examines the account in much greater detail, helping you understand how it performs in everyday banking before you decide.
- Detailed feature analysis
- Fees and charges explained
- Everyday banking experience
- Account strengths and limitations
- Protection and eligibility
- Comparison with similar UK banks
How Halifax compares
Compared with other major high street banks, Halifax offers a balanced combination of traditional banking services and digital convenience. It may not provide the advanced budgeting features found in digital-only banks such as Monzo or Starling, but it delivers a broader range of products including mortgages, loans, credit cards and branch-based support. Customers who value face-to-face banking, strong mortgage options and the backing of one of the UK's largest banking groups are likely to find Halifax a compelling all-round banking choice.
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The information on this website is provided for general guidance only and may not always reflect the latest fees, rates, or terms offered by each bank. While we do our best to keep content accurate and up-to-date, you should always check the bank's official website or app before applying for an account. Nothing on this site constitutes financial advice.
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