Two women talking and smiling in the street outside a Halifax branch

Halifax

At Halifax it always has been, and always will be, all about people.

Two women talking and smiling in the street outside a Halifax branch
Blue Halifax logo
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'It’s a people thing' is both what we believe as a bank, and what makes us different. It’s true to Halifax and true to every colleague who goes the extra mile every day to make things better for our customers.

Halifax history – key milestones

  • 1852

    In December 1852 a small group gathered in the Old Cock Inn in Halifax, which is still there today, to set up an investment and loan society. Those with spare cash could invest it; others could then borrow, using the funds to buy or build a house.

    By Christmas that year the Halifax Permanent Benefit Building Society was formally established

  • 1853

    On 26th May 1853, Esau Hanson became the first person ever granted a mortgage by the Halifax, borrowing £121 to buy land on St. John's Lane.

  • 1913

    In 1913 assets reached £3 million and the Halifax became the largest building society in the world.

  • 1928

    In 1928 Halifax Permanent merged with the Halifax Equitable, creating the Halifax Building Society. With assets of £47 million this new society was some five times the size of its nearest peer.

  • 1986

    In 1986, new legislation allowed building societies to increase their range of financial services. The Halifax steadily diversified into personal banking. 

  • 1997

    In February 1997 its members voted overwhelmingly in favour of conversion to plc status. The subsequent flotation on 2nd June was the largest the Stock Market had seen and created some 7.5 million shareholders overnight.

  • 2001

    In September 2001, Halifax plc merged with Bank of Scotland to form HBOS plc, becoming the fifth largest financial services company in the UK. 

Halifax history

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