Halifax bank confirms branch closures affecting Northern Ireland

Lloyds Banking Group is to shut 136 more high street branches as it accelerates plans to cut costs and digitise the bank.

It will close 61 Lloyds, 61 Halifax and 14 Bank of Scotland branches between May this year and March 2026 with all workers at the affected branches being offered jobs elsewhere in the company. Among the Northern Ireland bank closures are the Halifax branches in Bangor and Omagh.

The move comes weeks after Lloyds shook up its branch business to allow customers of Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to use stores across any of its brands for in-person banking. The closure plan will bring the Lloyds brand down to 386 branches, Halifax down to 281 branches and Bank of Scotland to 90 branches once completed.

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The closure of the Halifax bank branch in Omagh is planned for May 19 this year. Sinn Féin MLA Nicola Brogan said it will be a serious blow to the local community.

The West Tyrone MLA added: “The closure of this branch would be bad enough news on its own but it comes amid a series of bank, credit union and post office branch closures all over Ireland, particularly rural areas, in the past number of years. While the continued shift towards digital banking may be convenient for many, there remain lots of people for whom the lack of physical branches poses severe difficulty.

“As a member of the Finance Committee I have been attending evidence sessions on the Banking and Financial Service Landscape Inquiry and I have heard first-hand how the closure of these branches effects rural communities, particularly those west of the Bann, elderly people, low income families, small businesses, border communities and voluntary and charity organisations.

“Banks need to urgently engage with the Executive, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Financial Services Union and local communities to be fully aware of the effects these closures are having and to find some way of mitigating the serious problems they cause.”

Meanwhile North Down MP Alex Easton has expressed deep disappointment at the announcement that Halifax will be closing its Bangor branch on 29 May 2025.

He said: “This decision is a huge blow to the people of Bangor, particularly for older and vulnerable customers who rely on face-to-face banking services. While I appreciate that banking habits are changing, many residents still depend on their local branch for essential services, and this closure will cause considerable inconvenience.

“The closure of yet another high street bank raises serious concerns about the ongoing decline of in-person banking facilities. Despite Halifax’s reassurances about a Community Banker being available in an alternative location, this is not an adequate substitute for a fully operational branch. Bangor is a growing city, and I believe that banks should be investing in customer service rather than reducing access to it.”

Mr Easton also highlighted the impact on local businesses, which will face further challenges in handling cash transactions and other banking needs.

“I urge Halifax to reconsider this decision or at the very least ensure that sufficient support is in place for all affected customers. I will be seeking further information on how Halifax plans to assist those who may struggle with digital banking and ensure that no customer is left behind,” he added.

Lloyds has blamed the decision to shut the branches on customers shifting away from banking in person to using mobile services. Transactions across these branches fell by an average of 48% over the past five years as customers used its app more for payments, it said.

A spokeswoman for the business said: “Over 20 million customers are using our apps for on-demand access to their money and customers have more choice and flexibility than ever for their day-to-day banking.

“Alongside our apps, customers can also use telephone banking, visit a community banker or use any Halifax, Lloyds or Bank of Scotland branch, giving access to many more branches. Customers can also do their everyday banking at over 11,000 branches of the Post Office or in a Banking Hub.”

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