First Direct will discontinue its First Directory insurance package by the end of the current month. The £15 per month First Directory bundle includes travel insurance, mobile insurance, and breakdown cover. Although new customers have not been able to access this product since 2020, existing customers have been able to maintain their coverage.
First Direct has officially announced the closure of the First Directory package on July 31, necessitating policyholders to seek alternative insurance options. Travel insurance will remain effective for trips booked up to and including July 31, 2026, and starting up to and including October 31, 2026.
For mobile insurance, coverage will extend until October 31, 2026, for devices purchased on or before July 31, 2026. Similarly, motor breakdown cover will remain valid until October 31, 2026. It is important to note that policyholders must be aware that coverage may cease earlier upon turning 70, as the maximum age for First Directory policyholders is 69.
In other banking news, it was recently disclosed that Halifax will vanish from UK high streets after 173 years, with the brand transitioning to Lloyds. Halifax branches and customer accounts will undergo a renaming process to Lloyds, and the Halifax brand will halt opening new accounts. Account details such as numbers and sort codes will stay unchanged, but Halifax customers will need to utilize the Lloyds app for online banking in the near future.
Customers will receive direct communication through trusted channels like the Halifax app, online banking, email, and postal mail. Halifax and Bank of Scotland have been under Lloyds Banking Group since 2009, and customers have had the ability to manage their accounts across all Halifax and Lloyds branches since early 2025, irrespective of the brand associated with their account.
The rebranding of Halifax branches to Lloyds will take place throughout 2027, with assurances from the group that no job losses will result from this transition. Lloyds Banking Group has announced additional branch closures, totaling 79 in addition to the 95 already planned, across its three brands. This will leave the group with a total of 531 branches in the UK, with approximately 190 being former Halifax locations.
