Halifax closes Savers Prize Draw

friolento

Advised by email received today that Halifax are closing their Savers Prize Draw.  Not that I'll miss it as I haven't won a bean in it in the last ten years, and I haven't seen any reports from people who have.

WillPS

Seems to be a general drive to wind down or terminate all the unique aspects Halifax once had. No longer the bank who gives you extra. 

danny13579

No loss to me as NI residents were excluded from it. Other banks don't exclude us from their draws and promotions such as Co-op, First Direct and Danske. I also have doubts whether any of these prize draws ever actually take place.

ToastLady

Halifax haven't bothered to notify me so far. I've been a customer since the 80's and have almost always qualified for the prize draw since it began, whenever that was. Not a bean has come my way, so I won't miss it either.

danny13579

IanManc said:

When Halifax set up the prize draw the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 prevented NI residents from participating.

The legislation was amended in 2022 to harmonise it with the rest of the UK so since then banks have been allowed to include NI participation in promotions and draws.

I know, but Halifax never updated the prize draw to take account of the amended legislation, whereas the others did. They still use the old legislation as an excuse to exclude NI residents.

Section62

IanManc said:

danny13579 said:

No loss to me as NI residents were excluded from it. Other banks don't exclude us from their draws and promotions such as Co-op, First Direct and Danske. I also have doubts whether any of these prize draws ever actually take place.

When Halifax set up the prize draw the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 prevented NI residents from participating.

The legislation was amended in 2022 to harmonise it with the rest of the UK so since then banks have been allowed to include NI participation in promotions and draws.

The same applied to Nationwide's savings accounts offering prizes instead of better interest rates.

danny13579

ToastLady said:

Halifax haven't bothered to notify me so far. I've been a customer since the 80's and have almost always qualified for the prize draw since it began, whenever that was. Not a bean has come my way, so I won't miss it either.

They've updated the app to say that it and the mortgage prize draw will end in September. 

ToastLady

danny13579 said:

ToastLady said:

Halifax haven't bothered to notify me so far. I've been a customer since the 80's and have almost always qualified for the prize draw since it began, whenever that was. Not a bean has come my way, so I won't miss it either.

They've updated the app to say that it and the mortgage prize draw will end in September. 

Thank you for that, much appreciated. Hadn't checked website or app today. I doubt very much I'll win between now and September, probably would pass out if I did.
I've got an ISA with them maturing in 3 weeks, it certainly won't be staying with them for their paltry offerings at the moment (3.6% for 1 year fixed). Plus they have even removed the small percentage extra they used to offer current account holders. 

Irenejanine

When my fixed rate ends in October, I will look to move my account as although I never won it was nice to think it might happen!

[Deleted User]

WillPS said:

Seems to be a general drive to wind down or terminate all the unique aspects Halifax once had. No longer the bank who gives you extra. 

If registered, It also quietly applied to BoS branded savings accounts too.
All non-legacy mortgages arranged through BoS are Halifax branded anyway. 

Together with the recent 'snazzy' rebranding of Lloyds Bank - is the Halifax brand being put out to pasture?! 

WillPS

[Deleted User] said:

Together with the recent 'snazzy' rebranding of Lloyds Bank - is the Halifax brand being put out to pasture?! 

Be surprised to see it be ditched altogether but perhaps it could be relegated to being a 'specialist' brand for mortgages (but offering some other stuff too); similar to MBNA with credit cards (but also loans/savings/insurance).