TV Adverts
In 2000, Halifax began a long-running advertisement campaign featuring staff singing popular songs with the words changed to reflect its financial services products. Halifax worker Howard Brown was the first and most frequently featured star of these adverts.
Following the merger with the Bank of Scotland, this practice continued, with the Bank of Scotland also allowing its staff to take part.
In December 2006, Natalie Webster and four other Halifax colleagues Richard Willoughby, Jilly Ellard, Nicola Roberts and Paul Dudley, flew to Johannesburg to film the 'Halifax remix' of Aretha Franklin's "Think". The advert was first shown in February 2007.
Another advert filmed stars Thomas Yau from Leeds singing a version of Herman's Hermits "I'm into Something Good". This advert was first shown in January 2008. This campaign was dropped in August 2008, but the bank has continued to feature its staff in advertisements.
Later in January 2010 and 2011 an advertisement with a faux "radio show" featuring Sarah Applewood, became its focus. The advert, which was described in the UK's newspaper The Sun as 'Xcruciating' claims it will help its customers by giving them £5 per month if they deposit at least £1,000 each month. The Halifax was accused of misjudging the mood of the nation after receiving a £25 billion bailout.
Read more about this topic: Halifax (United Kingdom Bank)