Lloyds and Halifax mobile apps and online banking failed from around 11:35am on 18 August 2026, with about 67% of reported problems relating to the app. Lloyds Banking Group apologised and confirmed services were back to normal by about 14:17 the same afternoon.
TL;DR · LAST REVIEWED 18 AUGUST 2026
- Outage ran from about 11:35am to about 14:17 on 18 August 2026.
- Lloyds and Halifax apps and online banking hit; about 67% of reports were app-related.
- Follows the recent migration of some Halifax users onto the Lloyds platform.
- Failed payments causing charges may be eligible for redress; escalate to the Ombudsman if unresolved.
KEY FACTS
- Disruption ran from about 11:35am to about 14:17 on 18 August 2026.
- Affected: Lloyds and Halifax mobile apps and online banking.
- About 67% of reported problems related to the app, 14% to login, 10% to online banking.
- Some former Halifax users had recently been moved onto the Lloyds platform.
- FCA operational resilience rules require banks to limit disruption to key services.
If an outage left you unable to make a time-critical payment, put your complaint in writing to the bank first; you can refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service if it is not resolved within eight weeks.
What happened
Lloyds and Halifax customers experienced disruption to mobile banking and online services on 18 August 2026, with problems first reported at about 11:35am and services confirmed back to normal by about 14:17. The bank acknowledged the issues and apologised for the inconvenience caused during the period.
Reports of problems spiked from around 11:35am on 18 August 2026. Customers attempting to access their accounts through the mobile app or online banking were met with error messages or were unable to log in. Lloyds acknowledged the issues with its app and online banking and apologised to affected customers. Lloyds Banking Group confirmed that services had returned to normal by about 14:17 on the same day.
The disruption lasted for approximately two hours and forty minutes. During this window, customers were unable to carry out routine banking tasks such as checking balances, making transfers, or viewing recent transactions. The bank did not provide a specific cause for the failure at the time of the incident.
Who was affected
The outage affected customers of both Lloyds and Halifax, with the majority of reported problems relating to the mobile app rather than online banking or login issues. The incident followed a recent migration of some Halifax users onto the Lloyds platform, which may have contributed to the scale of the disruption.
Lloyds and Halifax customers reported being unable to log in or manage their accounts during the outage. Analysis of the reports showed that about 67% of reported problems related to the app, 14% to login issues, and 10% to online banking. The remaining reports were spread across other banking functions.
The event took place shortly after some former Halifax users had been moved onto the Lloyds platform. This migration meant that a larger number of customers were relying on the same underlying systems, potentially increasing the impact of the failure. Customers on both brands experienced similar symptoms, including failed logins and unresponsive screens.
What to do if a payment failed
If you attempted a payment during the outage, first check whether the money actually left your account before sending it again, to avoid making a duplicate payment. Keep a dated record and screenshots of any failed or delayed transaction, and contact the bank if the disruption led to a missed bill, late fee, or overdraft charge.
Before re-sending any payment, log in to your account and check your recent transactions. If the payment did not go through, you can then make a new payment. If the original payment did leave your account but the recipient has not received it, contact the bank to trace the transaction.
Keep a dated record of what happened, including screenshots of any error messages or failed payment attempts. This information will be useful if you need to make a complaint or claim for any losses. If a failed payment caused a missed bill, a late fee, or an overdraft charge, contact the bank directly to explain the situation and ask for the charge to be refunded.
Your rights and possible redress
Under Financial Conduct Authority operational resilience rules, banks are required to manage and limit disruption to key services, and if an outage caused you direct financial loss, you can ask the bank to put things right. If your complaint is not resolved, you can escalate it to the Financial Ombudsman Service free of charge.
The Financial Conduct Authority’s operational resilience rules require firms to ensure that they can remain within their impact tolerances for important business services. This means banks must have plans in place to limit the impact of disruption on customers. While these rules do not guarantee that outages will never happen, they do set expectations for how firms should respond and recover.
If the outage caused you direct financial loss, such as a late payment fee or an unauthorised overdraft charge, you can ask the bank to put things right. You should make a formal complaint to the bank, providing details of the loss and any supporting evidence. The bank is required to respond to your complaint within a set timeframe.
If you are not satisfied with the bank’s response, you can escalate the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service. This service is free for consumers and can consider complaints about financial products and services, including disputes arising from service outages. The Ombudsman can direct the bank to provide a remedy if it finds that you have suffered loss as a result of the bank’s actions.
RELATED GUIDES
DISCLAIMER
This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial, legal or tax advice. Figures are accurate as at the date of publication and can change. Check the primary source or a qualified professional before acting.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lloyds or Halifax banking still down?
Services were confirmed back to normal by about 14:17 on 18 August 2026.
Why did the apps go down?
Lloyds cited an issue with its app and online banking; it apologised and restored service the same afternoon.
Can I claim if a payment failed during the outage?
If the outage caused a direct loss such as a late fee, you can ask the bank to reimburse it and complain if refused.
Who do I complain to if the bank refuses?
You can escalate free of charge to the Financial Ombudsman Service after the bank's final response or eight weeks.
Are Halifax and Lloyds the same banking system?
Both are part of Lloyds Banking Group and some Halifax customers were recently moved onto the Lloyds platform.
SOURCES
- FCA: operational resilience requirements – accessed 2026-08-18
- Financial Ombudsman Service: how to complain – accessed 2026-08-18
