Halifax (bank) November 2009, HBOS was hit by a power failure which affected all branches, cash machines and online banking. The bank said that the power failure occurred at an IT centre in Copley, West Yorkshire which caused several problems for Halifax's banking system. Halifax's online banking system did not recover from the power failure for several hours. On Boxing Day 2000, Halifax started a successful marketing campaign, which was continued after the creations of HBOS. Halifax have also created adverts that have featured popular cartoon characters like The Flintstones, Top Cat, Scooby-Doo, The Wizard of Oz and Thunderbirds (TV series). Halifax
The Adverts and an appearance on "Top of the Pops", the Adverts became big news. Observers focused on frontman Smith and bassist Gaye Advert. Reviewers noted Smith's songwriting ability. He was said to have "captured the spirit of the times few contemporaries could match". Another reviewer described Smith as the band’s "raging heart, spitting out the failsafe succession of songs which still delineate punk’s hopes, aspirations and, ultimately, regrets". In contrast, Gaye Advert's reputation was more fleeting. She was "one of punk’s first female icons". Her "photogenic" looks, "panda-eye make-up and omnipresent leather jacket defined the face of female punkdom until well