Lloyds TSB bank branches in Scotland will eventually go under the Bank of Scotland banner after the planned merger with HBOS goes though, it was announced today.

Lloyds TSB said it was committed to a "multi-branding" strategy, using all three names - Bank of Scotland, Halifax, and Lloyds TSB.

In Scotland, Bank of Scotland would be the brand for its high street and corporate banking.

In England and Wales, the Halifax brand will continue to operate alongside Lloyds TSB.

Integrating the Bank of Scotland and Lloyds TSB would take two to three years, it said.

It also confirmed that The Mound in Edinburgh will become the Scottish HQ for the Lloyds banking group once the acquisition is completed.

But no indication was given of the scale of any job losses.

A "detailed review" of the Scottish operations, including the size and shape of the branch network, is now under way, said Lloyds TSB.

"This work will not be completed for some time," it said.

"Until then, there will be no change to any of the current brands, customer branches or colleagues."

Archie Kane, Lloyds TSB group executive director, said: "The combined group will have a very strong presence in Scotland.

"Bank of Scotland is an iconic brand which we look forward to developing even more in the years to come.

"We are also very focused on integrating Bank of Scotland and Lloyds TSB Scotland businesses over the next two to three years.

"Lloyds Banking Group will have the largest branch network in Scotland, which means we will be able to provide an even higher level of service to our customers."

Mr Kane will represent the Lloyds Banking Group in Scotland, based at The Mound and backed by a Scottish executive committee, said Lloyds.

An HBOS spokesman said: "We welcome today's announcement by Lloyds TSB about Bank of Scotland.

"We believe the multi-branding strategy being adopted by the group is the right one."

The move came as a businessman and a politician urged HBOS shareholders today to reject the merger with Lloyds TSB.

Jim Spowart, the founder of Intelligent Finance, and SNP MSP Alex Neil are to make the plea on television this evening.

They hope their appearance on the Political Slot on Channel 4 will convince shareholders to vote against the merger at HBOS's annual general meeting next week.

Speaking ahead of that, Mr Neil said: "We will reach a wide audience with this broadcast and I hope HBOS shareholders will take note of the points we put across.

"They are going to have a crucial say in the future of thousands of jobs up and down the UK, in Scotland and England. Their votes will have a major impact on the UK and Scottish economies, whichever way they vote."

Both Mr Neil and Mr Spowart have voiced concerns about the impact the merger of the two banks could have on jobs.

Last month Mr Spowart held talks with Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy about a possible alternative bid for HBOS, although this failed to materialise.

Mr Neil is also one of the politicians backing a last-ditch legal bid to try to halt the merger.

The newly-formed Merger Action Group (MAG) is taking a case to the Competition Appeal Tribunal to try to prevent the deal going through.

The tribunal is a specialist legal body which decides appeals on competition issues, and at a preliminary hearing on Wednesday it ruled MAG's case would be heard next week.

The Unite union said it would work with the management to try and limit the impact to staff.

General secretary Derek Simpson said: "The union's priority remains the job security of the hard-working staff who have worked tirelessly to ensure that both financial institutions continue to deliver an excellent service to their customers.

"We will also fight to ensure that no branches are closed in areas where they are currently the last bank locally.

"Unite will be pressing for meaningful consultation on any possible business changes."

The union will not accept compulsory job losses, he said.

Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott - who has campaigned against the take-over - said: "This branding announcement is just an attempt to disguise the impact of the takeover.

"I cannot see how towns that have a Lloyds and HBOS branch will be able to keep both branches open."

He claimed the announcement was "confirmation" of job losses.

"Branches will close, damaging competition, which hits account holders and small businesses hard in the wallet," he added.