Who can apply for a .bank.in domain?

Only Indian banks approved by the Reserve Bank of India can apply for a .bank.in domain. NBFCs and other financial entities should check IDRBT guidelines for .fin.in domains.

How long does approval take?

The process can take from a few days to a few weeks, depending on how quickly documents are verified. Responding to IDRBT’s queries on time speeds up approval.

What are RBI guidelines for domain registration?

RBI has advised all banks to use the .bank.in domain to improve security and reduce fraud. IDRBT acts as the authorised registrar and provides all official steps and forms on its portal.

Is there a renewal process for .bank.in or .fin.in domains?

Yes. These domains are registered for a fixed duration, typically one to five years. You must renew them before expiry through the IDRBT portal to keep them active. Renewal reminders are usually sent to your registered contact email.

Can an existing domain be redirected to a new .bank.in or .fin.in domain?

Yes. Once your new domain is approved and active, you can set up redirects from your old domain to the new one. This ensures customers are automatically directed to your official, verified site without confusion.

How to Register .bank.in or .fin.in Domain

Registering a .bank.in or .fin.in domain is now a crucial step for banks and financial institutions in India. These domains make it easier for customers to identify the official website of their bank or NBFC, and help protect against fake or spoof websites.

Here’s everything you need to know about registering a .bank.in / .fin.in domain.

What are .bank.in and .fin.in Domains - and Why They Matter (Updated RBI Guidelines)

A .bank.in domain is reserved exclusively for Indian banks approved by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), while a .fin.in domain is designed for non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and other financial service providers.

As per the latest Bank in Domain RBI Guidelines (2024–25), all licensed Indian banks are required to transition their primary web domains to .bank.in. The initiative aims to improve digital trust and security across the Indian financial ecosystem.

The Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) is the official registrar authorised by RBI to manage and verify these domain registrations.

RBI’s Latest Guidelines for .bank.in and .fin.in Domains

To align with RBI’s cybersecurity directive, IDRBT introduced strict eligibility checks before approving a .bank.in or .fin.in domain. Here’s what’s important:

Only RBI-authorised banks can apply for .bank.in.
NBFCs, fintechs, and payment institutions can apply for .fin.in once registration opens.
The domain must be registered using Digital Signature Certificates (DSCs) of designated officials.
All domains must implement DNSSEC, SSL certificates, and TLS protocols for security.
RBI and IDRBT will periodically review compliance and issue renewal reminders.

Who Should Register

Banks: All Indian banks authorised by the RBI must use a .bank.in domain. Some major banks have already begun the switch.
NBFCs and other financial institutions: Should plan for a .fin.in domain registration when IDRBT opens that stream (or as per the regulatory schedule).
If you are unsure about your eligibility or the deadline, check with IDRBT or your regulatory adviser.

Step-by-Step Registration Process

Here is a simplified guide you can follow to register a .bank.in / .fin.in domain online:

1. Prepare Your Team and Documents

Assign three important roles within your organisation:
- - Administrative Contact
  - Technical Contact
  - Billing Contact
Ensure each person has a valid Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) and active PKI tokens.
Confirm your PKI tokens are verified and ready for use.

2. Create an Account on the IDRBT Registrar Portal

Visit the IDRBT Domain Registrar website
Click on "Register" to create an account for your organisation
Use official details and verify your email using the OTP sent to your registered address
After registration, log in to the portal to start your application

3. Verify Your DSC (Digital Signature Certificate)

Plug in your PKI token and make sure the required software (e.g., EmBridge) is installed and running.
Go to the DSC Validation section and click on Affix DSC
Select your certificate, enter your PIN, and validate it
Once verified, a reminder pop-up will appear listing all the documents you need to upload

4. Choose and Reserve Your Domain Name

Enter your bank or organisation name and choose between .bank.in or .fin.in
Check if the domain name is available
Select your preferred registration duration (charges will be shown accordingly)
Click Save & Next to move ahead.

5. Complete the Onboarding Process

a) Organisation Details

Enter your institution's name, address and contact details. Upload the required documents in PDF or JPEG format (50 KB to 500 KB):

GSTIN certificate
PAN card
RBI or regulatory licence
Board Resolution authorising the domain registration

b) Contact Details

Add information for all three roles (Admin, Technical, Billing):

Full Name
Official Email ID
Contact Numbers
Designation and Office Address

Upload identity proofs like PAN, Aadhaar, and Organisation ID for each contact.

c) Name Server Configuration

Provide details of at least two Name Servers (hostname and IP address)
You can add more if needed, but extra servers may incur additional costs
Click Save & Next to continue.

d) Review and Submit

Review all your details carefully: domain name, organisation data and name servers
If anything needs correction, click Edit before submission
Tick the declaration box, authenticate using your PKI token, and click Submit
Your application will now be sent to IDRBT for review

6. Complete the Payment

Once IDRBT verifies your documents, your application status will change to Approved for Payment
Click Pay Now to complete your payment through .bank.in domain SBI e-Pay
After payment, IDRBT will activate your domain and name server records

Eligibility and Documents Required

Here is what you will need:

Bank licence or registration certificate (for banks)
PAN and GSTIN of the organisation
Board resolution approving domain registration
KYC documents for authorised signatories
Valid DSCs for Admin, Technical and Billing roles
Any RBI / regulatory approval letters (if applicable)
For full details, refer to the official IDRBT prerequisites document or the domain registration PDF.

Banks That Have Migrated to .bank.in Domains

Many leading banks have already completed their migration to official .bank.in domains following the RBI directive. Below are some examples:

State Bank of India (SBI) – sbi.bank.in
Punjab National Bank (PNB) – pnb.bank.in
Bank of Baroda (BoB) – bankofbaroda.bank.in
Canara Bank – canarabank.bank.in
ICICI Bank – icici.bank.in
HDFC Bank – hdfc.bank.in
Axis Bank – axisbank.bank.in
Kotak Mahindra Bank – kotak.bank.in
Union Bank of India – unionbankofindia.bank.in
IDBI Bank – idbi.bank.in

Over200+ banks are currently migrating or have completed the process. You can verify updated migration lists directly on the IDRBT official portal.

Common Issues and How You Can Fix Them

Here are the issues that you can face and how you can fix them:

Issue	How to Fix It
DSC errors	Ensure your DSC is valid, not expired, and issued by an approved Certifying Authority.
Payment failure	Retry using another payment option and keep the bank receipt. Contact IDRBT support if the payment remains pending.
Document verification delay	Upload clear scanned copies in PDF format. Respond quickly to any IDRBT queries.
DNS security checks fail	Ask IT team to update DNS security settings (DNSSEC/TLS) and name server records.

Checklist Before You Apply

Assign Admin, Technical, and Billing roles with valid DSCs
Get your board resolution and other documents signed and scanned
Confirm the exact domain name you plan to register
Inform your IT team about DNS and certificate setup
Keep a contact person ready to respond to IDRBT queries

You can download the Official IDRBT User Guide (PDF) for detailed information on the registration steps and requirements.

Summing Up

Registering a .bank.in or .fin.in domain is a key compliance and trust-building step in line with the RBI’s cybersecurity guidelines. With your DSCs ready, documents in order, and your team aligned, you can complete the process smoothly via the IDRBT portal.

This often overlooked move builds customer trust, strengthens your digital security posture, and ensures your customers always land on the genuine web presence of your financial institution. Stay updated about the deadlines and adhere to the .bank.in / .fin.in domain migration guidelines to remain compliant.

Also Read:
- List of Government Banks in India 2025
- How to Save Tax on Salary Income of 12 Lakhs in India

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How to Register .bank.in or .fin.in Domain Online (2025–2026 RBI Guide)