New RBI rule: Banks move to secure ‘.bank.in’ domains to curb online fraud

A new Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directive comes into effect on Friday (October 31) requiring all banks to shift their official websites to the ‘.bank.in’ domain. The move aims to enhance cybersecurity, protect customers from phishing scams, and strengthen trust in digital banking.

Under the new rule, only RBI-regulated banks can register and use the ‘.bank.in’ domain.

The change means that starting today, customers visiting their bank websites will notice updated URLs ending with “.bank.in.” Top private sector lenders, including ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank, have already completed the migration.

Why the change matters

The RBI’s mandate follows a rise in online payment frauds and fake banking websites. The exclusive domain will serve as a verified digital identity for Indian banks, ensuring that users can easily distinguish official portals from fraudulent ones.

The Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) will act as the sole registrar for the new domain, authorised by the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

List of new official bank URLs

• ICICI Bank: https://www.icici.bank.in/


• HDFC Bank: https://www.hdfc.bank.in/


• Axis Bank: https://www.axis.bank.in/


• Kotak Mahindra Bank: https://www.kotak.bank.in/en/home.html

All existing services remain accessible, and old website links will automatically redirect to the new domain addresses.

What customers should know

According to cybersecurity experts, users are advised to:

• Always verify that banking URLs end with “.bank.in” before logging in.


• Avoid using search engine results or forwarded links to access banking portals.


• Bookmark the new official URLs to prevent phishing risks.

The domain migration is expected to significantly improve digital banking security and authenticity in India.Read about our editorial guidelines and ethics policy