RBI Directs All Banks To Shift To ‘.bank.in’ Domain By October 2025

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has instructed all banks in the country to migrate their existing web domains to the new ‘.bank.in’ domain by 31 October 2025. The move aims to improve cybersecurity and provide customers with a trusted online banking experience.

The Indian National Internet Exchange (NIXI) operates under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). It has appointed the Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT). The institute will serve as the exclusive registrar for the ‘.bank.in’ domain.

IDRBT will oversee domain registration and ensure that banks transition smoothly to the new digital address.

A PIB Fact Check confirmed this announcement and verified the authenticity of the RBI’s directive.

The change aims to strengthen online security for banking websites. It also seeks to reduce risks from phishing, fraudulent sites, and other cyber threats.

Who Must Comply

Under the directive, all commercial banks, regional rural banks, and co-operative banks must adopt the ‘.bank.in’ domain. The RBI requires payment banks to use the ‘.bank.in’ domain for their official websites.

The RBI has emphasised that banks continuing to operate under older domains will face compliance scrutiny. This will become stricter as the October 2025 deadline approaches.

The shift is part of a broader effort by the government to modernise India’s banking infrastructure and safeguard digital transactions.

Authorities advise customers to access banking portals through the ‘.bank.in’ domain to ensure authenticity and avoid fraudulent websites.

RBI officials highlighted that the migration will standardise bank URLs. They added that it will also provide users with a clear indicator of a secure and official banking site. NIXI and IDRBT will provide technical support to banks during the transition process.

This step aligns with global best practices. Central banks worldwide encourage financial institutions to adopt dedicated domain extensions to enhance cybersecurity. They also promote this move to improve public trust in digital financial services.

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