India's RBI Launches .bank.in Domain to Combat Digital Payment Fraud

To combat rising digital payment fraud and boost trust in online banking, India's Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will introduce a dedicated “.bank.in” domain for banks starting April 2025. The Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) will be the exclusive registrar. A separate “fin.in” domain is planned for non-bank financial institutions. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra cited increasing digital payment fraud as a major concern, stating the new domain aims to reduce cybersecurity threats and phishing scams. This move comes amidst a surge in fraudulent activities and predatory lending apps in India. The RBI will issue detailed guidelines to banks regarding the initiative, designed to help users identify legitimate banking websites.