Published: 17.10.2026
The .bank zone is a restricted extension, so it is not open to everyone in the way generic zones are. A bank is a financial institution that takes deposits and lends money, and this ending was created for organisations of that kind. Because registration is limited to eligible financial bodies, a .bank address is often read as a sign of a regulated financial presence. Use the availability form just below this text to see whether your name in .bank is still free, and check the eligibility rules before you go further.
Check if a .bank domain is available .bank Check
A short history
The .bank extension was introduced with the group of newer endings in the 2010s, but unlike most of them it was set up as a restricted zone. Its purpose is to give financial organisations a recognisable address that customers can associate with regulated services. Because eligibility is limited, the zone is far less common than open endings, and most businesses are not eligible to use it.
Who runs it
Unlike open generic zones, .bank is run by a registry that sets and checks eligibility before a name is issued. The registry publishes its own rules for holders, and those rules decide who may apply. The exact checks and documents can change over time, so this article does not describe them. Read the registry's current eligibility rules directly before you plan around the name.
Rules in practice
- Eligibility: only organisations that meet the registry's requirements may register a name. Individuals and most small businesses should not expect to qualify.
- Verification: the registry checks the applicant before a name is issued and may ask for supporting documents.
- Ongoing conditions: holders may be required to keep their details and status up to date, and a change in their standing can affect the name.
- Characters: names use letters, digits and hyphens, and a single label can be up to 63 characters long.
Who uses .bank
- Banks and other credit institutions that meet the registry's eligibility conditions.
- Other regulated financial bodies that the registry admits to the zone.
- Financial organisations that use the name for their main website, contact pages and customer information.
Strengths
- The ending signals a financial organisation at a glance, which can help customers recognise an official site.
- Restricted registration can reduce look-alike names, which helps customers spot the genuine address.
- The name is short and easy to read on cards, statements and signs.
Things to keep in mind
- The zone is restricted, so if your organisation is not eligible you will need a different ending.
- Financial services are regulated, so content on a .bank site should be reviewed under the rules that apply where you operate.
- Eligibility, documents and renewal conditions are set by the registry and may change, so check the current rules before you commit.
- Customers may still type .com out of habit, so keep the official contact list visible on the site.
Tips before you register
- Read the registry's current eligibility rules first, and confirm that your organisation qualifies before you prepare anything else.
- Gather your licence details and official company records in advance, in case the registry asks for them.
- Plan how customers will move from your current address to the new one, so that e-mail and links keep working.
- Set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC records before you send customer messages from the domain.
- Use strict access control for the registrar account, with two-factor login and only named administrators.
Frequently asked questions
Can anyone register a .bank name? No. Registration is limited to organisations that meet the registry's eligibility rules, so an ordinary individual or small business should not expect to be accepted.
Is .bank a good choice for a small firm? Usually not, unless the firm is an eligible financial organisation. An open generic zone or a country code is often a more practical choice.
Does a .bank name prove that a company is a bank? It shows that the name sits in a restricted zone. Customers should still check licences and the regulator's public information before they trust a financial service.
