"Only verified members of the global banking community are eligible to register domain names. For banks and savings associations it includes charter and supervision verification with the organization’s regulator. Please see the .BANK eligibility requirements here."

"To ensure that registrations are made only to organizations that meet and maintain the eligibility requirements, fTLD performs verification upon the initial registration of a .BANK domain, annually thereafter and if certain registration information changes (e.g., Registrant Organization, Registrant Name, Registrant Email). fTLD’s Verification Process Overview is accessible here."

We can get you started with the process! Visit our .BANK request page to fill out your information and someone at Dovetail will get back to you with the next steps!

First assemble your team who needs to be involved, such as marketing, compliance, security, and IT teams. Dovetail can help you work with an approved registrar to obtain your domain. Once your domain is purchased and approved, then you can start the process of implementing your .BANK domain.  Dovetail, as your trusted hosting provider can guide you through the process of implementing your .BANK with proper rules required of .BANK domains, such as DNS SEC, Email Authentication, name server restrictions, redirecting and alias requirements, and proper SSLs. Educate and promote to your customers on the upcoming changes to .BANK. Finally go live with your changes. 

"Credit unions/associations in the United States do not meet the eligibility requirements for .BANK and may be interested in .CREDITUNION. As .BANK serves the global banking community, it is possible credit unions/associations located outside of the United States who are chartered and supervised as a bank by a government regulatory authority are eligible to register a .BANK domain name."

Using a .BANK domain, shows your customers you are serious about cybersecurity and preventing spoofing and phishing. According to the fTLD, "Moving your bank from open, unrestricted domains (e.g., .com, .net) to .BANK adds robust layers of cybersecurity and eliminates the existence of lookalike domains, used in over 92% of all cyberattacks.

Employees, vendors, and customers can simply 'Look for the .BANK' to avoid engaging with dangerous emails and websites which lead to breaches, ransomware, identity theft, and fraud."

Why yes! Check out our glossary below. 

Approved Registrar - Due to strict security requirements, you may only register .BANK with an approved registrar and its resellers. There is a list of approved registrars on the fTLD's website. Dovetail Internet Technologies is partnered with an approved registrar to provide .BANK.

.BANK - A trusted and secure top level domain. .BANK is being regulated by the fTLD which is requiring the domain to follow a strict verification and registration process.

Fallback Domain - A service that allows you to submit a fallback domain in the event that your primary domain choice is not awarded. This domain is only submitted in the event that your primary choice fails. For example, if I could not get my choice of example.bank, I would have exampleMA.bank already chosen to be submitted. This domain is NOT submitted if you receive your primary domain choice. For example, if I receive example.bank, exampleMA.bank would NOT be registered.

Human Resources Contact - This is the human resources contact that will verify the identity of the Registrant Contact.

Manager Contact - This is an immediate supervisor or manager that may be contacted to verify the identity of the Registrant Contact.

Registrant Contact - This is the main contact point for Symantec during the domain verification process. You must be a full time employee of the bank and have authority to act on behalf of the bank to purchase .BANK.

National Banking Organizations - Any National Organization for example American Bankers Association.

Premiere DNS  (Domain Name Serving) -  DNS is required to use any domain but with .BANK you must follow specific DNS/ DNSSEC requirements.

Regulatory Agency - The registration authority that identifies you as a legal bank. i.e. OCC or Federal Reserve.

Regulatory ID - This is the number that relates to your regulator. For example, if the OCC is your regulator the OCC charter number is your regulatory ID.

Security Requirements - .BANK follows a set of security requirements in order to obtain a .BANK domain. This includes specific naming policies and verification guidelines during the registration process.

State Banking Organizations - Any State Organization for example Massachusetts Bankers Association.

Trademark Clearinghouse (TMHC) - ICANN's global repository for trademark data. This is not the trademark office. To be eligible for the Sunrise period of any new top level domain you must submit your trademark information to the TMCH.