Punjab National Bank (PNB) has become the first Public Sector Bank (PSB) in India to migrate its corporate website from www.pnb.co.in to the secure domain www.pnb.bank.in. The move marks a significant step in strengthening cybersecurity in the Indian banking sector, following RBI’s directive to enhance digital payment safety and combat fraud.
Key Highlights
- New Domain: www.pnb.bank.in (earlier www.pnb.co.in).
- Significance: PNB is the first PSB to adopt this exclusive ‘.bank.in’ domain.
- Security Advantage:
- Only banks are eligible for registration under .bank.in, reducing risk of fraud and phishing.
- Stronger safeguards for secure online transactions.
- Enhanced customer trust in digital banking.
- RBI Background:
- RBI highlighted increased digital frauds in its February 7, 2025 Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.
- Announced creation of .bank.in domain exclusively for Indian banks.
- Parallel plan: A new “fin.in” domain for other non-bank financial institutions.
- Registrar: Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) will serve as the exclusive registrar for .bank.in.
- Timeline: Registrations commenced from April 2025, with detailed RBI guidelines issued to banks.
Punjab National Bank (PNB)
- Established: 1894 (Headquarters: New Delhi).
- Tagline: “The Name You Can Bank Upon.”
- Ownership: Government of India (PSB under the Ministry of Finance).
- Network: Over 10,000 branches and 12,000+ ATMs across India.
- Significance: One of India’s largest PSBs; merged with Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India in 2020.
IDRBT (Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology)
- Established: 1996, Hyderabad.
- Founder: Reserve Bank of India.
- Function: Acts as a technology research and development institution for Indian banking sector.
- Current Role: Exclusive registrar for .bank.in domain.
About RBI’s Initiative
- RBI’s push for exclusive digital domains aims to:
- Mitigate phishing attacks and fraud in banking websites.
- Standardize secure banking domains under .bank.in.
- Extend the model to NBFCs and fintech players under the proposed “fin.in” domain.
Key Facts
- First Bank in India: Bank of Hindustan (1770, closed in 1832).
- Oldest PSB still in existence: State Bank of India (SBI) – origins trace back to 1806 (Bank of Calcutta).
- Largest PSB by assets & branches: SBI.
- Largest Private Bank by market capitalization: HDFC Bank.
- Digital Banking Regulator: Reserve Bank of India (HQ: Mumbai; Governor: Shaktikanta Das).