21 Hoosier Banker May 2015 5. Check into the names available through the registrars. Due to the enhanced security requirements behind .BANK, including mandatory verification of eligibility, the .BANK domain can be purchased only from fTLD-approved registrars, as shown at: ftld.com/ approved-registrars. 6. Once the decision has been made to purchase one or more .BANK domains, consider how each name will be deployed. Some banks will transition their consumer-facing online presence to .BANK, while others will use the new address as a channel to communicate with customers, other banks or regulators. For more information, consult the fTLD website at ftld.com, or the American Bankers Association website at aba.com/dotbank. t 1 Generic top-level domain 2 Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers they may not yet realize the process, the implications or the full value that a .BANK domain can deliver. If banks delay, they run a risk of being unable to secure their preferred Web address. No other domain can match the caliber of value, security and trust like a .BANK address.” Enhanced security requirements are one of the primary reasons for banks to consider the new domain, according to fTLD’s market research. Schwartz explains that fTLD will implement a series of critical controls — not currently required by the operators of any other commercial domain — in order to mitigate existing cyber risks and build a high-trust environment for users of .BANK. “We know there is no silver bullet that will eradicate the malicious activities that are propagated over the Internet,” observes Schwartz, “but the security requirements fTLD mandates for .BANK domains will bring a level of trust and protection that exceeds that available in any existing commercially available gTLD.1” The .BANK domain is available mid-May for banks with trademarks registered with the ICANN2 trademark clearinghouse, but, the majority of banks will be eligible to purchase their domain during the general availability period that starts in June. Domains for .BANK are available on a first-come, first-served basis. .BANK Timeline • May 14-17 – Qualified launch program for founders; • May 18-June 17 – Sunrise period; • June 18-23 – Founders period; • June 23 and ongoing – General availability. .BANK Tips 1. Organize a .BANK project team, and include marketing, plus those responsible for your Internet platform, IT and legal. A working group of these representatives can establish a broad sense of the needs and possibilities for a .BANK domain. 2. If using a third-party for website hosting or other online services, include that external resource into the working group, to ensure that all technical aspects are considered. Even if your bank does not plan to use a .BANK domain soon, now is the time to register domains for future use. 3. Consider protecting trademarks. Banks that have registered their trademarks in ICANN’s Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) may apply for an exact match of those marks. Any bank that has not registered in the TMCH may apply for a domain that corresponds to its trademark, trade name or service mark. 4. Evaluate whether to move all activities to .BANK, or to maintain certain activities in an existing domain such as .COM. Many banks will purchase terms related to their main brand trademark, but also for their products, services or locations.
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