Its our.in | India's Pride
India’s banking sector is one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving industries, with a strong digital presence playing a key role in customer engagement, financial services, and online branding. For domain investors and the domaining industry, analysing the online presence of these banking giants can provide valuable insights into domain utilization, branding strategies, and potential investment opportunities.
In this analysis, we explore the top 10 banks in India, their official websites, and how their domain strategies contribute to their overall digital footprint.
This is to record the current state analysis before the banks switch over to bank.in domain extension following the RBI announcement and probably if we look back in 2 years down the line, this analysis likely to help us to compare the bank.in adoption compare to the previous domains usage.
1. HDFC Bank
- Website: https://www.hdfcbank.com
- Domain Analysis: HDFC Bank has secured a strong, brandable domain name with a .com extension. The bank ensures domain security with SSL certification and maintains a well-structured website optimized for digital banking services.
- Domaining Insight: The use of “hdfcbank.com” instead of just “hdfc.com” indicates a preference for clarity over brevity. However, “hdfc.com” & “hdfc.in” is also owned by the group, showing strong digital asset management. Unfortunately , they don’t own “Hdfc.co.in” though – it could have added further brand protection.
2. ICICI Bank
- Website: https://www.icicibank.com
- Domain Analysis: Like HDFC, ICICI uses its full bank name in the domain, reinforcing its branding.
- Domaining Insight: ICICI Bank also holds “icici.com” , “icici.in” and “icici.co.in”, ensuring no brand dilution. Domain investors should note the importance of securing these brand variations.
3. State Bank of India (SBI)
- Website: https://www.onlinesbi.com
- Domain Analysis: Unlike private banks, SBI uses “onlinesbi.com” instead of “sbi.com” (which is owned by another entity in the U.S.). SBI also owns its own extension .sbi , also owns sbi.in & sbi.co.in domains too.
- Domaining Insight: SBI’s reliance on “onlinesbi.com” underscores the risks of not securing exact-match domains early. This presents a lesson for businesses and investors in domain acquisition.
4. Kotak Mahindra Bank
- Website: https://www.kotak.com
- Domain Analysis: Kotak has chosen a shorter, brandable domain (kotak.com) instead of “kotakbank.com”.
- Domaining Insight: This shows the power of single-word brand domains, making it a prime example for businesses looking to establish a strong online identity.
5. Axis Bank
- Website: https://www.axisbank.com
- Domain Analysis: Uses the full bank name, ensuring clarity for users.
- Domaining Insight: While “axis.com” is owned by another company, securing “axisbank.com” ensures brand strength.
6. Bank of Baroda
- Website: https://www.bankofbaroda.in
- Domain Analysis: The bank uses a .in domain instead of a .com.
- Domaining Insight: While national identity is strengthened with a .in domain, international banks often prefer .com. Investors can explore opportunities in country-specific branding. A shorter domain like bob.in could be much better option, but they dont own that domain name.
7. Punjab National Bank (PNB)
- Website: https://www.pnbindia.in
- Domain Analysis: The bank adds “India” to its domain, differentiating itself from international brands. PNB also own PNB.in and PNB.co.in domains.
- Domaining Insight: Shorter versions such as “pnb.com” could be valuable but are not owned by the bank. This demonstrates the importance of early domain acquisitions.
8. Union Bank of India
- Website: https://www.unionbankofindia.co.in
- Domain Analysis: Uses a longer domain with .co.in, which is less user-friendly.
- Domaining Insight: A shorter version like “unionbank.in” would be preferable for branding. Domain investors should monitor gaps like these.
9. Canara Bank
- Website: https://www.canarabank.com
- Domain Analysis: Uses full branding and a .com domain.
- Domaining Insight: A strong digital presence with no major issues. Investors should watch for alternative spellings or shorter versions.
10. IndusInd Bank
- Website: https://www.indusind.com
- Domain Analysis: Uses “indusind.com” rather than “indusindbank.com”.
- Domaining Insight: Like Kotak, this strategy focuses on simplicity and brand recognition.
Key Takeaways for the Domaining Industry
- Lack of Effective Domains Usage is the Key Issue in India – In the above examples most brands own more domains that quoted above , unfortunately many brands don’t even bother to forward that traffic to their main site. Its a big failure or lack of awareness on how to best utilise of their digital assets. e.g : hdfc.in , sbi.in , icici.in etc are not resolving or giving cert errors. This is completely misusing their assets.
- Early Domain Acquisition Matters: SBI’s loss of “sbi.com” is a prime example of why companies should secure exact-match domains early.
- Branding Strategies Differ: Some banks prefer full names (e.g., “axisbank.com”), while others opt for shorter, brandable domains (e.g., “kotak.com”).
- .IN vs .COM Debate: While some banks use .in domains for national identity, .com remains the preferred choice for global credibility.
- Alternative Domain Investments: Investors should look for shorter variations, and complementary domains that banks might acquire in the future.
For domain investors and businesses in the financial sector, understanding these domain strategies can unlock new opportunities.
