According to a press release just out, EnCirca.com is the first approved ICANN-accredited registrar for the new gTLD .BANK
fTLD Registry Services LLC is the operator of the .BANK top-level domain.
The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) announced that they will be working together with and EnCirca to help community banks understand and register for the soon-to-be launched .BANK top-level domain.
“The new .BANK domain extension, which offers enhanced security, will have a more complex verification and registration process than widely-available domains such as .com or .net,” said Viveca Y. Ware, executive vice president, regulatory policy. “EnCirca is well-positioned to help community banks register and understand how to use the new .BANK domain extension to further strengthen the protection of customer information in an online environment.”
As part of the agreement, community banks will be able to access a unique website with information and resources about securing and activating .BANK domain names. EnCirca will also host frequent webinars allowing community bankers to learn about the eligibility for a .BANK domain, the registration process and transition tips.
Additionally, ICBA members will be able to take advantage of preferred pricing for .BANK registrations.
“With enhanced security standards, the .BANK domain extension has significantly raised the bar for online banking services,” said Thomas Barrett, president of EnCirca. “As the only ICANN Registrar serving on the .BANK Security Standards Working Group, EnCirca is uniquely qualified to make sure banks successfully navigate the policies and processes for .BANK domain names.”
The launch timeline for the .BANK domain extension generally consists of two phases.
Sunrise Period: Estimated May 18-June 16, 2015
Eligibility is limited to banks that have registered their trademark with the Trademark Clearinghouse.
Note: Banks must have already registered their trademark with a national trademark office in order to participate in the Trademark Clearinghouse.
General Availability: Estimated Start June 24, 2015-Ongoing
First-come, first-served registrations begin for all eligible members of the banking community.
Note: This is the first opportunity for most community banks to register for a .BANK domain.
For banks interested in getting an early start in securing their desired domains, EnCirca is offering a free pre-screening service to help ensure first-time success for the .BANK authentication and name-selection processes.
Banks can start the pre-screening process at www.encirca.com/icba.
Registration fees are expected to be in the $1K + range per domain.
