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Community bank rebranding: the digital checklist before 31 December 2026

Under the Bank of Ghana's Revised Microfinance Sector Framework, 2026, rural banks now operate as community banks and must complete their name change and rebranding by 31 December 2026. Signage gets the attention — but your website, email and certificates are where customers and fraudsters will notice first.

Prime Info Tech SolutionsPublished 9 October 20266-minute read

In short: decide the new domain early, keep the old one working with redirects for at least a year, reissue SSL certificates in the new legal name once the registration documents are updated, and tell customers exactly which addresses and numbers are genuine — rebrands are a gift to phishing gangs.

1. Decide the domain and email addresses

Choose whether to keep your current domain or move to one that matches the new name. A new domain is cleaner for the brand; keeping the old one is simpler. Either way, renew and keep the old domain — letting it lapse lets someone else register it and receive mail meant for you.

  • Register the new domain (and obvious misspellings) before you announce the name.
  • Set up email on the new domain and keep the old addresses delivering to the same mailboxes for at least 12 months.
  • Publish SPF, DKIM and DMARC records for both domains so nobody can send convincing email in your name.

2. Update the website — and redirect every old page

  • Change the bank's name everywhere: header, footer, page titles, contact pages, terms, privacy notice and downloadable forms.
  • If the domain changes, add permanent (301) redirects from every old address to its new equivalent, not just to the home page. This keeps search rankings and every link customers have saved.
  • Update the structured data search engines read, and resubmit the sitemap in Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.

3. Reissue SSL certificates in the new legal name

Organisation-validated (OV) and extended-validation (EV) certificates contain your registered organisation name. The certificate authority checks it against official records, so update your registration with the Office of the Registrar of Companies first, then request new certificates for the website, internet banking and any other services. Domain-validated certificates do not show a name, but must be issued for any new domain. How to choose an SSL certificate.

4. Update every online listing

  • Google Business Profile for each branch — name, website and photos of the new signage.
  • Bing Places, Apple Business Connect, Facebook, LinkedIn, X and directory listings.
  • App store and messaging profiles, if you have them.

5. Coordinate shared systems with ARB Apex Bank

Core banking, payments and other shared services run on ARB Apex Bank's platform. Anything customers see from those systems — statements, cards or shared channels — should be coordinated with Apex rather than changed locally.

6. Protect customers from rebrand fraud

Name changes create confusion, and criminals use it: lookalike websites, emails "from the new bank" and messages asking customers to "update details". Before and after the change:

  • Tell customers, in branches and online, the exact website address, email domain and phone numbers you use.
  • Remind them you will never ask for PINs, passwords or OTPs.
  • Watch for lookalike domains and report them.

7. Internal systems and documents

  • Email signatures, letterheads, invoice and statement templates, contracts.
  • Staff accounts and display names in email and helpdesk systems.
  • Security and audit reports that name the institution.

A sensible order

  1. Secure the new domain and keep the old one.
  2. Update company registration; set up new email; publish SPF, DKIM and DMARC.
  3. Prepare the updated website and redirects; reissue certificates.
  4. Switch over on one planned date; announce official channels to customers.
  5. Update listings and profiles the same week; monitor for lookalikes.

We help community banks with websites, domains and email, SSL certificates, firewalls and SIEM — working alongside Apex, never in its way. How we work with banks · Plan your rebrand with us