What is a time bank?
A time bank is a mutual support system where people exchange services using time instead of money. At its core, a time bank treats time as a shared community resource rather than a commodity.
One hour of help = one time credit.
Everyone’s hour is worth the same, no matter the task.
Credits can be earned by helping anyone and spent receiving help from anyone else in the network. Unlike battering, exchange doesn't need to be between 2 people.
How Does Time Banking Work?
Giving Time Earns Credits: When you help someone, you earn time credits equal to the hours you contributed. (Eg, a parent offers 2 hours of tutoring earns 2 time credits.)
Credits Can Be Spent Anywhere in the Network. Those credits don’t have to be used with the same person you helped.
Reciprocity Is Networked, Not One-to-One. You don’t “owe” the person who helped you. Instead, you contribute when you can and receive when you need.Reciprocity happens over time, across many people, and through the system as a whole.
Exchanges Are Logged and Transparent. All time given and received is tracked so that the system stays balanced, people can see participation patterns, and trust is maintained.
