`Banks' allow members to pay with time, not cash

By MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press Writer

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - No money? No problem! Pay with time, instead.

Scores of time banks are being started in hard-hit communities around the nation - and thousands of devotees are helping each other survive tough economic times.

It's a modern twist on the ancient practice of barter. In a time bank, members get credit for services they provide to other members, from cooking to housekeeping to car rides to home repair. For each hour of work, one time dollar is deposited into a member's account, good for services offered by other members.

One cash-strapped Pennsylvania bride even used time dollars to pay for everything from a wedding-day makeover to an elaborate seven-layer cake.