Time Bank
A time bank is extra time that an online poker site gives you for difficult decisions, beyond the normal time to act. You can use it when you need longer, and when it is gone, you have only the standard time.
The simple explanation
On most sites, you have about 30 seconds to act. If you need longer, you click the time bank to get more seconds. The bank is limited, and the rules for refilling it differ among sites.
A closer look
Time banks protect players from running out of time on a big decision, but they also discourage stalling. Use them for important spots such as a large all-in decision. If you run out of time, your hand is folded automatically, or checked if possible. Live poker has no time bank, but a floor can call time on a player who takes too long.
A practical example
A player has 30 seconds to act on the river, uses his time bank for 20 more seconds and then calls.
Full explanation
A time bank is extra time that an online poker site gives you for difficult decisions, beyond the normal time to act. You can use it when you need longer, and when it is gone, you have only the standard time.
A time bank is extra time for online decisions.
It is limited, so use it wisely.
When time is up, the hand is folded or checked.
It is used by players who must make a big decision.
Alternative spelling: timebank, time-bank