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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, June 29, 2003

'Humanitarian Banks' Flourish in NE China Province

A special bank in which humanitarian services are stored as an investment has attracted more than 5,200 depositors since its establishment in mid-May in northeast China's Jilin Province.


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A special bank in which humanitarian services are stored as an investment has attracted more than 5,200 depositors since its establishment in mid-May in northeast China's Jilin Province.

Unlike traditional banks specializing in financial business, account books of the Humanitarian Bank only tally the hours depositors have spent in providing voluntary services to other people.

With the first such bank established in the Nanhu Residential Community of Chaoyang District during the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the bank has spun off eight branch offices in Changchun and greatly boosted local humanitarian services which range from cleaning public facilities, forestation to purchasing daily necessities for those who have been put in compulsory isolation.

According to the operation rules, all volunteers who have opened an account in the banks may have their beneficiaries fill in a "humanitarian service card" which will mark the hours contributed to community activities. Account owners will see theirdeposits grow by submitting the card to banks.

Moreover, to keep an account valid, a depositor is obliged to provide at least 48 hours of voluntary service every year. Once their services amount to 800 hours, they can get a "life beneficiary card for humanitarian services" audited by local community service centers, which means that in times of trouble, they can get unconditional humanitarian services in return.


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