A Leave Bank is a pooled fund of annual and restored annual leave. Contributors donate leave to the bank. Recipients, Leave Bank Members who are affected by a qualified personal or family medical emergency and projected to exhaust all of their paid leave, draw leave out of the Leave Bank. All unused leave in the bank at the end of the leave year will roll over to the next membership period.

How to Donate to the Leave Bank

Donate leave to the NIH Leave Bank using the Integrated Time and Attendance System (ITAS).  

• After you log in, you will need to select “Donate Leave” in the tool bar.
• Under “Name Reason Org” select “A Leave Bank”, which is located at the top of the list.
• Then identify the type of leave, annual or restored annual, and the amount of hours you wish to donate.

Any Federal civilian employee, except postal service employees, can donate to a Leave Bank Recipient or to the Leave Bank. For assistance to donate, contact the Leave Bank Office.

Leave Donation Limitations

In any one leave year, you may donate up to one-half of the amount of annual leave you would be entitled to accrue during the leave year in which the donation is made. If you are projected to have annual leave that would be otherwise subject to forfeiture at the end of the leave year, the maximum amount of annual leave that may be donated during the leave year shall be the lesser of:

• One-half of the amount of annual leave you would be entitled to accrue during the leave year in which the donation is made;
  OR
• The number of hours remaining in the leave year (as of the date of the donation) for which you are scheduled to work and receive pay.

However, these limitations may be waived by your Leave Approving Official (LAO) if:

• You do not have leave planned that would conflict with the request;
  AND
• You agree that you understand that your request exceeds the lesser of the above limitations and you would still like to donate annual or restored annual leave.

When you submit the donation request through ITAS, an e-mail will be sent to your LAO. If your LAO approves this request, he/she has approved the limitation waiver.

Can I donate directly to an approved Leave Bank Recipient?

Yes, you may donate leave directly to an approved Leave Bank Recipient as long as he/she is not your supervisor. To do this you will need to complete the “Leave Donation” portion of the Membership Application      and submit it to the Leave Bank Office within 5 business days of donating leave to the Leave Bank through ITAS.