I just learned that we're discouraged from using forum groups to do Sarah quests. Okay, I get that. But I was using one as a savings account for my friend's birthday, so I can build up a fair amount of sP and absolutely spoil her. Are there any posts anywhere about whether that's allowed or disallowed?

That should be fine as long as you're not doing Sarah's quests while it's in there. We can use the group banks, just not as a workaround for Sarah

so we can't do Sarah quests if we are using a group bank for other valid reasons and ammounts? ever?

I haven't really made use of a forum bank (besides back when it was allowed for Sarah) or needed to ask, but to play it safe, I'd say no.

To me, if you're using a private forum group bank (like a group that only you're in) as a second vault for whatever reason, that still counts as sP that you have, even if Sarah can't see it (even though she also can't see shop tills and no one's required to empty those on a constant basis). If you're talking about an actual forum group you're in that uses its bank and that you contribute to/are in charge of/however that works, that's a little more hazy imo and I'd say you'd want to ask staff about it just in case since they're the ones who can give you a sure answer.

Alright, thank you for your input! I really think the banks and shops should be take in consideration by Sarah. I'll try to be careful.