diff --git a/atm.lua b/atm.lua
index b2f5ab3..aa5a8d3 100644
--- a/atm.lua
+++ b/atm.lua
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ local storage = minetest.get_mod_storage()
 
 function atm.create_account(name)
 	if not storage:contains("balance_" .. name) and minetest.player_exists(name) then
-		storage:set_int("balance_" .. name, atm.startbalance)
-		atm.balance[name] = atm.startbalance
+		storage:set_int("balance_" .. name, 0)
+		atm.balance[name] = 0
 	end
 end
 
@@ -100,4 +100,4 @@ minetest.register_on_mods_loaded(function()
 		io.close(file)
 		atm.migrate_transactions()
 	end
-end)
\ No newline at end of file
+end)
diff --git a/income.lua b/income.lua
index e0bf9d5..248aae7 100644
--- a/income.lua
+++ b/income.lua
@@ -25,18 +25,38 @@ local S = core.get_translator(core.get_current_modname())
 
 local income_count = tonumber(core.settings:get("emeraldbank.income_count")) or 1
 local income_period = tonumber(core.settings:get("emeraldbank.income_period")) or 1800
-
-local timer = 0
+local start_balance_period = tonumber(core.settings:get("emeraldbank.start_balance_period")) or 1800
+local income_timer = 0
+local start_balance_timer = 0
 
 function emeraldbank.income(dtime)
-   timer = timer + dtime;
-   if timer >= income_period then
-      timer = 0
-      for _, player in ipairs(core.get_connected_players()) do
-	 if not player or player.is_fake_player then return end
-	 emeraldbank.add_emeralds(player, income_count)
+   income_timer = income_timer + dtime
+   local conn_players = core.get_connected_players()
+   if income_timer >= income_period then
+      income_timer = 0
+      for _, player in ipairs(conn_players) do
+         if not player or player.is_fake_player then return end
+         emeraldbank.add_emeralds(player, income_count)
+      end
+   end
+
+   -- Starting balance timer
+   start_balance_timer = start_balance_timer + dtime
+   if start_balance_timer >= start_balance_period then
+      start_balance_timer = 0
+      for _, player in ipairs(conn_players) do
+         if not player or player.is_fake_player then return end
+         local meta = player:get_meta()
+         local had_start_balance = meta:get_string("emeraldbank_had_start_balance")
+
+         if had_start_balance == "" or had_start_balance == nil then
+            mcl_title.set(player, "actionbar", {text=S("You have earned your starting balance for playtime: @1", atm.startbalance), color="green"})
+            emeraldbank.add_emeralds(player, atm.startbalance)
+            meta:set_string("emeraldbank_had_start_balance", "true")
+         end
       end
    end
 end
 
+
 minetest.register_globalstep(emeraldbank.income)
diff --git a/settingtypes.txt b/settingtypes.txt
index dc7c62d..302ce20 100644
--- a/settingtypes.txt
+++ b/settingtypes.txt
@@ -7,16 +7,18 @@ emeraldbank.bank_craft (bank craft) bool true
 # Number of emeralds on start
 emeraldbank.start_balance (emeralds on start) int 30
 
+# Length of time (in seconds) between checking if a player has had their start balance
+emeraldbank.start_balance_period (time till start balance earned) int 1800
+
 # If true, bank will give emeralds to players for gamed time
 emeraldbank.income_enabled (Is income enabled?) bool true
 
 # Number of emeralds given as income
 emeraldbank.income_count (number of emeralds) int 1
 
-# Length of time (in seconds) between checking if a user should get income
+# Length of time (in seconds) between checking if a player should get income
 emeraldbank.income_period (time between income) int 1800
 
-
 [Shops]
 
 # If true shop can be crafted