This bonus has expired, you can view a new KeyBank bonus here or the best current checking bonuses here.
Reposting 6//28/18 with added $300 bonus in certain areas for the premium account. (HT to reader RT) Also added $100 bonus and new location – Buffalo, NY.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $100, $200, or $300
- Availability: Offer available in certain areas within the following markets: Cleveland, OH, Akron/Canton, OH, Pittsburgh, PA, Hartford, CT, New Haven, CT, Seattle, WA, Denver, CO, Albany, NY, Syracuse, NY and Rochester, NY, Buffalo, NY. Also: Alaska, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo OH, Idaho, Indiana (Central and Northern), Maine, Michigan, Philadelphia PA, Utah, Vermont and Portland, OR.
- Direct deposit required: Yes, $500+ required
- Additional requirements: Use promotional code
- Hard/soft pull: Soft pull
- ChexSystems: Mixed DP, most likely does. Also reports of being ChexSystems sensitive.
- Credit card funding: Up to $100
- Monthly fees: $0, $7, or $18, avoidable
- Early account termination fee: $25, 180 days
- Household limit: None
- Expiration date: November 2, 2018
Contents
The Offer
Direct Link to offer (for Cleveland, OH, Akron/Canton, OH, Pittsburgh, PA, Hartford, CT, New Haven, CT, Seattle, WA, Denver, CO, Albany, NY, Syracuse, NY, Rochester, NY, Buffalo, NY))
- KeyBank is offering a sign up bonus of $300 when you open a new KeyBank Advantage or Privilege checking account with offer code OASP0618 and receive a direct deposit of $500 or more within 60 days of account opening.
Direct Link to offer (for Cleveland, OH, Akron/Canton, OH, Pittsburgh, PA, Hartford, CT, New Haven, CT, Seattle, WA, Denver, CO, Albany, NY, Syracuse, NY, Rochester, NY, Buffalo, NY)
- KeyBank is offering a sign up bonus of $200 when you open a new KeyBank Express checking account with offer code OAPE0618 and receive a direct deposit of $500 or more within 60 days of account opening.
Direct Link to offer (for Cleveland, OH, Akron/Canton, OH, Pittsburgh, PA, Hartford, CT, New Haven, CT, Seattle, WA, Denver, CO, Albany, NY, Syracuse, NY, Rochester, NY, Buffalo, NY)
- KeyBank is offering a sign up bonus of $100 when you open a new KeyBank Hassle-Free checking account with offer code OASH0618 and receive a direct deposit of $500 or more within 60 days of account opening.
Direct Link to offer (for Alaska, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo OH, Idaho, Indiana (Central and Northern), Maine, Michigan, Philadelphia PA, Utah, Vermont and Portland, OR)
- KeyBank is offering a sign up bonus of $200 when you open a new KeyBank checking account with offer code ONAS0618 and receive a direct deposit of $500 or more within 60 days of account opening. You can open the Express, Advantage, Privilege, or Privilege Select checking and get this offer.
Offers seem to be available online as well for anyone living in an eligible area.
The Fine Print
- Offer available if you haven’t had a KeyBank Hassle-Free Account® or a KeyBank checking account during the past 12 months.
- Must open account between 6/4/18 and 11/2/18 and set-up direct deposit.
- You must make a single direct deposit of at least $500 into the new account.
- Direct deposit must be made within 60 days of account opening and is limited to payroll, social security, pension and government benefits.
- There is no check writing with a KeyBank Hassle-Free Account.
- Offer/Reservation number cannot be sold and is required to qualify.
- KeyBank is not responsible for and will not honor promotional offers on third party websites that are not authorized by KeyBank.
- Visit key.com for any checking account service charges and balance requirements.
- Limit one gift per qualifying account. Limit one gift per individual.
- The value of your gift will be reported on Form 1099-INT and deposited into your account within 90 days of meeting requirements.
- If you close your Account within 180 days of account opening, you will be charged a $25 account early closure fee.
Avoiding Fees
Hassle-Free Checking ($100 Bonus)
This account has no monthly fee.
Key Express Checking $7 Monthly Fee ($200 Bonus)
The monthly fee on this account is waived if you do either of the following each statement cycle:
- Deposits of at least $500 per month
- At least 8 customer initiated transactions per month (any deposits, withdrawals, which includes transfers)
Key Advantage Checking Account $18 Monthly Fee ($300 Bonus)
The monthly fee on this account is waived if you do either of the following each statement cycle:
- The combined balance in any combination of KeyBank checking and savings deposit accounts, certificates of deposit, retirement deposits, investment account* (including annuity balances reflected on your KIS account statement) and credit accounts was $10,000.00 or more.
- You have a mortgage originated through KeyBank and you have an automatic payment deduction plan via ACH deducting $500.00 or more from your Key Advantage Money Market Checking Account during a statement cycle. If your mortgage automatic payment deduction plan should be discontinued, you may be subject to the combined balance requirements to avoid the monthly Maintenance Service Charge.
- You are a Key@Work program member and you have direct deposits totaling $1000.00 or more credited to your Key Advantage Money Market Checking Account during a statement cycle. If you should leave your current employer and direct deposits have been discontinued, you may be subject to the combined balance requirement to avoid the monthly Maintenance Service Charge until direct deposits are reinstated by your new employer.
Early Account Termination Fee $25
If you close your account within 180 days, you are required to pay an early account closure fee of $25
Our Verdict
The $300 bonus is significantly harder to meet due to the $10,000 requirement to keep it fee-free. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay the $25 early termination fee. We’ll add these to our best checking bonus page.
Big thanks to reader Ampersand for letting us let us know about this offer. Learn how to find bonuses and contribute to the site here.
Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
- A Beginners Guide To Bank Account Bonuses
- Bank Account Quick Reference Table (Spreadsheet) (very useful for sorting bonuses by different parameters)
- PSA: Don’t Call The Bank
- Introduction To ChexSystems
- Banks & Credit Unions That Are ChexSystems Inquiry Sensitive
- What Banks & Credit Unions Do/Don’t Pull ChexSystems?
- How To Use Our Direct Deposit Page For Bank Bonuses Page
- Common Bank Bonus Misconceptions + Why You Should Give Them A Go
- How Many Bank Accounts Can I Safely Open Within A Year For Bank Bonus Purposes?
- Affiliate Links & Bank Bonuses – We Won’t Be Using Them
- Complete List Of Ways To Close Bank Accounts At Each Bank
- Banks That Allow/Don’t Allow Out Of State Checking Applications
- Bank Bonus Posting Times
DP:
11/2 Account opened
12/3 $500 DD from payroll
1/4 $200 bonus posts
Friend account!
From Santander to Keybank – “Oct 10 ach,santander bank payment Fname Lname”
BONUS – “Oct 22 gift from key bank for recent offer Misc $300.00”
From PAYPAL to Keybank – “Oct 03 ach,paypal transfer 1003972953454”
BONUS – “Oct 15 gift from key bank for recent offer Misc $300.00”
How did you set up the paypal transaction?
Anyone find it possible to downgrade to Hassle Free Checking after securing the bonus with Express Checking? On the phone they said not possible but a branch ‘might be able to help.’
“We’ll add these to our best checking bonus page.” this offer is not on the bonus page. You can get bonus then downgrade. Also they waive the fees for 3 months.
Thanks, will add.
Successfully opened in Portland area. 15/24 and 6/12 on checking accounts.
Wife was denied due to chex though. She was also 15/24 and 6/12.
Only real difference I can see was the employment – she is a homemaker so she selected Unemployed (income) and Income Source of Other – Spouse. Any similar experiences?
How can I verify if my employer is a member of Key@Work? I work for the biggest employer in Rochester, NY (URMC).
same question
My DP:
Opened Express Checking online 6/22 ($50 opening deposit from my main checking acct cleared 6/25)
$500 ACH push from E*Trade brokerage acct 6/25
$200 bonus posted 7/10
Hey
William Charles or anybody who can answer.. to avoid monthly fees.. we just need 8 “customer initiated transfers.” First time I’ve seen this at any bank as a way to avoid fees. Is it safe to assume that ACH transfers initiated from a third party bank count as the 8? If so, I guess I’m thinking to do 8x automatic $1 transfers per month, just in case my $500 ACH transfer doesn’t count as DD.
Yes, you can schedule 8 $1 transfers.
I find it unusual that I am getting the ads although I am no where near a targeted area. I live in Ga. Fortunately I check this website before I open an account!
I got in on the other one, $200 with direct deposit deposit of $500, using my address in Boston, MA. Apparently it’s 60-ish miles from a branch location in Connecticut and so is considered part of the CT area.
So by my calculations, if I’m taxed at 15%
For the $300 bonus I get $230 after taxes assuming I eat the $25 ETF.
For the $200 bonus I get $170 assuming I keep the account open and fee free for 180 days.
Fees are waived for the first 3 months.
When is the “KeyBank Relationship Rewards Annual Fee” charged to the account. Anyway to avoid?
I was going to wait til full year passed, about sept, but thought i’d see what happens if try appl now. in hopes the wording is actually per calendar year.
and, says at end appl:
Our records indicate that you may have an existing relationship with KeyBank. To proceed with your application, please click here to sign on to KeyBank Online. Once signed in, click the Open a New Account link to apply.
Contact Us
800-539-9055
I closed out the acct last year. so they’re keeping a very live 12 month clock or something else here.
called n said was closed out and no negativ info and to plz go in to branch to appy for new…
I applied and was approved for this last week. This will be my second time doing a Keybank checking bonus, since I also did one in 2016. Nice these are churnable, unlike so many other banks.
Denied opening account – 3 accounts open in last 6 months, total of 5 over last 2 years. My oldest account is <2 years.
Fyi, these accounts cannot be downgraded to the hassle free account to avoid fees. KeyBank’s excuse is that hassle free accounts do have check writing thus your old account must be closed ($25) and reopened as a hassle free account.
Live in Michigan and entered zip code, says to call in for more information or apply over the phone since there are no branches in my area. Can’t apply online.
6 new accounts in the last 12 months and got an approval opening from the Seattle, WA area. Go for it!
Applied on June 21, $501 transfer from Cap1 360 Checking on 6/28, bonus posted 7/10 as “Gift From Key Bank For Recent Offer”.
MA is listed in the title but I don’t see it on the website. Do you mean ME (Maine)?
Fixed, thanks
They have also recently sent a targeted $400 offer with personalized one time use code around Philly.
Got the same mailer in Ann Arbor, Mi
Very, very Chex Sensitive. So much so that they have an automatic system that makes decisions that can’t be overridden for this promotion. Banker showed me his screen throughout the process. Only opened 5 accounts in 2018, and only had a Chex pull on 3 of them. Only one since the beginning of March. I was offered the $100 bonus instead and accepted since I had already taken the pull & committed the time.
That’s weird. I applied online and have opened at least 10 bank accounts in 2018. I’m not sure how many pulled Chex but I was instantly approved.
Darn, I closed my previous account on Dec 28, 2017, so I guess I have to wait until then before I can do another checking bonus with Key?
Can this be opened in branch? Doesn’t look to be specified in the fine print
I opened in branch. Banker confirmed I would be eligible for the bonus.
Definitely Chex sensitive
I just applied and successfully opened online. I live with 1 mile of a branch.
Thanks! I’ll update.
I followed this link. Latest says this:
Fine print says MI too. And several others also (needs update above, different promo code also):
Alaska, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo OH, Idaho, Indiana (Central and Northern), Maine, Michigan, Philadelphia PA, Utah, Vermont and Portland, OR.
And,..
Yes, …Offer is available to new bank clients who have not had any type of account with KeyBank within the last 12 months.
I’ll need to wait a bit.
etc,…
Use offer code ONAS0618 when you apply online
Pulled Chex last year…
Seems this will be roll of the dice at apply according to past data, and my multi chex inq’s
I was rejected based on Chex, which surprised me. But, my wife was accepted. I did’t feel like I had opened too many accounts but apparently they did.
DP unsuccessful. I live in NY but not the mentioned area. Can I drive upstate to the branches to open the account? They did let me fill out the application after telling them my zip code though.
”
Status for Key Express Checking ®
Sorry, we are unable to open the account you requested online at this time.
We regret that we are unable to open the account you requested online. Please visit your local KeyBank branch to apply in person.
“
NY not in the latest fine print from link above.
It was.
I also have the offer to open it online with the code below (I do live in OH), via online ads:
Open a Key checking account.
Get $2001
Use offer code ONAS0618 when you apply online.
When you open a qualified checking account with your offer code and make one single direct deposit of $500 or more within 60 days of account opening, you’ll get $200.1 Offer expires November 2, 2018.
Seems to be an identical offer, and I was able to open it online. The link was custom to me.
Ya, must be auto adjusting to our ip location.
Here is the page/link I get:
https://www.key.com/personal/promotions/checking-200-ps.jsp?ppc=1806_CMPPRM_ONAS0618_ps+Google_Secondary_GDN_Similar_Audiences
Ahha, I see, I’ll update the post.
Great point. I didn’t check that the locations were different with the different codes. Definitely seems that they are doing regionally targeted online advertising.
FYI – Offer available if you haven’t had a KeyBank Hassle-Free Account® or a KeyBank checking account during the past 12 months
Added the fine print now to the post, thanks
They also have another very similar offer for a different set of metro areas/states; this one, at least, can be applied for online:
“Use offer code ONAS0618 when you apply online.
When you open a qualified checking account with your offer code and make one single direct deposit of $500 or more within 60 days of account opening, you’ll get $200. Offer expires November 2, 2018.”
“Offer available in the following markets ONLY: Alaska, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo OH, Idaho, Indiana (Central and Northern), Maine, Michigan, Philadelphia PA, Utah, Vermont and Portland, OR.”
https://www.key.com/personal/promotions/checking-200-ps.jsp?ppc=1806_CMPPRM_ONAS0618_ps+Google_Secondary_Brand_Beta+key_bank_promotion
Thanks! Updated.
The website says “Offer available in certain branches within the following markets: Cleveland, OH, Akron/Canton, OH, Pittsburgh, PA, Hartford, CT, New Haven, CT, Seattle, WA, Denver, CO, Albany, NY, Syracuse, NY and Rochester, NY.” But it looks like you can open an account online, I did not go through all the steps so I don’t know if it allows me to enter the code.