[AK, CO, CT, ID, IN, MA, ME, MI, NY, OH, OR, PA, UT, VT, or WA] Keybank $300 Checking Bonus

Update 9/6/24: Deal is back and valid until December 20, 2024. Hat tip to knuds1b

Update 6/25/24: Deal is back and valid until 9/20. This time for $300

Update 4/25/24: Deal is back until 5/10/24

Update 3/19/24: Deal is back.

Update 1/21/24: Deal is back, only $200 this time. Valid until March 15, 2024.

Update 12/11/23: Bonus is now $300 with promo code LDSB1223. Sometimes with the bonuses that are for $200+ they require a second code but this was advertised on FB/Instagram so it should be good. Valid until January 19, 2024.

Update 10/27/23: Deal is back with promo code ONAS1023.

Offer at a glance

• Maximum bonus amount: $200
• Availability:AK, CO, CT, ID, IN, MA, ME, MI, NY, OH, OR, PA, UT, VT, or WA
• Direct deposit required: Yes, $500+ required
• Additional requirements:  Use promo code
• Hard/soft pull: Soft pull
• ChexSystems: Mixed DP, most likely does. Also reports of being ChexSystems sensitive. 
• Credit card funding: Can fund up to $50
• Monthly fees: $7, avoidable
• Early account termination fee: $25
• Household limit: None
• Expiration date: November 8th, 2019 April 24, 2020 July 17th, 2020 September 18, 2020 October 23, 2020 November 20, 2020 August 12, 2022 March 3, 2023 July 21, 2023

The Offer

Direct link to offer

• KeyBank is offering a bonus of $300 when you open a new eligible checking account and complete the following requirements:
  • Use offer code KDSA0624
  • Make one direct deposit of $1,000+

The Fine Print

• Offer available online only.
• You must open a Key Express Checking® account (this is the basic banking account in NY), Key Advantage® checking account, Key Privilege® checking account, or Key Privilege Select Checking® account by the expiration date and make ONE single KeyBank direct deposit of $500 or more within 60 days after account opening to get $200. Normal account service charges and balance requirements apply to these accounts.
• Direct deposit transactions are limited to: payroll, Social Security, pension and government benefits. Accounts titled as Trust Accounts, Estate, and No Access are excluded from eligibility. Employees of KeyBank, its affiliates and subsidiaries are not eligible for this offer. Offer/Reservation number is non-transferable, cannot be sold and is required to qualify.
• 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 60 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.
• Other miscellaneous charges may apply.
• Offer not available to individuals who have had a KeyBank checking account or a KeyBank Hassle-Free Account® in the last 12 months.
• Accounts overdrawn or closed at the time of gift payment are not eligible.
• Offer is subject to cancellation without notice and cannot be combined with any other offer. KeyBank is not responsible for and will not honor promotional offers that appear on third-party websites that are not authorized by KeyBank.
• All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

Key Smart Checking No Monthly Fee

This is a new account that can be opened with no monthly fee to worry about.

Early Account Termination Fee

Looks to be $0 now.

If you close your account within 180 days, you are required to pay an early account closure fee of $25

Our Verdict

Normally there is a $300 deal, but that is only available in selected states in the fine print. This time there is no location restriction in the fine print, so it’ll be interesting to see what states this bonus is open to. Fingers crossed it’s available nationwide. If that’s the case we will be adding it to the best checking bonuses. It’s worth checking to see if you live in an area that is usually targeted for the $300 deal as well, if so I’d wait for one of those to come along.

Hat tip to UrbanEngineer & Priscilla

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

Post history:

• Update 9/18/23: Deal is back until October 13, 2023
• Update 7/27/23: Deal is back, expires 8/18/23
• Update 5/31/23: Back again until June 16, 2023. 
• Update 4/17/23: Back again until May 20.
• Update 3/14/23: Deal is back and valid until April 7, 2023.
• Update 2/3/23: Deal is now good through 3/3/23. Direct deposit is required again.
• Update 12/17/22: Deal is back and valid until 1/6/23.
• Update 7/20/21: Extended until August 13, 2021. Hat tip to PD
• Update 6/14/21: Extended until July 9, 2021.
• Update 11/28/20: Deal is back and valid until 1/22/2021
• Update 11/4/20: Deal is back and valid until November 20, 2020.
• Update 9/22/20: Deal is back and valid until October 23, 2020. Hat tip to reader Don B
• Update 9/13/20: You can now open a key smart checking account with no monthly fee. Hat tip to Kyle.
• Update 8/17/20: Available again until 9/17/20 with code ONAS0820. Hat tip to Trampdad
• Update 7/24/20: Available again until 8/14/20.
• Update 6/28/20: Deal is back and valid until July 17th, 2020. Hat tip to reader Jake W
• Update 4/26/20: Deal has been extended until May 15th, 2020.
• Update 12/10/19: Deal is back and valid until April 24th, 2020. Hat tip to kas141
• Update 8/26/19: Deal is available again. Hat tip to reader Dan R