There is a new bonus for $200, but it’s not nearly as good as this bonus. You can find a list of the best bank bonuses by going here.
We’re reposting this offer as it has been extended and there is a new promotional code as well.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $300
- Availability:Â AK, CO, ID, IN, ME, MI, NY, OH, OR, UT, VT, or WA only
- Direct deposit required:Â Yes, a total of at least $500 within 60 days of account opening. Almost any ACH transfer should trigger this requirement, click here to see what has worked in the past.
- Additional requirements:Â Â
- Hard/soft pull: Soft
- Credit card funding: Up to $100
- Monthly fees:Â None – $18, waive-able
- Early account termination fee:Â $25 if closed within 180 days of opening
- Expiration date:
December 25th, 2015January 1st, 2016
Contents
The Offer
- Open a qualifying KeyBank checking account with the promotional code EDGT1115 and receive a direct deposit of at least $500 or more within 60 days of account opening and receive a sign up bonus of $300.
The Fine Print
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
- Offer is available to new bank clients who have not had any type of account with KeyBank within the last 12 months
- Direct deposit transactions are limited to payroll, Social Security, pension and government benefits, although in the past other direct deposits have triggered this bonus.
- Bonus will post within 90 days of meeting the requirements
- Qualifying accounts are: Key Express Checking® (this is the basic banking account in NY), Key Advantage®, Key Coverage Checking®, Key PrivilegeSM, Key Privilege Select CheckingSM, or KeyBank Hassle-Free Account®
Avoiding Fees
Hassle Free Checking Account
The best account to open  is the Hassle Free Checking account which has no monthly fees or monthly minimums.
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
This is the best offer KeyBank has ever offered, in the past they have given $200 for the hassle free account or $300 for Key Advantage account (which is much harder to keep fee free than the hassle free account). Because it’s so easy to meet the direct deposit requirement and keep this account fee free (and the size of the bonus) we’ve added it to our best bank bonus page. It can also be found in our complete listing of all bank account bonuses found here.
It might also be worth keeping the account open after receiving the bonus, not only to avoid the early account termination fee but also because KeyBank has in the past sent out targeted $50 offers when they hadn’t been using their accounts much.
Hat tip to reader Joseph L
This deal is back for $300. Just clicked the link at the top of the post and it opened up fine. Even had them email me the coupon, which expires 3/25/16.
Opened 12/28/15, ACH from Cap One 360, Bonus posted in February.
Great deal, and hey, a bank that doesn’t charge fees is a thumbs up in my book, plus there’s a branch near me! May just end up using it after all 🙂
Signed up on 12/14/15, ACH push from Simple bank on 12/24/15. Got my bonus on 2/12/16.
I got my bonus too. I used ACH from Chase.
yeah that was quick. opened 1/2, ACH on 1/15 from another checking account, 2/12 $300 pending. nice
Got my $300 today too. Account opened on 12/14 and completed the DD on 1/4.
Just received my $300 bonus today on 02/12/16.
Opened on 12/16/15, deposit completed on 12/31/15.
Cheers!
Received an email from Keybank today that states I can receive another $100. The subject line is “Why should you check your credit report?”
Near the bottom of the email, it says:
“Don’t forget your $100!
Remember, with your new Hassle-Free Account, you could put $100 in your pocket! Just make at least a $500 direct deposit within 60 days of account opening and five combined debit card or Bill Pay transactions. And $100 is yours! ”
I assume the $500 DD requirement is covered by the DD for the $300 bonus. That means I just have to use the debit card 5 times or do 5 bill pays.
Well that is very interesting, I deleted that email without even looking at it, probably wouldn’t have scrolled to the bottom of it anyways if I had. Would love to know if anyone else has any confirmed info on this? I may just use the debit card 5 times and cross my fingers. Or contact them after I’ve made 5 debit purchases to push them into honoring it.
I have the same email and used bill pay 3 times, will do the rest 2 this week. let’s see if it triggers the extra $100
KeyBank customer service confirmed that Paypal is ACH Transfer and bonus will be paid in 90 days from date of account opening. I will know in 70 days!
KN
No need to ask if it counts or not, it just draws attention to your account.
Datapoint: Pushed money from Discover to KeyBank. This counted as a DD, as confirmed through secure message.
In KeyBank Online Banking, the transaction was posted as “Deposit” under the category “Type” and “DISCOVER BANK PREARRANGE……..” under “Description”.
Others have posted that their transaction posted as “Direct Deposit” under “Type”, but mine did not.
I inquired via secure message and got the following response:
“I have reviewed your account and I am happy to tell you that you completed the transaction requirements as of 12/15/2015. You should receive your $300.00 within 90 days. The value of the $300.00 will be reported on Form 1099-INT”
No need to confirm stuff like this, just draws attention to your account. Let us know when the actual bonus posts.
There have been discrepancies on bank/venmo deposits coding as “Deposit” vs. “Direct Deposit” and whether those coded simply as “Deposit” satisfy the requirements, so I thought this info could be valuable to some.
I did not use my real name/dates above, so doubtful they can identify.