[Expired] [IN, OH, ID, ME, UT, VT, PA] KeyBank $300 Checking Bonus

This offer has expired, view the best current checking bonuses by clicking here.

Update 10/24/18: Bonus now requires 5 debit card/bill payments as well.

Reposting as I didn’t post the correct link to start with.

Offer at a glance

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:
    • Receive a single direct deposit of $500+
    • Combination of five KeyBank debit card purchases and/or KeyBank Online Banking bill payments

The Fine Print

  • Offer available in the following markets ONLY: Central IN, Cincinnati, OH, Idaho, Maine, Utah, Vermont and Chalfont, PA.
  • You must open a Key Express Checking® Account (this is the basic banking account in NY), by November 30, 2018 and make ONE single KeyBank direct deposit of $500 or more within 60 days after account opening to get $300.
  • Normal account service charges and balance requirements apply.
  • 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 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 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.
  • 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.

Avoiding Fees

Monthly Fees

The $7 monthly fee on this account is waived if you do either of the following each statement cycle:

  • Direct deposits of at least $500
  • At least 8 customer initiated transactions (any deposits, withdrawals, which includes transfers)

Early Account Termination Fee

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

KeyBank Relationship Rewards Membership Fee $30

This is optional so make sure you opt out of it.

Our Verdict

The $400 deal we posted yesterday require a reservation number that was mailed out. I’ve seen the mail out for this offer and no reservation number was listed so it should be possible to open this without one. That means it’s publicly available. Typically these offers don’t last until the official end date, so if you’re interested we’d sign up sooner rather than later. I’ll definitely be adding this to the best checking bonus page as it’s well worth doing if you live in the targeted area.

Big thanks to reader, @TheSamOsborne who let us know. Learn how to find bonuses and contribute to the site here.

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
    William Charles
  • On October 12, 2018, 20:15

View Comments (40)

  • I attempted this offer. I thought I only had to meet direct deposit requirements, though they changed the offer after launching it to say it also would require debit card use it billpays. I didn't realize that until literally the last day, and it was Xmas Eve. I quickly attempted to do 5 small bill pays of $1 each, but they didn't post due to holiday for several days. I contacted key Bank and was told I did not meet the requirements and would not get a bonus. But for some unknown reason, the $300 bonus just posted to the account yesterday. Yay!

  • Paypal transfer worked for me:
    -Dec 21, 2018 "Opening Deposit" $50
    -Jan14, 2019 "Direct Deposit, Paypal Transfer" $511.48
    -Jan 29, 2019 "Gift From Key Bank For Recent Offer" $300
    So, only had to wait about 2 weeks after making PayPal transfer. Verified funding with small deposits/withdrawal from/to PayPal account.

  • Word of warning:
    The "Key Advantage Checking Account" is not easy to waive the monthly fee.
    I thought I could do monthly DD of $1000 from Chase to waive the $18, but it turns out you need to also enroll in "Key@Work program" for that to apply.

    Will probably close it early and suck up the early termination fee
    @ williamcharles

    • Yes, Or you have to have 10K min balance for Key Advantage checking. The Key Express checking is easier to avoid monthly fees with DP 500$ each month or 8 transactions. I have had Key Express Checking for a while (unfortunately didn't know I could get bonus at that time)

  • DP: account opened 10/14/18, $600 DD cleared 11/20/18. Bonus rec'd 1/4/19. I'm probably going to close early and eat the $25 fee, because the 8 transactions per month to avoid the monthly fee is a little fiddly. That'll probably get me on their "never get another account here" list, but that's not the end of the world for me.

  • Does anyone have a screen shot of the terms and conditions prior to Oct. 24 before they added the 5 debit transactions. I took a screenshot of my approval, and the offer is in the same window but partially blocked out. I messaged them about my bonus and they said I didn't make the 5 debits. That wasn't there when I applied. Any help appreciated.

    • I have a PDF of the terms printed on 10/21/2018 which does not have the 5 debit transactions requirement. Happy to share, but I am a newbie here and don't know how to post it.

    • I'm in the same boat (opened 10/15) but unfortunately don't have a screenshot either. I made a legitimate DD so I'm going to press the issue with KeyBank and see what their response is.

  • I did the 5 debit card tx and direct deposit, and had that verified by Keybank, but their rep said I am not eligible for the bonus b/c I didn't open the account online. I opened it in-branch, and they verified they had the $300 bonus deal there, and signed me up under the bonus. Anyone have experience in this situation? It didn't say online only in the fine print. They are adding this requirement retrospectively. @will

    • I opened it online. Still no bonus 17 days after meeting requirements (as elaborated by a representative anyway). I think this offer was just borked in general. Everyone will have to call in. What a waste of time(and money).

      • Hmm alright. I called the Keybank 800 number and the rep there said I wasn't enrolled in a promotion according to their records. Then I called the local branch where I opened and they said the promotion was keyed in under my account and that I had met the requirements and should continue to wait the full 90 days. So I guess that's what I'll do, too bad this offer didn't go smoothly for us!

        • Mine posted Jan 5 fyi. I did call december 31. The rep told me I had met the requirements and just needed to wait potentially up till early to mid Jan. Not sure how she derived that estimated date, but it came through on two accounts(not just one I called in on).

  • Having a tough tine getting this bonus to post. Opened 10/16, $500 ach push from schwab 10/19, Chase 10/29, Paypal 11/3. Still nothing. Two different accounts too. Wondering if that 5 debit card transaction requirement was on the offer as of 10/16? Going to wait another day and call. Double check what needs to be done.

      • FYI completed 5 debit card purchases on 12/10(did 5x 50 cent reloads to Amazon). Still waiting for bonus to post as of 12/15 but that seems to be expected. Fingers crossed.

        • I did 5 bill pays to CIP. And Venmo for the deposit (said Direct Deposit Venmo so hoping that worked).

          Nothing posted yet, will let you know what I see on my end.

          • Nothing yet FYI. Beginning to lose hope. This is an exceptionally long time to wait for a bonus to post compared to previous experiences.

          • 12/12 Venmo coded as direct deposit, venmo cashout
            12/12 5 Bill Pays to Chase Card
            1/4 gift from key bank for recent offer $300 (minus $3 fees)

      • Just called today. CSR looked at the offer details and it does indeed look like 5 Debit card OR Bill Pays is required. I'm not sure what my options are for fulfilling requirements via Bill Pay since the service is timing out right now. Could also be because I have a zero balance though. Seems buggy either way so will try again later. In any case I had to explicitly order debit cards. Unlike other places, they never automatically sent cards. Looks like 3-5 business days to get cards for the standard shipping. Think I can still make the cutoff at this point one way or the other assuming I already fulfilled the DD with one of the three different methods(two of which others indicated would trigger the DD requirement).

  • Says the code is either not valid for my area or for the selected account. Hit the apply now button from the offer page, live in Indiana.

  • Applied for similar bonus, but mine was for $400 bonus and only requirement was a DD of $500 or more within 60 days of opening. Have to leave account open for 180 days, or will be charged $25.

    Withdrew $500 from linked PayPal account, just received bonus today.

    • How long did that take?

      I have tried Schwab and Chase push ACH now to two different accounts, no joy. It appears the naming of the transactions indicated they were transfers, not general ACH/ Desposits.

      Just did PayPal yesterday.

        • Odd, mine posted as "Paypal Transfer" 11/3. Still not triggering bonus.I tried Chase too "Jpmorgan Chase Ext Trnsfr" 10/25.... Wonder what's different here? I didn't even complete verification in my Paypal account, I just pushed it.

Leave a Comment