This bonus has expired, click here for the best current bonuses.
Notes:
- Some reports of them being sensitive to too many ChexSystems inquiries
- You’ll receive a code like this: MASP0617-000001406 (MASP0617 is your promo code and the second string of numbers is your reservation code). I think this is no longer required for online openings.
- If you receive “this offer has ended” message it means your zip code isn’t eligible.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $300
- Availability: Offer available in certain branches in the following markets only: Seattle, South Puget Sound, Oregon, Denver, Cleveland, Akron-Canton, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Connecticut (New Haven/Hartford)
- Direct deposit required: Yes, $500+ required
- Additional requirements: Use promotional code
- Hard/soft pull: Soft pull
- ChexSystems: Mixed DP, most likely does
- Credit card funding: Up to $100
- Monthly fees: $7 avoidable
- Early account termination fee: $25, 180 days
- Household limit: None
- Expiration date: November 10th, 2017
The Offer
- KeyBank is offering a sign up bonus of $300 when you open a new Key Advantage, Key Privilege or Key Privilege Select Checking Account checking account with offer code MASP0617 and complete the following requirements:
- Receive a direct deposit of $2,500 or more within 60 days of account opening
- Receive a combination of five debit card and/or bill payments within 60 days of account opening
- KeyBank is offering a sign up bonus of $200 when you open a new KeyBank Express checking account with offer code MASE0617 and complete the following requirements:
- Receive a direct deposit of $500 or more within 60 days of account opening
- Receive a combination of five debit card and/or bill payments within 60 days of account opening
- KeyBank is offering a sign up bonus of $100 when you open a new KeyBank Hassle Free checking account with offer code MASH0617 and complete the following requirements:
- Receive a direct deposit of 300 or more within 60 days of account opening
- Receive a combination of five debit card and/or bill payments within 60 days of account opening
The Fine Print
- Offer available in certain branches in the following markets only: Seattle, South Puget Sound, Oregon, Denver, Cleveland, Akron-Canton, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Connecticut (New Haven/Hartford)
- Offer is available to clients who do not have or haven’t had a KeyBank Hassle-Free Account® or a KeyBank checking account during the past 12 months.
- Receive $100 when you open a KeyBank Hassle-Free Account® between 06/05/2017 and 11/10/2017 and make a direct deposit of $300 or more and a combination of five debit card and/or bill payments within 60 days after account opening. Receive $200 when you open a Key Express Checking Account (this is the basic banking account in New York) between 06/05/2017 and 11/10/2017 and make a direct deposit of $500 or more and a combination of five debit card and/or bill payments within 60 days after account opening. Receive $300 when you open a Key Advantage, Key Privilege or Key Privilege Select Checking® Account between 06/05/2017 and 11/10/2017 and make a direct deposit of $1,000 or more and a combination of five debit card and/or bill payments within 60 days after account opening. Direct deposit transactions are limited to payroll, Social Security, pension and government benefits.
- There is no check writing with a KeyBank Hassle-Free Account. Coupon/code required to qualify.
- Coupon/code cannot be sold. Normal account service charges and balance requirements apply to the checking accounts.
- The value of your gift will be reported on Form 1099-INT. Your gift will be 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.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
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.
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:
- Direct deposits of at least $500
- At least 8 customer initiated transactions (any deposits, withdrawals, which includes transfers)
KeyBank Hassle-Free Account No Monthly Fee ($100 Bonus)
This account has no monthly fee to worry about
KeyBank Relationship Rewards Membership Fee $30
This is optional so make sure you opt out of it.
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
We just posted about a deal for $300 with the Express Checking account so this bonus isn’t nearly as good (MI, AK, OH, ID, IN, ME, UT, VT), but it’s valid in different areas. I’d recommend the other bonus but probably not this one, better to wait and hope for a better offer for this area. Because of that I won’t be adding it to the best checking promos.
Big thanks to reader, MF who let us know. 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
Thank you
Hi maam!/sir about the beneficiary how to transfer a Fund of the Depositer on the beneficiary
Everything fine.
Phone conversation with Key rep said they are not allowed to downgrade Express Checking to Hassle-Free. Bummer.
Any DP on if the DD requirements can be met with multiple DD’s, or does it all have to be in 1 DD transaction?
I was able to open the $200 offer in branch while on vacation. From the applications forms, it looked like my banker overrode my ChexSystems fail, which I assumed was due to too many inquiries. I’ll mention when the bonus posts.
Doc,
This offer is dead….
How? Loading fine for me
Doesn’t load for me. Tried incognito, refreshing, different browsers. Says the offer has ended. Whatever. KeyBank sucks!
Looks like Joshua got thru by schmoozing the banker. My banker was a kid that wasn’t going to make any exception for me.
I live in Binghamton NY (upstate) and work happens to be a block from a Key branch, so I took a stroll at the end of June.
What’s interesting is the banker had a photocopy flyer re: the offers ($300, $200, $100 – summarized requirements of each). The flyer plainly states “offer available in the following market ONLY: Albany and Syracuse.”
Binghamton is over an hour from either Albany or Syracuse, so I mentioned the fine print. She told me that because Key just bought First Niagara and is new to our area, the higher ups want to make a good impression.
So I opened with her. Then I went online and did one for the wife. The website was a bit goofy to find and have it work, as the web address on her flyer didn’t work straight away. Eventually I got offer MADE0617 to apply and it brought up the terms of the offer.
No bonus for either yet, but says within 90 days of meeting criteria.
Got my first statement for my new Key Express Checking yesterday, which shows a direct deposit of more than $500 as well as 5 billpay transactions.
No bonus ($200) though … 🙁
Any other DP yet on how quickly the bonus is posting?
I did all five billpays on 7-31 and one of them cleared the same day as the statement (8-3), so I will wait a month to see the next stmt before contacting them.
Curious about this, too. We’ll see if they follow the 90 day language for bonuses.
Anyone have a DP regarding bonus posting timeline?
Finally got mine yesterday — ca 6 weeks after account opening and 3 weeks after meeting all requirements.
Just got mine today – roughly on the same timeline as you. Pretty easy. WF triggered the bonus.
Opened in branch today in one of targeted areas. Did the $300 bonus Advantage account. Banker said monthly fee is waived for the first 3 months (WOOT!). From past bonuses, looks like bonus posts in 1 month from opening if you complete all the requirements before then. Definitely going to do that and later downgrade after 3 month grace period is up. If I can’t downgrade, I’ll just eat the $25 ETF instead of paying $18 fee 3x. Will update back
sounds like a winning strategy