Here’s an updated list of KeyBank promotions, bonuses, and offers.
Currently, they have a $100 and $200 bonus when you open a Checking Account and meet all the requirements.
Table of Contents
About KeyBank Promotions
Based in Cleveland, Ohio, KeyBank has over 1,200 locations across 16 states, with over 1,500 ATMs. They have a long history of commitment to diversity, and to help out their community. For over a hundred years, they have been helping their customers take control of their financial future with their multitude of financial services at any branch.
KeyBank offers a range of checking and savings accounts, including a free checking option. Some relationship products offer perks like lower loan rates and higher savings APY.
I’ll review the current KeyBank promotions below.
KeyBank $200 Checking Bonus
- What you’ll get: $200 bonus
- Account Type: Key Smart Checking, Key Advantage Checking, Key Privilege Checking or Key Privilege Select Checking
- Availability: AK, AL, CO, CT, FL, ID, IN, ME, MA, MI, NY, OH, OR, PA, UT, VT, WA (Bank Locator)
- Direct Deposit Requirement: Yes, $1000+ required (see what works)
- Credit Inquiry: Soft Pull
- ChexSystem: Mixed Datapoints, might be sensitive
- Credit Card Funding: Up to $50
- Monthly Fees: $0 to $25. Waivable. Choose Key Smart since it has no monthly fee.
- Early Account Termination Fee: $25 if account is closed within 180 days
- Household Limit: None
(Expires February 3, 2023)
| You can compare this to several great entry level Checking accounts with bonus offers include the BMO Harris Smart Money™ Account ($200 bonus), U.S. Bank SmartlyTM Checking ($400 bonus), Chase Total Checking® ($200 bonus), SoFi Checking and Savings ($275 bonus), and Citi Priority Account (Up to $2000 Cash Bonus). |
How To Earn Bonus
HOW TO EARN BONUSFINE PRINT
- Use offer code: ONAT0123
- Open a Key Smart Checking®, Key Advantage Checking®, Key Privilege Checking® or Key Privilege Select Checking® account online by February 3, 2023.
- Make $1,000 in cumulative deposits within 90 days of account opening.
- Minimum opening deposit of $10 required.
- Your gift will be deposited into your account within 90 days of meeting requirements if your account is open and not overdrawn.
- You must open a Key Smart 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 at 11:59 p.m. (ET) and make ONE single KeyBank direct deposit of $500 or more within the first 60 days after account opening to get $200.
- Normal account service charges and balance requirements apply to these accounts, including the minimum opening deposit.
- 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.
- 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 the first 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 non-KeyBank websites or that are not authorized by KeyBank.
KeyBank $100 Referral Bonus (Up to $500)
Earn a $100 bonus at KeyBank!
KeyBank is offering a $100 bonus when you refer friends who open a new eligible checking account and meet the qualifying requirements.
- What you’ll get: $100 bonus
- Account Type: Checking
- Availability: AK, CO, CT, ID, IN, MA, ME, MI, NY, OH, OR, PA, UT, VT, or WA
- Direct Deposit Requirement: Yes, $500+ required
- Credit Inquiry: Soft Pull
- ChexSystem: Mixed Datapoints, might be sensitive
- Credit Card Funding: Up to $50
- Monthly Fees: $0 to $25. Waivable. Choose Key Smart since it has no monthly fee.
- Early Account Termination Fee: $25 if account is closed within 180 days
- Household Limit: None
(Expires 12/31/2023)
How To Earn Bonus
HOW TO EARN BONUSFINE PRINT
Qualify for $100 per referral – up to $500 per year.
- Send your friend a custom URL they can use to open a new KeyBank checking account.
- Earn $100 when your friend opens a new qualifying checking account with minimum opening deposit by December 31, 2023 and makes one direct deposit of at least $500 in the first 60 days.
- Your $100 gift will be delivered to you within 60 days of meeting the requirements as long your account is open and not overdrawn.
- Your friend gets a great new account and $100, too.
- You must be a current KeyBank consumer checking or savings client at the time of referral.
- Referrals must be made with the email address of the primary account holder/owner.
- The client you refer must be the primary owner on the account they open.
- The client you refer must open a Key Smart Checking® account with a minimum opening deposit of $10 (this is the basic banking account in NY), or a Key Advantage®, Key Privilege®, or Key Privilege Select Checking® account with a minimum opening deposit of $50 and make a single direct deposit of $500 or more within 60 days after account opening (direct deposit transactions are limited to payroll, Social Security, pension and government benefits)in order for you to receive your referral gift of $100.
- Referee 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.
- Due to privacy regulations, KeyBank is unable to disclose the status of your referral’s account opening and account usage.
- Your existing checking account must be open and in good standing upon gift payment.
- Your gift will be delivered within 60 days of the referred new client meeting all requirements.
- If the Referee accepts a different promotion available in market, other disclosures may apply.
- Employees of KeyBank, its affiliates, or subsidiaries are not eligible to receive the $100 referral gift. Offer is subject to cancellation without notice, and cannot be combined with any other offer.
- The maximum you can earn by referring new KeyBank clients is $500 per qualifying customer per calendar year.
- Your participation in this program may result in the receipt of taxable income from KeyBank and we may be required to send to you, and file with the IRS, a Form 1099-MISC (miscellaneous income).
- You are responsible for any tax liability, including disclosure requirements, related to participating in this program.
- Please consult your tax advisor if you have any questions about your personal tax situation.
- Offer cannot be sold/auctioned.
KeyBank $250 Savings Bonus (Expired)
Earn a $250 bonus with KeyBank once you complete qualifying activity!
KeyBank is offering a $250 bonus when you open a Key Gold Money Market Savings account and meet the qualifying requirements.
Offer code and reservation number are required to qualify for this offer.
- What you’ll get: $250 bonus
- Account Type: Key Gold Money Market Savings
- Availability: AK, CO, CT, ID, IN, MA, ME, MI, NY, OH, OR, PA, UT, VT, or WA
(Expires January 2, 2021)
| Compare this savings account to alternatives like Discover Bank Savings ($200 Bonus + 3.30% APY), UFB Best Savings (4.21% APY), CIT Bank Savings Connect (4.05% APY), SoFi Checking & Savings ($275 Bonus + 3.75% APY), and Western Alliance Bank Savings (4.23% APY). |
How To Earn Bonus
HOW TO EARN BONUSFINE PRINT
- To receive the $250 cash gift,
- Must have or open a KeyBank relationship package checking account (Key Advantage Checking®, Key Privilege Checking®, or Key Privilege Select Checking®).
- Open your Key Gold Money Market Savings account online or in a branch, using the code and reservation number from your email.
- You must deposit a minimum of $25,000 of funds not currently held in accounts at KeyBank or its affiliates and maintain a daily balance of $25,000 or more in the Gold Money Market Savings account.
- You must maintain the funds in the account for 90 days after account funding and the gift will be deposited into your account within 90 days after this requirement is met. The value of your gift will be reported on Form 1099-INT.
- This offer is not transferable. Employees of KeyBank, its affiliates, and subsidiaries are not eligible.
- Accounts titled as Minor/Custodian, Trust Accounts, Estate, Non-Individual, and No access are excluded from eligibility.
- Offer not available to business, institutional, and public entities.
- 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 non-KeyBank websites or that are not authorized by KeyBank.
- Offer code and reservation number are required to qualify for this offer.
KeyBank $400 Checking Bonus (Expired)
Take advantage of a $400 bonus from KeyBank when you sign up for a new Checking Account utilizing the promo code RETK0922.
- What you’ll get: $400 bonus
- Account Type: Smart Checking, Advantage Checking, Privilege Checking, Privilege Select Checking
- Availability: AK, AL, CO, CT, FL, ID, IN, ME, MA, MI, NY, OH, OR, PA, UT, VT, WA (Bank Locator)
- Direct Deposit Requirement: Yes, $500+ required
- Credit Inquiry: Soft Pull
- ChexSystem: Mixed Datapoints, might be sensitive
- Credit Card Funding: Up to $50
- Monthly Fees: $0 to $25, avoidable.
- Early Account Termination Fee: $25 if close within 180 days
- Household Limit: None
(Expires 12/09/2022)
| For more advanced features in a checking account, compare this offer to BMO Harris PremierTM Account ($350 Bonus), U.S. Bank SmartlyTM Checking ($600 bonus), TD Bank Beyond Checking ($300 Bonus), HSBC Bank Premier Checking ($500 Bonus), Chase Private Client ($2,000 Bonus), and Citigold® Checking Account (Up to $2000 Cash Bonus). |
How To Earn Bonus
HOW TO EARN BONUSFINE PRINT
- Use offer code RETK1122 to open your qualifying checking account by December 9, 2022.
- Make ONE single direct deposit of at least $500 within 60 days after account opening.
- Minimum opening deposit is required.
- Your gift will be deposited into your account within 60 days of meeting the requirements if your account is open and not overdrawn.
- You must open a Key Smart 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 at 11:59 p.m. (ET) and make ONE single direct deposit of $500 or more within 60 days after account opening to get $400.
- Normal account service charges and balance requirements apply to these accounts, including the $10 minimum opening deposit of a Key Smart Checking account, or the $50 minimum opening deposits of a Key Advantage Checking account, Key Privilege Checking account or Key Privilege Select Checking account.
- 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.
- You must have received a personalized offer/coupon/promotional code directly from KeyBank via mail or email and enter an offer/reservation code at the time of account opening 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 non-KeyBank websites or that are not authorized by KeyBank.
How To Avoid Monthly Fees
- Key Smart Checking: No monthly fees
- Key Advantage Checking: $18 monthly fee waived if:
- 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 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 fee.
- You are a Key@Work program member and you have direct deposits totaling $1000.00 or more credited to your Key Advantage 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 fee until direct deposits are reinstated by your new employer.
- Key Privilege Checking: $25 monthly fee waived if:
- You maintain a combined balance of $25,000 or more in any combination of deposit, investment, and credit accounts.
- You have a mortgage originated through KeyBank and you have an automatic payment deduction plan via ACH deducting $500 or more from your Key Privilege 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 fee.
- You are a Key@Work program member and you have direct deposits totaling at least $2,500.00 or more credited to this account during a statement period. If you leave your current employer and direct deposits stop, you may be subject to the combined balance requirement to avoid the monthly Maintenance Service Charge until direct deposits are reinstated.
- Key Privilege Select Checking: $50 monthly fee waived if:
- Maintain a minimum of $100,000 in combined relationship balances (sweep investment, deposits and investment [including annuity balances reflected on your KIS account statement]) each statement cycle OR
- Be a Key@Work program member and have a total of at least $5,000 in direct deposits each statement cycle credited to this Account.
- KeyBank Hassle-Free Account: No monthly fees
Bottom Line
While the bonuses at KeyBank sounds enticing, setting up a direct deposit is a big commitment. They offer many different accounts to qualify for this bonus, so you have several options for any that can best suit your needs.
While they have a generous bonus, KeyBank doesn’t have great rates for CDs and Savings. Additionally, you may want to check out our full list of Bank Rates and CD Rates.
Compare KeyBank Promotions with other bank bonuses from banks like Citi, Huntington, HSBC, Chase, TD, Discover Bank, Aspiration, Axos Bank, PNC Bank, BMO Harris, SoFi, Fifth Third Bank, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, US Bank, and more!
*Check back at this page for updated KeyBank promotions, bonuses, and offers.
hi—if there is a referral code for this 400 send to me
https://www.key.com/personal/promo/get-400.html?ppc=2211_CMPCON_RETK1122_dm
Tried to open this offer and it also required a reservation code-without it you get no bonus. What looks like a slam dunk is really flop. As Bo says-if anyone has that code I’d love to know it too, as of now don’t waste your time.
Key bank intentionally makes it difficult to get this promotion. I went to a bank, in person, with the red ‘promotional brochure’ I receive in mail on 8/17/2021 and opened an account and deposited $1000 as required, and left the funds there untouched. Till today (11/18/2021), three months later, I have seen no ‘promotion’ added to my balance. – it’s still $1000. I called the representative who opened my account at least a dozen times, texted them 20+ times, and even talked to a branch manager. They keep telling various excuses, like wrong code was entered, there was a system error, they misplaced my paperwork, they are contacting their Operations Lead, etc. etc. I am not sure what to do at this point. I am so tempted to withdraw my initial deposit, close my account, and just forget the whole deal. But after spending so much energy, effort, and time on this, I feel stupid to take that approach.
Any advice from anyone is highly appreciated.
I had a direct deposit of 500 Federal Reserve Notes from my pension. I received 200 Federal Reserve Notes from Key. Maybe you were required to do direct deposit.
Anthony,
Key bank offer is not limited to one per household.
None of these are working — besides the offer code, you have to have a reservation code which probably means it’s targeted which would be nice to know before we go in and apply — the Key phone reps are clueless..
Key Bank is asking for a “reservation code” when trying to apply the promo code RETK1120. Any idea where to obtain a reservation code?
I have had similar problems with KEY bank in the Seattle area about 3 years ago. Their people seldom are told of marketing promos so I have no idea how this bank functions with that attitude that irritates the heck out of many clients.
I now live in Dallas but will be in WA again for Thanksgiving, and hope to be allowed to try opening one of their many great offers so we’ll see and report back if it works or not.
EE
Key Bank is a terrible bank. They did a promotion at the Avalanche game. Never fulfilled their part of it. Supposed to be $200 after 60 days and a lander Scott Avalanche jersey. Went 90 days and received nothing tried contacting Bank of course because doors are closed due to the virus. Finally get a hold of manager who tells me that we are not getting the $200 or the jersey. Before I opened account I went to numerous banks to make sure that I was doing the qualified things in order to receive those. I registered at the gameand the people working the game were not completely clear on what needed to be done. This is why I went to three different branches to get exactly what I needed to do to qualify. All the branches said it was new to them and we’re not completely familiar with what needed to be done. I returned to the branch in Colorado Springs on Academy North. Spoke to manager and she informed me that I needed to deposit $500 within 60 days of opening account. I had done this 2 days after opening account. Now many months later they’re telling me I’m not getting either one I am closing my account and I would never use KeyBank again in my life. I am a real estate agent and I will also turn all clients from ever using them.
Received a KeyBank $400 Bonus invitation in the mail, opened checking account online on 10/8/2019, direct deposit posted to account on 11/1/2019. $400 Bonus posted to account 11/12/2019. Quickest bank bonus posting in my experience.
Hello Mr. Nguyen,
Thanks for the information that you provide about bank bonuses. I have shared your website! However, I do not have time to go through the links with the names of banks to find what’s prevalent for the state where I reside. Therefore, will you change your format, and list the states where banks have bonuses instead of the banks that have bonuses? It would be easier to go to the name of the state where I reside, and then see the bank bonuses.
Thanks for this consideration!
It’s asking me for a reservation code also … perhaps the original post needs to reflect that … anyone know how you get a reservation code … do the invitations come through snail mail or email?
I opened an account with keybank June 14, deposited 500 bucks into the Key Express checking account. July 3 came and i recieved the 400 bucks. So it looks like i have to keep the account for 6 months before closing it? Can i downgrade to the hassel free account?
what code did you use?
Michael L Did you have to do a direct deposit through your employer or did you deposit the money on your own? Please let me know I need to know before the 60 days is up. TIA
It looks like you just updated this post for July 2019 and the expiration date is stating last month June 28th. Is this offer still available or not? I am looking at opening a new checking account with a good incentive! Please let me know if I can do this offer still or if you have a new one for the same incentive!
Thank you,
Kristi Vrooman
The Key Bank offers are not available to FL residents. I live in the same zipcode from one of the private banking locations and the online application still doesn’t allow my zipcode.
For the $400 you have to have the reservation number AND a participant number. I started the application online but the dream dies on the 3rd page. Went into the local branch and they shut me down also.
Same happened to me. I heard about this offer from my mother. She wasn’t going to set up an account, but I saw it online, so I tried to set it up. By the third page it wanted a reservation number. My mom had one, but not knowing if I could use it, I called Key Bank customer service. The agent explained that those are “targeted offers” and only apply to that person, so I could not use it. I then asked him why the online application wouldn’t ask for the reservation number very first before it took all of your other, very personal, information and wasted a persons time in the end. He said they were aware of this issue and “hopefully” the technician team would have it fixed by the end of the week. What a joke!
Yeah – it’s very annoying that this is all over the place but they don’t mention the reservation code issue
Just got a snail mail version of this promo. Interesting difference from the online version. The online says (clipped):
“… Normal account service charges and balance requirements apply to these accounts. 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. …”
The flyer I have in hand says:
“… Normal account service charges and balance requirements apply to these accounts. Accounts titled as Trust Accounts, Estate, and No Access are excluded from eligibility. Direct deposit transactions are limited too: payroll, Social Security, pensions and government benefits. Employees of KeyBank, its affiliates and subsidiaries are not eligible for this offer. …”
Note the additional sentence in the hard copy version about what DD transactions count as DD. Could explain why some never see their ‘free money’.
btw, thanks for this site.
Tried the $500 promotion several years ago after receiving offer in the mail. I opened an account and the banker put the mailer in my file. I completed all the required deposits, etc but no $500 . Bank informed me they had no record of this offer, they had NEVER had a $500 promotion and it would cost $25 to close the account!
Now I have just received another $500 offer in the mail. Should I try again?
That blows BillD. I would try again. Document everything. Save the email/flyer. Save the offer page. Screenshots. Etc.
And not sure why this offer is stjll up. It is INVITATION ONLY. See my reply below