KeyBank
KeyBank Key Select Checking $500 Bonus
KeyBank pays you $500 when you open a Key Select Checking account with offer code KDMB0526 by December 11, 2026 and receive $5,000 or more in eligible direct deposits within 90 days. Available in 15 states. The $25 monthly fee is waived for the first 3 statement cycles, then only with $3,000 or more in direct deposits per cycle, which is more than the bonus alone requires. Soft credit pull. The bonus posts within 60 days of meeting requirements.
- Bonus amount
- $500
- Expires
- Dec 11, 2026
- Time to complete
- ~90 days
- Bonus deposited in
- ~150 days
- Difficulty
- Hard
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Requirements
Last verified: Aug 19, 2026
Open an account
Open a new Key Select Checking account with the $50 minimum opening deposit and offer code KDMB0526 by December 11, 2026.
Eligible direct deposits
Receive a total of $5,000 or more in eligible direct deposits within 90 days of account opening.
KeyBank deposits the bonus within 60 days of meeting the requirements. The account must not be closed at the time of payment.
Account Details
- Eligible direct deposits totaling $3,000+ per statement cycle
- $15,000+ in combined KeyBank relationship balances
- Fee waived for first 3 statement cycles
Key may charge an early closure fee (varies by account/terms).
Eligibility
Cannot have had a KeyBank personal checking account recently (see offer terms).
Tips & Gotchas
- →The offer code is required at account opening. Apply from KeyBank's checking bonus offers page so the code is attached.
- →Eligible direct deposits are electronic ACH deposits like payroll, Social Security, pension, and government benefits. Teller, ATM, and mobile app deposits do not count.
- →Not available if you were the primary owner of a KeyBank personal checking account in the last 12 months.
- →Redeemable online only. Non-residents of a KeyBank state must open in a branch.
- →Key Select Checking has a $25 monthly fee after a 3-statement-cycle grace period. Waive it with $3,000+ in direct deposits per cycle or $15,000+ in combined KeyBank balances.
Direct Deposit Data Points 140
140 community reports across 26 transfer sources, showing what triggers a qualifying direct deposit at KeyBank.
Can You Earn This Bonus Again?
Fine Print
Open a Key Select Checking account by 12/11/26 at 11:59 p.m. EST with offer code KDMB0526 and make a total of $5,000 or more in eligible direct deposits within 90 days of account opening to get $500. Eligible direct deposits are electronic ACH deposits such as payroll, Social Security, pension, and government benefits. Limit one account-opening gift per individual. Not available to individuals who were a primary account owner of a KeyBank personal checking account in the last 12 months. Bonus reported on Form 1099-INT and deposited within 60 days of meeting requirements. Geographic restrictions apply.
Taxable income · Reported on 1099-INT
Related Articles
What Counts as a Direct Deposit for KeyBank Bonuses?
KeyBank's own terms count any electronic ACH deposit as an eligible direct deposit, not just employer payroll, so outside bank and brokerage pushes are unusually reliable here. Based on 140 community direct deposit reports with 125 successes and only 4 failures, Chase pushes are 17 of 17, Fidelity Cash Management is 19 of 20, and employer payroll, Capital One, SoFi, and Discover pushes all have strong records into 2026. Teller, ATM, and mobile app deposits are the main things that do not count.
What is a direct deposit?
An electronic payment sent directly into your bank account, usually from an employer or government.
Does Zelle Count as Direct Deposit for Bank Bonuses?
Usually no. At most banks a Zelle payment arrives coded as peer-to-peer and will not trigger the bonus. Citi is the clear exception. Its Enhanced Direct Deposit terms name Zelle as a qualifying deposit, and every Zelle report we have from Citi got paid.
Also see: this month's best bank bonuses and community DD data points.
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