KeyBank is once again offering an iPod touch (8GB 4th generation unit according to posters on Fatwallet) on their promotions page for new account holders who open up a checking account online. The requirements for getting the iPod touch is not unlike what reward checking accounts require:

• open a qualifying KeyBank checking account online and enter offer code ONTT0311 by June 24, 2011, and
• make at least 10 payments and/or purchases per month for 3 months after account opening, plus
• make 3 direct deposits each of $500 or more within 3 months of account opening.

The 10 payments or purchases a month for three months is what I meant when I said “reward checking account”-like in terms of requirements. The three direct deposits of $500+ isn’t uncommon for these types of promotions, it just makes the checking account a little “stickier.”

One gotcha you won’t see unless you really dig is that they charge you a $25 account early closure fee if you close the account within 180 days of opening it.

Here are the somewhat longwinded terms & conditions:
(Click to continue reading…)

Sometimes I wonder if KeyBank has some sort of deal with Apple because they love giving away iPod nanos and iPod touches as new account bonus promotions. This time, it’s an iPod touch for their Key Express Free Checking and Key Advantage Money Market Checking accounts. If you fancy a Key Privilege Checking or Key Privilege Select Checking account, you get both an iPod touch and a $25 iTunes gift card for your troubles.

It’s not clear what version of the iPod touch you’ll get but the 32GB 3rd Generation unit costs $260 on Amazon.com.

(Click to continue reading…)

This promotion has ended.

Key Bank is giving away a free iPod Nano if you open up one of their checking accounts between now and Sept. 9th 2006 and either having a direct deposit or open up a Keybank credit card by Oct. 31st, 2006. You will need to keep the account open for at least 180 days or you’ll be charged a $25 account closure fee but otherwise the Key Express Free Checking has no minimum balance requirement and no maintenance charge. Sounds like a good offer to me… don’t sleep on it! (The only catch is that you need to live in an area Key Bank serves)

There are only ramifications of this offer: 1) You’ll likely get a hit on your credit when you apply to the credit card, otherwise it seems pretty benign to me; 2) You’ll get a 1099-INT and the retail price of an iPod Nano is $149.99 so you’ll have to pay taxes on that.

Details of the Offer: You must open a Key Express Free Checking (this is the basic banking account in NY), Key Advantage Checking or a Key Privilege Checking account between July 23, 2006, and September 9, 2006, and have a direct deposit transaction or obtain a KeyBank credit card by October 31, 2006, and you will receive your iPod within 60 days of meeting the requirements. Offer available to individuals without an existing checking account at KeyBank. Employees of KeyBank, its affiliates and subsidiaries are not eligible for this offer. Limit one free iPod nano per individual. Free iPod nano offer valid until September 9, 2006, or while supplies last. The value of the iPod nano will be reported on Form 1099-INT. iPod® nano is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. Apple is not a participant of this promotion.

Signup Link, or go to key.com and it’s splattered on its homepage.

Tip of the hat to Jonathan for finding this one.