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KeyBank

KeyBank Personal Checking

Two genuinely free checking accounts from a 15-state regional

7.0
Our Rating
APY
None
Monthly Fee
$0 (both Key Smart and Hassle-Free)
Minimum to Open
$10
ATM Access
Free at 40,000+ KeyBank and Allpoint ATMs nationwide

Insurance: FDIC insured up to $250,000 per depositor (KeyBank, N.A.)

Plan Options

Key Smart Checking

$0, no conditions

  • ▸Full-featured free checking with checks, Zelle, and bill pay
  • ▸No fee when overdrawn $20 or less at end of day
  • ▸Immediate Funds option on mobile check deposits
  • ▸Frequent $300 direct-deposit bonuses

Hassle-Free Account

$0, no conditions

  • ▸Checkless digital account, paper checks are returned unpaid
  • ▸No overdraft fees possible
  • ▸Same branch and ATM access as Key Smart

Features

  • ▸Both core accounts carry no monthly maintenance fee with no waiver hoops
  • ▸40,000+ fee-free KeyBank and Allpoint ATMs
  • ▸$20 overdraft cushion on Key Smart; Hassle-Free can't overdraft at all
  • ▸About 1,000 branches across 15 states, strongest in Ohio, New York, and the Northwest
  • ▸$10 minimum opening deposit
  • ▸Recurring $300 checking bonuses with modest direct-deposit requirements

Pros

  • +Free means free: no balance or deposit requirements on either account
  • +Allpoint membership gives ATM coverage far beyond its branch states
  • +Easy, frequently repeatable $300 bonuses
  • +Hassle-Free is a clean no-overdraft option

Cons

  • −No interest on any consumer checking account
  • −Branch footprint skips most of the South and the central US
  • −Higher-tier relationship banking (Key Select) carries a steep waiver bar
  • −Online experience is serviceable, not standout

Our Take

KeyBank's lineup is refreshingly simple: both mainstream accounts are free with no waiver games, and the Allpoint network means the ATM story works even outside its 15 states. The $300 bonuses on Key Smart Checking show up like clockwork and the requirements are mild. There's no yield and no premium glamour here, just a free, low-friction branch account.

Best for: Customers in Key's footprint who want unconditionally free checking

Open at KeyBank →

Last verified 2026-06-11

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