Open a KeyBank checking account and you may qualify for a free Sony bloggie, a pocket-sized camera that captures high definition MP4 video and 5 mega pixel images that you can upload directly to the Web to share on sites such as YouTube. The deal is only for people who open new checking accounts by Oct. 8, 2010.

Only individuals who live in Cleveland, Eastern Ohio, Idaho, Western New York, Oregon, Seattle Cascades, South Puget Sound, Central New York, Rochester, Maine, Northwest Ohio, Michigan, Capital Region New York, and Hudson Valley New York can qualify for the promotion. Customers can open accounts at local banks, by phone, or at www.key.com. Checking accounts opened at KeyDirect.com are not eligible for the offer.

The following personal checking accounts are eligible for the promotion:

• Key Express Free Checking
• Key Coverage Checking
• Key Advantage Checking
• Key Privilege Checking
• Key Privilege Select Checking

Business checking accounts eligible for the promotion are:

• Key Business Free Checking
• Key Business Reward Checking
• Key Business Checking
• Key Business Money Market Checking
• Key Business Sweep Checking

To qualify for the Sony bloggie, checking customers must make one transaction with a KeyBank Debit MasterCard and a combination of two direct deposits and/or automated payments of $100 each by December 12, 2010.

Open a Bank of Greene County checking account and get a free 8GB iPod Touch. The offer is good until Sept. 30, 2010, for any new personal checking account. Bank of Greene County is based in Catskill, NY and you must visit a branch to open an account. The terms of the iPod Touch offer require that you sign up for direct deposit and use your Visa Check Card twice.

All Bank of Greene County checking accounts include:

• Free online banking
• Free bill pay
• Free Visa Check Card and Visa Rewards

The Bank of Greene County has several checking accounts to choose from. They include the Free e-Checking account, which has no minimum balances and competitive interest rates. The Totally Free checking account has unlimited check writing and no minimum balance. The Tech/Image Checking has no service charge with direct deposit and check images are available upon request. Green Plus Checking offers detailed monthly statements, competitive interest rates, and check images available upon request. The Premiere Checking is a high-yield account that offers free unlimited checks, free American Express Travelers Cheques, free money orders and bank checks, and free Internet Bill Pay Plus.

Many banks offer safe deposit boxes for customers, who use them to squirrel away jewelry, savings bonds, stock certificates, insurance policies, coins, and other important documents and keepsakes. You can put whatever you want in a safe deposit box so the sky is the limit.

You keep a key and the bank keeps a key. Both keys are required to open a box. In the event of an emergency, banks can drill open safe deposit boxes. Also, there have been cases where thieves have opened safe deposit boxes to get at the contents.

Whether you want to put your savings bonds, cash, or other valuables in a safe deposit box is up to you. It’s also up to you to insure any contents of a safe deposit box against theft or disaster. Banks have a policy of not asking about safe deposit box contents, so bank employees can’t back up your claims of missing or damaged items.

Stay current on the fee for renting a safe deposit box. If you fall behind, after a certain amount of time, the box gets opened. The contents may be kept for a period of time but once that period has passed, whatever unclaimed items were in the box can end up on the auction block.

If you are concerned about Internet security, Bank of America has an offer that may interest existing customers. Sign into an existing bank account using your Online Banking ID, and you can register to use McAfee Internet Security free for 12 months.

The antivirus software is a $69.99 value. At the end of the 12 months, you can renew the subscription for 50% off the regular price. You must call McAfee customer support if you want to cancel the automatic renewal.

The McAfee anvirus program blocks viruses, adware, and spyware. It also has a two-way firewall and alerts you to websites that may try to steal your identity.

If you don’t have an existing account, Bank of America offers a range of products and services. You can open a savings or checking account online in minutes.

Checking accounts include the MyAccess, which has no monthly maintenance fee if opened online and no minimum balance. You can also earn up to 20% cash back each time you shop online at certain retailer using your Bank of America check card.

The CampusEdge checking account is for students 18 years and older. The account has no monthly maintenance fee or minimum balance requirement. It also has a Stuff Happens Card that is good for a one-time refund of fees for overdrafts, returned items, and other services.

I recently wrote about a TD Bank promotion that offered gift cards for using a debit card to purchase groceries. Now TD Bank has another offer aimed at getting people to apply for a mortgage.

If you apply for a mortgage loan to purchase or refinance a home, you get a shot at winning $250,000 to pay off your mortgage. Details of the offer include:

• Apply for a loan between March 7 and April 30, 2010
• Existing TD Bank mortgage customers are automatically entered into the drawing
• Six weekly winners get $2,500 toward their mortgage payment
• Grand prize winner to be announced in May

“As an Aaa-rated bank that is safe and sound, TD Bank does not sell our conforming or jumbo mortgage loans, creating an opportunity to strengthen our relationship with our customers,” said Michael Copley, Retail Lending Senior Vice President at TD Bank.  ”Additionally, we continue to originate high quality performing loans. We are very excited to pay someone’s mortgage off and help our customer obtain the American dream despite the tough economy.”

If you plan to take advantage of the bank deal and apply for a mortgage, don’t forget to see if you are eligible for the homebuyer tax credit of up to $8,000.