Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

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Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Page Number
Introduction43
Long-term financial targets44
Corporate strategy45
Strategic developments45
Results of Operations46
Earnings overview46
Net interest income46
Provision for credit losses50
Noninterest income50
Noninterest expense52
Income taxes54
Business Segment Results54
Consumer Bank54
Commercial Bank56
Financial Condition57
Loans and loans held for sale57
Securities65
Deposits and other sources of funds67
Capital68
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations70
Off-balance sheet arrangements70
Contractual obligations71
Guarantees72
Risk Management72
Overview72
Market risk management73
Liquidity risk management79
Credit risk management82
Operational and compliance risk management85
GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliations87
Fourth Quarter Results88
Earnings88
Net interest income88
Noninterest income88
Noninterest expense88
Provision for credit losses89
Income taxes89
Selected Quarterly Financial Data90
Selected Quarterly GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliations91
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates91
Allowance for loan and lease losses92
Valuation methodologies93
Derivatives and hedging95
Contingent liabilities, guarantees and income taxes95
Accounting and reporting developments96
European Sovereign and Non-Sovereign Debt Exposures97

Introduction

This section reviews the financial condition and results of operations of KeyCorp and its subsidiaries for 2020 and 2019. Some tables include additional periods to comply with disclosure requirements or to illustrate trends in greater depth. When you read this discussion, you should also refer to the consolidated financial statements and related notes in this report. The page locations of specific sections that we refer to are presented in the table of contents. To review our financial condition and results of operations for 2018 and a comparison between the 2018 and 2019 results, see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of our 2019 Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 26, 2020.

Long-term financial targets

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(a)See the section entitled “GAAP to non-GAAP Reconciliations,” which presents the computations of certain financial measures related to “cash efficiency.” The section includes tables that reconcile the GAAP performance measures to the corresponding non-GAAP measures, which provides a basis for period-to-period comparisons.

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(a)See the section entitled “GAAP to non-GAAP Reconciliations,” which presents the computations of certain financial measures related to “tangible common equity.” The section includes tables that reconcile the GAAP performance measures to the corresponding non-GAAP measures, which provides a basis for period-to-period comparisons.

Positive Operating Leverage

Generate positive operating leverage and a cash e**fficiency ratio in the range of 54.0% to 56.0%.

Building on our performance in 2020, we expect to deliver positive operating leverage again in 2021. While remaining consistent over the past three years, we expect to make continued progress on our cash efficiency ratio during 2021 as we focus on expenses and strategically invest back into our business.

Moderate Risk Profile

Maintain a moderate risk profile by targeting a net loan charge-offs to average loans ratio in the range of .40% to .60% throug**h a credit cycle.

Overall, credit quality remains strong as we continue to remain consistent and disciplined in our credit underwriting and portfolio management and are committed to maintaining our moderate risk profile. During 2020, our net loan charge-offs to average loans ratio was impacted by $443 million of net loan charge-offs. Consistent with long-term targets, net charge-offs to average loans are expected to be in the 50 to 60 basis points range in 2021 based on full year guidance, which is in line with our through-the-cycle range of 40 to 60 basis points.

Financial Return

A retur**n on average tangible common equity in the range of 16.0% to 19.0%.

Our full-year dividend for 2020 was $.74, a 4% increase from the previous year. In 2021, we remain committed to consistently delivering on our stated priorities of supporting organic growth, increasing dividends, and prudently repurchasing Common Shares.

Corporate strategy

We remain committed to enhancing long-term shareholder value by continuing to execute our relationship-based business model, growing our franchise, and being disciplined in our capital management. Our strategic focus is to deliver ease, value, and expertise to help our clients make better financial decisions and build enduring relationships. We intend to pursue this strategy by growing profitably; acquiring and expanding targeted client relationships; effectively managing risk and rewards; maintaining financial strength; and engaging, retaining, and inspiring our diverse and high-performing workforce. These strategic priorities for enhancing long-term shareholder value are described in more detail below.

  • Grow profitably — We intend to continue to focus on generating positive operating leverage by growing revenue and creating a more efficient operating environment. We expect our relationship business model to keep generating organic growth as it helps us expand engagement with existing clients and attract new customers. We plan to leverage our continuous improvement culture to maintain an efficient cost structure that is aligned, sustainable, and consistent with the current operating environment and that supports our relationship business model.

  • Acquire and expand targeted client relationships — We seek to be client-centric in our actions and have taken purposeful steps to enhance our ability to acquire and expand targeted relationships. We seek to provide solutions to serve our clients' needs. We focus on markets and clients where we can be the most relevant. In aligning our businesses and investments against these targeted client segments, we are able to make a meaningful impact for our clients.

  • Effectively manage risk and rewards —** Our risk management activities are focused on ensuring we properly identify, measure, and manage risks across the entire company to maintain safety and soundness and maximize profitability.

  • Maintain financial strength —** With the foundation of a strong balance sheet, we intend to remain focused on sustaining strong reserves, liquidity and capital. We plan to work closely with our Board and regulators to manage capital to support our clients’ needs and drive long-term shareholder value. Our capital remains a competitive advantage for us.

  • Engage a high-performing, talented, and diverse workforce —** Every day our employees provide our clients with great ideas, extraordinary service, and smart solutions. We intend to continue to engage our high-performing, talented, and diverse workforce to create an environment where they can make a difference, own their careers, be respected, and feel a sense of pride.

Strategic developments

We took the following actions during 2020 in support of our corporate strategy:

  • We continued to grow profitably during 2020. Our cash efficiency ratio remained consistent year over year, and we achieved our seventh consecutive year of positive operating leverage. Full year expenses were up 5.3% from the prior year as a result of elevated production-related incentives, higher salaries due to merit increases, payments-related expenses from prepaid card activity, as well as COVID-19-related costs for steps that Key has taken to ensure the health and safety of teammates. Revenue was up for the year, driven by all-time high investment banking and debt placement fees, record consumer mortgage fees and higher prepaid card activity from state government support programs. We continued to see strong balance sheet growth as average loans were up 12.2% and average deposits were up 15.7% compared to the prior year. Our relationship-based business model continues to position us well with our targeted clients, which results in new and expanded relationships.

  • Our residential mortgage business is another area where we are seeing strong returns on our investments. Residential mortgage loan originations for 2020 were $8.3 billion, up over 90% from 2019, with $2.5 billion originated in the fourth quarter of 2020. These two investments highlight our commitment to acquire and expand targeted client relationships.

  • Overall, credit quality remains strong as our new loan originations in both our commercial and consumer book continue to meet our criteria for high quality loans as we continue to effectively manage risk and rewards.

  • Maintaining financial strength** while driving long-term shareholder value was again a focus during 2020. At December 31, 2020, our Common Equity Tier 1 and Tier 1 risk-based capital ratios stood at 9.73% and 11.11%, respectively. We repurchased $170 million of Common Shares, including $134 million of Common Shares in the open market and $36 million of Common Shares related to employee equity compensation programs. Our full-year dividend for 2020 was $.74, a 4% increase from the previous year.

  • We remained committed to our strategy to engage a high-performing, talented, and diverse workforce. We have been recognized by multiple organizations for our dedication to creating an environment where employees are treated with respect and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. Some of these awards and recognitions included the Human Rights Campaign naming us one of the Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality, Bloomberg listing us on the Gender-Equality Index, G.I. Jobs and Military Spouse Magazine recognizing us as a Military Friendly® and Military Friendly® Spouse Employer, and receiving the Leading Disability Employer Seal from the National Organization on Disability. We were also named to DiversityInc’s 2019 Top 50 Companies for Diversity.

Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Named

On April 13, 2020, we announced that Greg Jones has been named Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for the company. In this role, Greg is accountable for leading the strategy and tactics to improve the acquisition, movement, development and retention of diverse talent and suppliers.

Results of Operations

Earnings Overview

The following chart provides a reconciliation of net income from continuing operations attributable to Key common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2019, to the year ended December 31, 2020 (dollars in millions):

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(a)Includes Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest and Preferred dividends.

Net interest income

One of our principal sources of revenue is net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between interest income received on earning assets (such as loans and securities) and loan-related fee income, and interest expense paid on deposits and borrowings. There are several factors that affect net interest income, including:

  • the volume, pricing, mix, and maturity of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities;

  • the volume and value of net free funds, such as noninterest-bearing deposits and equity capital;

  • the use of derivative instruments to manage interest rate risk;

  • interest rate fluctuations and competitive conditions within the marketplace;

  • asset quality; and

  • fair value accounting of acquired earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.

To make it easier to compare both the results among several periods and the yields on various types of earning assets (some taxable, some not), we present net interest income in this discussion on a “TE basis” (i.e., as if all

income were taxable and at the same rate). For example, $100 of tax-exempt income would be presented as $126, an amount that, if taxed at the statutory federal income tax rate of 21%, would yield $100. Prior to 2018, $100 of tax-exempt income would be presented as $154, an amount that, if taxed at the previous statutory federal income tax rate of 35%, would yield $100.

Figure 1 shows the various components of our balance sheet that affect interest income and expense, and their respective yields or rates over the past five years. This figure also presents a reconciliation of TE net interest income to net interest income reported in accordance with GAAP for each of those years. The net interest margin, which is an indicator of the profitability of our earning assets less the cost of funding, is calculated by dividing taxable-equivalent net interest income by average earning assets.

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TE net interest income for 2020 was $4.1 billion, and the net interest margin was 2.77%, compared to TE net interest income of $3.9 billion and a net interest margin of 3.04% for the prior year. Net interest income for 2020 reflects an increase in earning asset balances and higher loan fees, partially offset by a lower net interest margin. The net interest margin was impacted by lower interest rates, Key’s participation in the PPP, and elevated levels of liquidity. In 2021, we expect TE net interest income to be relatively stable compared to 2020 and the net interest margin to be relatively stable compared to the fourth quarter of 2020.

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Average loans totaled $102.7 billion for 2020, compared to $91.5 billion in 2019. Commercial loans increased $7.7 billion, reflecting Key’s participation in the PPP as well as core broad based growth in commercial and industrial loans. Consumer loans increased $3.5 billion, driven by strength from Laurel Road and Key's consumer mortgage business. For 2021, we expect average loans to be relatively stable compared to 2020.

Average deposits totaled $127.3 billion for 2020, an increase of $17.3 billion compared to 2019, reflecting growth from consumer and commercial relationships, partially offset by a decline in time deposits as a result of lower interest rates. For 2021, we expect average deposits to be up 1% to 3% compared to 2020.

Figure 1. Consolidated Average Balance Sheets, Net Interest Income, and Yields/Rates from Continuing Operations

Year ended December 31,20202019
dollars in millionsAverage BalanceInterest (a)Yield/ Rate (a)Average BalanceInterest (a)Yield/ Rate (a)
ASSETS
Loans (b), (c)
Commercial and industrial (d)$55,145$1,9773.59%$47,482$2,1444.51%
Real estate — commercial mortgage13,2795213.9213,6416764.95
Real estate — construction1,843743.991,485785.24
Commercial lease financing4,4971393.094,4881633.63
Total commercial loans74,7642,7113.6367,0963,0614.56
Real estate — residential mortgage8,0942843.506,0952413.95
Home equity loans9,7723924.0110,6345264.95
Consumer direct loans4,2132215.262,4751767.11
Credit cards1,00110710.651,10012711.51
Consumer indirect loans4,8451803.724,1111684.09
Total consumer loans27,9251,1844.2424,4151,2385.07
Total loans102,6893,8953.7991,5114,2994.70
Loans held for sale1,972693.491,411634.48
Securities available for sale (b), (e)23,7424842.1021,3625372.51
Held-to-maturity securities (b)8,9382222.4910,8412622.41
Trading account assets814202.471,017323.18
Short-term investments9,09618.202,876612.11
Other investments (e)6356.87630132.09
Total earning assets147,8864,7143.20129,6485,2674.06
Allowance for loan and lease losses(1,481)(880)
Accrued income and other assets15,65014,411
Discontinued assets775984
Total assets$162,830$144,163
LIABILITIES
NOW and money market deposit accounts$75,733206.27$63,731566.89
Savings deposits5,2522.044,7404.09
Certificates of deposit ($100,000 or more)(f)4,520831.837,7571802.32
Other time deposits4,041561.385,4261031.90
Deposits in foreign office——————
Total interest-bearing deposits89,546347.3981,6548531.04
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements6706.882642.66
Bank notes and other short-term borrowings1,45212.85730172.31
Long-term debt (f), (g)12,5782862.3613,0624543.52
Total interest-bearing liabilities104,246651.6395,7101,3261.39
Noninterest-bearing deposits37,74028,376
Accrued expense and other liabilities2,4332,456
Discontinued liabilities (g)775984
Total liabilities145,194127,526
EQUITY
Key shareholders’ equity17,63616,636
Noncontrolling interests—1
Total equity17,63616,637
Total liabilities and equity$162,830$144,163
Interest rate spread (TE)2.57%2.67%
Net interest income (TE) and net interest margin (TE)4,0632.77%3,9413.04%
Less: TE adjustment (b)2932
Net interest income, GAAP basis$4,034$3,909

(a)Results are from continuing operations. Interest excludes the interest associated with the liabilities referred to in (g) below, calculated using a matched funds transfer pricing methodology.

(b)Interest income on tax-exempt securities and loans has been adjusted to a TE basis using the statutory federal income tax rate in effect that calendar year.

(c)For purposes of these computations, nonaccrual loans are included in average loan balances.

(d)Commercial and industrial average loan balances include $130 million, $141 million, $126 million, $117 million, and $99 million of assets from commercial credit cards for the years ended December 31, 2020, December 31, 2019, December 31, 2018, December 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, respectively.

(e)Yield is calculated on the basis of amortized cost.

(f)Rate calculation excludes basis adjustments related to fair value hedges.

(g)A portion of long-term debt and the related interest expense is allocated to discontinued liabilities as a result of applying our matched funds transfer pricing methodology to discontinued operations.

Figure 1. Consolidated Average Balance Sheets, Net Interest Income, and Yields/Rates from Continuing Operations (Continued)

201820172016Compound Annual Rate of Change (2016-2020)
Average BalanceInterest (a)Yield/ Rate (a)Average BalanceInterest (a)Yield/ Rate (a)Average BalanceInterest (a)Yield/ Rate (a)Average BalanceInterest
$44,418$1,9264.34%$40,848$1,6133.95%$35,276$1,2153.45%9.3%10.2%
14,2676984.9014,8786874.6211,0634514.073.72.9
1,816904.972,1431034.781,460765.224.8(.5)
4,5341683.704,6771853.964,2611613.781.1(2.9)
65,0352,8824.4362,5462,5884.1452,0601,9033.667.57.3
5,4732173.975,4992143.893,6321484.0917.413.9
11,5305474.7412,3805364.3311,2864564.04(2.8)(3.0)
1,7821377.661,7651267.121,6611136.7920.514.4
1,09212511.401,05511811.159169810.731.81.8
3,4261464.273,1201484.751,593895.5824.915.1
23,3031,1725.0323,8191,1424.7919,0889044.747.95.5
88,3384,0544.5986,3653,7304.3271,1482,8073.957.66.8
1,501664.431,325523.96979343.5115.015.2
17,8984092.2018,5483691.9616,6613291.987.38.0
12,0032842.3710,5152222.116,2751221.947.312.7
893293.25949272.81884232.59(1.6)(2.8)
2,450461.862,363261.114,65622.4714.3(3.9)
697213.04712172.35679162.37(1.3)(17.8)
123,7804,9093.94120,7774,4433.67101,2823,3533.317.97.1
(878)(865)(835)12.1
13,91013,80712,0905.3
1,2121,4481,707(14.6)
$138,024$135,167$114,2447.3%
$56,001297.53$54,032143.26$46,07987.1910.4%18.8
5,70414.246,56913.203,9573.075.8(7.8)
7,7281391.806,233821.313,911481.222.911.6
5,025671.344,69840.854,08833.81(.2)11.2
—————————N/MN/M
74,458517.6971,532278.3958,035171.309.115.2
928111.145171.244871.106.643.1
915212.341,140151.34852101.1811.33.7
12,7154203.2711,9213192.699,8022182.295.15.6
89,0169691.0985,110613.7269,176400.588.510.2
30,59331,41428,3175.9
2,0711,9702,393.3
1,2121,4481,706(14.6)
122,892119,942101,5927.4
15,13115,22412,6476.9
115(100.0)
15,13215,22512,6526.9
$138,024$135,167$114,2447.3%
2.85%2.95%2.73%
3,9403.17%3,8303.17%2,9532.92%6.6
315334(3.1)
$3,909$3,777$2,9196.7%

(e)Yield is calculated on the basis of amortized cost.

(f)Rate calculation excludes basis adjustments related to fair value hedges.

(g)A portion of long-term debt and the related interest expense is allocated to discontinued liabilities as a result of applying our matched funds transfer pricing methodology to discontinued operations.

Figure 2 shows how the changes in yields or rates and average balances from the prior year affected net interest income. The section entitled “Financial Condition” contains additional discussion about changes in earning assets and funding sources.

Figure 2. Components of Net Interest Income Changes from Continuing Operations

2020 vs. 2019
in millionsAverage VolumeYield/ RateNet Change**(a)**
INTEREST INCOME
Loans$463$(867)$(404)
Loans held for sale22(16)6
Securities available for sale56(109)(53)
Held-to-maturity securities(47)7(40)
Trading account assets(6)(6)(12)
Short-term investments48(91)(43)
Other investments—(7)(7)
Total interest income (TE)536(1,089)(553)
INTEREST EXPENSE
NOW and money market deposit accounts91(451)(360)
Savings deposits—(2)(2)
Certificates of deposit ($100,000 or more)(65)(32)(97)
Other time deposits(23)(24)(47)
Total interest-bearing deposits3(509)(506)
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements4—4
Bank notes and other short-term borrowings10(15)(5)
Long-term debt(16)(152)(168)
Total interest expense1(676)(675)
Net interest income (TE)$535$(413)$122

(a)The change in interest not due solely to volume or rate has been allocated in proportion to the absolute dollar amounts of the change in each.

Provision for credit losses

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Our provision for credit losses was $1.0 billion for 2020, compared to $445 million for 2019. The increase of $576 million in our provision for credit losses is primarily due to the economic stress and uncertainty in the U.S. and globally from the ongoing pandemic caused by COVID-19 as well as increased net loan charge-offs. In 2019 our provision for credit losses was impacted by the realization of $139 million from a previously disclosed fraud loss. In 2021 we expect loan charge-offs to average loans to be in the range of 50 to 60 bps.

Noninterest income

Noninterest income for 2020 was $2.7 billion, compared to $2.5 billion during 2019. Noninterest income represented 39% of total revenue for 2020 and 38% of total revenue for 2019. In 2021, we expect noninterest income to be up 1% to 3% compared to 2020.

The following discussion explains the composition of certain elements of our noninterest income and the factors that caused those elements to change.

Figure 3. Noninterest Income

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(a)Other noninterest income includes operating lease income and other leasing gains, corporate services income, corporate-owned life insurance income, consumer mortgage income, mortgage servicing fees, and other income. See the "Consolidated Statements of Income" in Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this report.

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Trust and investment services income

Trust and investment services income consists of brokerage commissions, trust and asset management commissions, and insurance income. For 2020, trust and investment services income increased $32 million, or 6.7% as a result of an increase in assets under management.

A significant portion of our trust and investment services income depends on the value and mix of assets under management. At December 31, 2020, our bank, trust, and registered investment advisory subsidiaries had assets under management of $44.1 billion, compared to $40.8 billion at December 31, 2019. The increase from 2019 to 2020 was primarily attributable to the strength of the equity markets during the year.

Figure 4. Assets Under Management

Year ended December 31,Change 2020 vs. 2019
dollars in millions20202019AmountPercent
Assets under management by investment type:
Equity$27,384$25,271$2,1138.4%
Securities lending131309(178)(57.6)
Fixed income12,13011,0001,13010.3
Money market4,4954,2532425.7
Total$44,140$40,833$3,3078.1%

Investment banking and debt placement fees

Investment banking and debt placement fees consist of syndication fees, debt and equity financing fees, financial advisor fees, gains on sales of commercial mortgages, and agency origination fees. For 2020, investment banking and debt placement fees increased $31 million, or 4.9%, from the prior year driven by gains on the sale of commercial mortgages and strong debt and equity financing fees.

Service charges on deposit accounts

Service charges on deposit accounts decreased $26 million, or 7.7%, in 2020 compared to the prior year. These decreases were primarily due to lower customer spending and higher fee waivers related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Cards and payments income

Cards and payments income, which consists of debit card, consumer and commercial credit card, and merchant services income, increased $93 million, or 33.8%, in 2020 compared to 2019. This increase was primarily due to higher prepaid card activity from state government support programs.

Other noninterest income

Other noninterest income includes operating lease income and other leasing gains, corporate services income, corporate-owned life insurance income, consumer mortgage income, mortgage servicing fees, and other income. Other noninterest income increased $63 million, or 8.5%, in 2020 compared to 2019, driven primarily by record mortgage origination income partially offset by trading losses and portfolio marks related to the widening credit spreads in the market.

Noninterest expense

Noninterest expense for 2020 was $4.1 billion, compared to $3.9 billion for 2019. Figure 5 gives a breakdown of our major categories of noninterest expense as a percentage of total noninterest expense for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020. In 2021, we expect noninterest expense to be down 1% to 3% compared to 2020.

The following discussion explains the composition of certain elements of our noninterest expense and the factors that caused those elements to change.

Figure 5. Noninterest Expense

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(a)Other noninterest expense includes equipment, operating lease expense, marketing, FDIC assessment, intangible asset amortization, OREO expense, net, and other expense. See the "Consolidated Statements of Income" in Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this report.

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Personnel

As shown in Figure 6, personnel expense, the largest category of our noninterest expense, increased by $86 million, or 3.8%, in 2020 compared to 2019. The increase is driven by higher production-related incentives from our record fee production and higher salaries due to merit increases.

Figure 6. Personnel Expense

Year ended December 31, dollars in millionsChange 2020 vs. 2019
20202019AmountPercent
Salaries and contract labor$1,329$1,268$614.8%
Incentive and stock-based compensation (a)627584437.4
Employee benefits3503482.6
Severance3050(20)(40.0)
Total personnel expense$2,336$2,250$863.8%

(a)Excludes directors’ stock-based compensation of $2 million in 2020 and $3 million in 2019, reported as “other noninterest expense” in Figure 5.

Net occupancy

Net occupancy expense increased $5 million, or 1.7%, in 2020 compared to 2019, primarily due to higher property reserve expenses and cleaning expenses related to the steps that we have taken to ensure the health and safety of teammates and customers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Other noninterest expense

Other noninterest expense includes equipment, operating lease expense, marketing, FDIC assessment, intangible asset amortization, OREO expenses, and other miscellaneous expense categories. In total, other noninterest expense increased $89 million, or 9.3%, in 2020 compared to 2019 primarily attributable to higher payments-related expenses from prepaid card activity.

Income taxes

We recorded a tax provision from continuing operations of $227 million for 2020, compared to $314 million for 2019. The effective tax rate, which is the provision for income taxes as a percentage of income from continuing operations before income taxes, was 14.6% for 2020 and 15.6% for 2019. In 2021, we expect our GAAP tax rate to be approximately 19%.

In 2020, our federal tax expense and effective tax rate differ from the amount that would be calculated using the federal statutory tax rate; primarily from investments in tax-advantaged assets, such as corporate-owned life insurance, tax credits associated with investments in low-income housing projects and energy related projects, and periodic adjustments to our tax reserves as described in Note 14 (“Income Taxes”).

Business Segments Results

We previously reported our results of operations through two business segments, Key Community Bank and Key Corporate Bank, with the remaining operations recorded in Other. In the first quarter of 2019, we underwent a company-wide organizational change, resulting in the realignment of our businesses into two reportable business segments, Consumer Bank and Commercial Bank, with the remaining operations that do not meet the criteria for disclosure as a separate reportable business recorded in Other. The new business segment structure aligns with how management reviews performance and makes decisions by client, segment, and business unit. Prior period information was restated to conform to the new business segment structure.

This section summarizes the highlights and segment imperatives, market and business overview, and financial performance of our two major business segments (operating segments): Consumer Bank and Commercial Bank. Note 25 (“Business Segment Reporting”) describes the products and services offered by each of these business segments and provides more detailed financial information pertaining to the segments. Dollars in the charts are presented in millions.

Consumer Bank

Segment imperatives

  • Simplification and digitalization to drive growth and operating leverage

  • Relationship-based strategy with a focus on financial wellness as a differentiator

  • Deliver ease, value, and expertise to help guide our clients to the right approach to meet their goals

Market and business overview

As the banking industry moves forward, so do our clients. Anticipating our clients’ needs not only today, but for tomorrow and into the future, has become one of the biggest challenges for the banking industry. We view these challenges as an opportunity to help our current client base meet their own goals, as well as attract new and diverse clients. In an increasingly digital world focused on specialized convenience, we have made meaningful steps to meet those demands through new digital portals and the acquisition of Laurel Road in 2019. These platforms place us in a strong position to develop long lasting and meaningful relationships with our current and prospective clients. Financial wellness is a core tenet of our customer relationships and we see it in three different ways: diagnose, enhance, and sustain. Our goal is to get our clients to a place where they can comfortably sustain their current financial position so we can be there for them when they are ready to grow. Clients no longer go to a branch to conduct transactions only, they go to seek advice and gain new perspectives on issues they may be facing. Overall, we have a passion to help our clients through:

  • Ease - enabling simple and clear banking with no surprises

  • Value - knowing our clients and valuing each relationship

  • Expertise - provide our clients with industry-leading expertise and personalized service

Summary of operations

  • Net income attributable to Key of $665 million in 2020, compared to $706 million in 2019, a decrease of 5.8%.

  • Taxable equivalent net interest income increased in 2020 by $68 million, or 2.9%, from the prior year. The increase in net interest income was primarily driven by strong balance sheet growth and fees related to PPP loans, partially offset by a lower interest rate environment.

  • Average loans and leases increased in 2020 by $6.4 billion, or 19.6%, from the prior year. This was driven by growth from Laurel Road and consumer mortgage.

  • Average deposits increased in 2020 by $7.3 billion, or 10.0%, from the prior year. This was driven by consumer stimulus payments, lower spend activity, and relationship growth.

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  • Provision for credit losses increased $100 million in 2020 compared to the prior year. The increase in provision for credit losses is driven by portfolio growth and CECL economic forecasts that capture deterioration triggered by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Noninterest income increased in 2020 by $81 million, or 8.8%, from the prior year, primarily driven by growth in consumer mortgage income and originations, as well as increases in cards and payments income.

  • Noninterest expense increased in 2020 by $102 million, or 4.7%, from the prior year. The increase is due to higher variable compensation from strong revenue growth and higher variable expenses related to higher loan volumes.

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Commercial Bank

Segment imperatives

  • Solve complex client needs through a differentiated product set of banking and capital markets capabilities

  • Drive targeted scale through distinct product capabilities delivered to a broad set of clients

  • Utilize industry expertise and broad capabilities to build relationships with narrowly targeted client sets

Market and business overview

Building relationships and delivering complex solutions for middle market clients requires a distinctive operating model that understands their business and can provide a broad set of product capabilities. As competition for these clients intensifies, we have positioned the business to maintain and grow our competitive advantage by building targeted scale in businesses and client segments. Strong market share in businesses such as real estate loan servicing and equipment finance highlights our ability to successfully meet customer needs through targeted scale in distinct product capabilities. Clients expect us to understand every aspect of their business. Our seven industry verticals are aligned to drive targeted scale in segments where we have a deep breadth of industry expertise. Healthcare is the largest sector of the economy and one of our targeted verticals. Our acquisition of Cain Brothers in 2017 is one example of how we have expanded our business capabilities to further enhance our reputation as a trusted advisor to current and prospective clients. Our business model is positioned to meet our client needs because our focus is not on being a universal bank, but rather being the right bank for our clients.

Summary of operations

  • Net income attributable to Key of $633 million in 2020, compared to $1.1 billion in 2019, a decrease of 44.0%.

  • Taxable equivalent net interest income increased in 2020 by $77 million, or 4.8%, from the prior year. The increase in net interest income was primarily driven by balance sheet growth and fees related to PPP loans.

  • Average loan and lease balances increased $5.1 billion in 2020, or 8.8%, compared to the prior year driven by broad-based growth in commercial, industrial, and PPP loans.

  • Average deposit balances increased $10.7 billion in 2020, or 29.4%, compared to the prior year, driven by growth in targeted relationships and the impact of government programs.

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  • Provision for credit losses increased $620 million in 2020 compared to the prior year, driven by CECL economic forecasts that capture deterioration triggered by the global COVID-19 pandemic and higher net charge-offs.

  • Noninterest income increased $117 million in 2020, or 8.4%, from the prior year. The increase was mainly related to higher investment banking fees and cards and payments income, partially offset by decreases in corporate services income.

  • Noninterest expense increased by $190 million in 2020, or 12.3%, from the prior year, driven by elevated variable expenses related to prepaid card and higher variable compensation from strong revenue growth.

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Financial Condition

Loans and loans held for sale

Figure 7. Breakdown of Loans

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(a)Other consumer loans include Consumer direct loans, Credit cards, and Consumer indirect loans. See Note 4 (“Loan Portfolio”) Item 8. Financial Statements of this report.

COVID-19 Hardship Relief Programs

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning in March 2020, we began providing relief and flexibility to our customers through a variety of solutions, including fee waivers, short-term loan modifications, and payment deferrals as well as the suspension of vehicle repossessions and home foreclosures. While the solutions for our commercial borrowers are individually negotiated and tailored to each borrower’s specific facts and circumstances, the most commonly offered relief measures included temporary covenant waivers and/or deferrals of principal and/or interest payments for up to 90 days. We have also granted short-term loan modifications for our consumer loan customers through extensions, deferrals, and forbearance.

The following table provides a summary of portfolio loans and leases as of December 31, 2020, that have received a payment deferral or forbearance as part of our COVID-19 hardship relief programs:

Figure 8. Loans and Leases COVID-19 Hardship Relief

Outstanding Balance of Loans and Leases
December 31, 2020
dollars in millionsCompleted ReliefIn Active ReliefTotal that have Received Payment Relief
Commercial Loans$2,899$181$3,079
Consumer Loans1,1793941,572
Total Portfolio Loans and Leases$4,077$575$4,652

The total outstanding balance of commercial loans in active relief as of December 31, 2020, represented 0.3% of our commercial loan portfolio and the total outstanding balance of consumer loans in active relief as of December 31, 2020, represented 1.3% of the consumer portfolio. As of December 31, 2020, the cumulative number of commercial loans that have received any form of hardship relief due to COVID-19 hardships totaled 251 loans and the cumulative number of consumer loans that have received any form of hardship relief due to COVID-19 hardships totaled 4,766 loans.

Under the CARES Act as well as banking regulator interagency guidance, certain loan modifications to borrowers experiencing financial distress as a result of the economic impacts created by COVID-19 may not be required to be treated as TDRs under U.S. GAAP. For COVID-19 related loan modifications which occurred from March 1, 2020, through December 31, 2020, and met the loan modification criteria under either the CARES Act or the criteria specified by the regulatory agencies or were otherwise considered to be short term in nature, we have elected to suspend TDR accounting for such loan modifications. Additionally, loans qualifying for these modifications are not required to be reported as delinquent, nonaccrual, impaired, or criticized solely as a result of a COVID-19 loan modification. Refer to Note 5 (“Asset Quality”) under the headings “TDRs” and “Nonperforming and Past Due Loans”.

For loans that receive a payment deferral or forbearance under these hardship relief programs, we continue to accrue interest and recognize interest income during the period of the deferral. Depending on the terms of each program, all or a portion of this accrued interest may be paid directly by the borrower (either during the relief period, at the end of the relief period, or at maturity of the loan) or added to the customer’s outstanding balance. For certain programs, the maturity date of the loan may also be extended by the number of payments deferred. Interest income will continue to be accrued at the original contractual interest rate unless that rate is concurrently modified upon entering the relief program (in which case, the modified rate would be used to recognize interest).

Commercial loan portfolio

Commercial loans outstanding were $72.0 billion at December 31, 2020, an increase of $3.9 billion, or 5.8%, compared to December 31, 2019, driven by the outstanding balance of $6.7 billion related to the PPP partly offset by a decline in commercial and industrial utilization rates.

As a result of the current economic environment, our commercial loan portfolio is going through active portfolio surveillance. We are conducting ongoing portfolio reviews on our commercial loans with any risk rating migrations being closely monitored. We have centralized internal reporting on enterprise-wide relief initiatives, as well as following any potential relief initiatives that may come in the future. We have also established a pandemic watchlist and are performing ongoing reviews of commercial clients that are likely to be impacted by COVID-19. Overall, these clients represent a small portion of the overall portfolio and are diversified by type and geography. Figure 9 summarizes our commercial portfolios that are at risk of being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic as of December 31, 2020.

Figure 9. Select Commercial Portfolio Focus Areas

dollars in millionsOutstanding as of December 31, 2020Percentage of total loans as of December 31, 2020
Consumer behavior (a)$5,0835.0%
Education1,5411.5
Sports690.7
Restaurants400.4
Retail commercial real estate (b)525.5
Nondurable retail (c)638.6
Travel/Tourism (d)2,5232.5
Hotels784.8
Leveraged lending (e)1,7001.7
Oil and gas1,9922.0
Upstream (reserve based)1,2631.2
Midstream468.5
Downstream98.1

(a)Consumer behavior includes restaurants, sports, entertainment and leisure, services, education, etc.

(b)Retail commercial real estate is mainly composed of regional malls, strip centers (unanchored) and lifestyle centers.

(c)Nondurable retail includes direct lending to retailers including apparel, hobby shops, nursery garden centers, cosmetics, and gas stations with convenience stores.

(d)Travel/Tourism includes hotels, tours, and air/water/rail leasing.

(e)Leveraged lending exposures have total debt to EBITDA greater than four times or senior debt to EBITDA greater than three times and meet the purpose test (the new debt finances a buyout, acquisition, or capital distribution).

Figure 10 shows the composition of our loan portfolio at December 31 for each of the past five years.

Figure 10. Composition of Loans

202020192018
December 31, dollars in millionsAmountPercent of TotalAmountPercent of TotalAmountPercent of Total
COMMERCIAL
Commercial and industrial (a)$52,90752.3%$48,29551.0%$45,75351.1%
Commercial real estate:
Commercial mortgage12,68712.513,49114.314,28515.9
Construction1,9872.01,5581.61,6661.9
Total commercial real estate loans14,67414.515,04915.915,95117.8
Commercial lease financing (b)4,3994.34,6885.04,6065.1
Total commercial loans71,98071.168,03271.966,31074.0
CONSUMER
Real estate — residential mortgage9,2989.27,0237.45,5136.2
Home equity loans9,3609.210,27410.911,14212.4
Consumer direct loans4,7144.73,5133.71,8092.0
Credit cards9891.01,1301.21,1441.3
Consumer indirect loans4,8444.84,6744.93,6344.1
Total consumer loans29,20528.926,61428.123,24226.0
Total loans (c)$101,185100.0%$94,646100.0%$89,552100.0%
20172016
AmountPercent of TotalAmountPercent of Total
COMMERCIAL
Commercial and industrial (a)$41,85948.4%$39,76846.2%
Commercial real estate:
Commercial mortgage14,08816.3%15,11117.6%
Construction1,9602.32,3452.7
Total commercial real estate loans16,04818.617,45620.3
Commercial lease financing (b)4,8265.64,6855.5
Total commercial loans62,73372.661,90972.0
CONSUMER
Real estate — residential mortgage5,4836.35,5476.4
Home equity loans12,02813.912,67414.7
Consumer direct loans1,7942.11,7882.1
Credit cards1,1061.31,1111.3
Consumer indirect loans3,2613.83,0093.5
Total consumer loans23,67227.424,12928.0
Total loans (c)$86,405100.0%$86,038100.0%

(a)Loan balances include $127 million, $144 million, $132 million, $119 million, and $116 million, of commercial credit card balances at December 31, 2020, December 31, 2019, December 31, 2018, December 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, respectively.

(b)Commercial lease financing includes receivables held as collateral for a secured borrowing of $19 million, $15 million, $10 million, $24 million, and $68 million at December 31, 2020, December 31, 2019, December 31, 2018, December 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, respectively. Principal reductions are based on the cash payments received from these related receivables. Additional information pertaining to this secured borrowing is included in Note 20 (“Long-Term Debt”).

(c)Total loans exclude loans of $710 million at December 31, 2020, $865 million at December 31, 2019, $1.1 billion at December 31, 2018, $1.3 billion at December 31, 2017, and $1.6 billion at December 31, 2016, related to the discontinued operations of the education lending business.

At December 31, 2020, total loans outstanding from continuing operations were $101.2 billion, compared to $94.6 billion at the end of 2019. For more information on balance sheet carrying value, see Note 1 (“Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”) under the headings “Loans” and “Loans Held for Sale.”

Figure 11 provides our commercial loan portfolio by industry classification as of December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019.

Figure 11. Commercial Loans by Industry

December 31, 2020Commercial and industrialCommercial real estateCommercial lease financingTotal commercial loansPercent of total
dollars in millions
Industry classification:
Agriculture$1,002$148$97$1,2471.7%
Automotive1,863510192,3923.3
Business products1,523117451,6852.3
Business services4,0982212024,5216.3
Chemicals70030347641.1
Construction materials and contractors2,5712712333,0754.3
Consumer discretionary3,8324043714,6076.4
Consumer services6,1239005257,54810.5
Equipment1,447841201,6512.3
Finance6,190923966,6789.3
Healthcare4,3481,3963066,0508.4
Metals and mining1,07456291,1591.6
Oil and gas1,92843622,0332.8
Public exposure2,332257093,0664.3
Commercial real estate5,96610,1871116,16422.5
Technology741201919521.2
Transportation1,4341446312,2093.1
Utilities5,23913975,6377.8
Other4962521542.8
Total$52,907$14,674$4,399$71,980100.0%
December 31, 2019Commercial and industrialCommercial real estateCommercial lease financingTotal commercial loansPercent of total
dollars in millions
Industry classification:
Agriculture$1,036$178$112$1,3261.9%
Automotive2,048467182,5333.7
Business products1,513111571,6812.5
Business services3,0832032103,4965.2
Chemicals77640468621.3
Construction materials and contractors1,8762382442,3583.5
Consumer discretionary3,6464004674,5136.6
Consumer services4,5678635355,9658.8
Equipment1,42876981,6022.4
Finance6,186643866,6369.7
Healthcare3,0001,5643314,8957.2
Metals and mining1,11744411,2021.8
Oil and gas2,21954902,3633.5
Public exposure2,422247063,1524.6
Commercial real estate5,12610,4691215,60722.9
Technology916271821,1251.6
Transportation1,2982187372,2533.3
Utilities5,56023975,9598.8
Other478719504.7
Total$48,295$15,049$4,688$68,032100.0%

Commercial and industrial**.** Commercial and industrial loans are the largest component of our loan portfolio, representing 52% of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2020, and 51% at December 31, 2019. This portfolio is approximately 73% variable rate and consists of loans primarily to large corporate, middle market, and small business clients.

Commercial and industrial loans totaled $52.9 billion at December 31, 2020, an increase of $4.6 billion compared to December 31, 2019. The growth was broad-based and spread across most industry categories, as the impact of COVID-19 resulted in an outstanding balance of $6.7 billion related to the PPP partially offset by a decline in commercial line utilization rates.

Commercial real estate loans. Our commercial real estate lending business includes both mortgage and construction loans, and is conducted through two primary sources: our 15-state banking franchise, and KeyBank Real Estate Capital, a national line of business that cultivates relationships with owners of commercial real estate located both within and beyond the branch system. Nonowner-occupied properties, generally properties for which at least 50% of the debt service is provided by rental income from nonaffiliated third parties, represented 80% of total commercial real estate loans outstanding at December 31, 2020. Construction loans, which provide a stream of

funding for properties not fully leased at origination to support debt service payments over the term of the contract or project, represented 14% of commercial real estate loans at year end.

At December 31, 2020, commercial real estate loans totaled $14.7 billion, comprised of $12.7 billion of mortgage loans and $2.0 billion of construction loans. Compared to December 31, 2019, this portfolio decreased $375 million, driven by declines in retail properties and office buildings. The impact of e-commerce accelerated by the pandemic resulted in retailers downsizing to smaller, more efficient spaces, with collaborative workspace and open offices losing appeal. Remote working and the need for flexibility in space and leasing is driving the move away from central business district (CBD) markets to lower density regions.

As shown in Figure 12, our commercial real estate loan portfolio includes various property types and geographic locations of the underlying collateral. These loans include commercial mortgage and construction loans in both Consumer Bank and Commercial Bank.

Figure 12. Commercial Real Estate Loans

Geographic Region
dollars in millionsWestSouthwestCentralMidwestSoutheastNortheastNationalTotalPercent of TotalConstructionCommercial Mortgage
December 31, 2020
Nonowner-occupied:
Retail properties$119$15$129$122$72$448$122$1,0276.8%$54$973
Multifamily properties6852288758001,2841,4932295,59438.11,4424,152
Health facilities835385871704873381,3038.7911,212
Office buildings276—2531421936281471,63911.2481,591
Warehouses54316640522591616634.674589
Manufacturing facilities42—28154034432021.310192
Hotels/Motels76—19—12107913052.118287
Residential properties———3—53—56.4—56
Land and development155—2528—55.43322
Other10822693692452798226.465757
Total nonowner-occupied1,4583541,4611,3041,8973,7821,41011,66680.01,8359,831
Owner-occupied8704275499631,297—3,00820.01522,856
Total$2,328$358$1,736$1,803$1,960$5,079$1,410$14,674100.0%$1,987$12,687
Nonowner-occupied:
Nonperforming loans$1——$7$6$44$44$103N/M$—$103
Accruing loans past due 90 days or more———1—22—22N/M121
Accruing loans past due 30 through 89 days3——237—14N/M—14
December 31, 2019
Nonowner-occupied:
Retail properties$133$41$143$155$161$580$124$1,3378.9%$85$1,252
Multifamily properties6983547677951,2051,3502255,39435.81,1894,205
Health facilities7644104931634974051,3829.2401,342
Office buildings21472931322447251341,74911.6691,680
Warehouses51345151462381346054.07598
Manufacturing facilities36—3844043542151.45210
Hotels/Motels76—19—12129572931.96287
Residential properties———2—98—100.7595
Land and development205—329—39.3345
Other8097186222593588855.923862
Total nonowner-occupied1,3844941,4861,3211,8953,9281,49111,99979.71,46310,536
Owner-occupied8334285536711,321—3,05020.3952,955
Total$2,217$498$1,771$1,857$1,966$5,249$1,491$15,049100.0%$1,558$13,491
Nonperforming loans$1——$77$20$52$87N/M2$85
Accruing loans past due 90 days or more———2$—11—13N/M$112
Accruing loans past due 30 through 89 days1—$—7—8—16N/M214
West –Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming
Southwest –Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico
Central –Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah
Midwest –Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin
Southeast –Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia
Northeast –Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont
National –Accounts in three or more regions

Consumer loan portfolio

Consumer loans outstanding at December 31, 2020, totaled $29.2 billion, an increase of $2.6 billion, or 9.7%, from one year ago, driven by strength from Laurel Road and Key’s consumer mortgage business. On October 21, 2020, we announced that we would no longer originate indirect auto loans. The current portfolio of approximately $4.6 billion will run off over time.

The home equity portfolio is comprised of loans originated by our Consumer Bank within our 15-state footprint and is the largest segment of our consumer loan portfolio, representing approximately 32% of consumer loans outstanding at year end.

We held the first lien position for approximately 66% of the Consumer Bank home equity portfolio at December 31, 2020, and 61% at December 31, 2019. For loans with real estate collateral, we track borrower performance monthly. Regardless of the lien position, credit metrics are refreshed quarterly, including recent FICO scores as well as original and updated loan-to-value ratios. This information is used in establishing the ALLL. Our methodology is described in Note 1 (“Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”) under the heading “Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses.”

Figure 13. Consumer Loans by State

December 31, 2020Real estate — residential mortgageHome equity loansConsumer direct loansCredit cardsConsumer indirect loansTotal
State
New York$1,164$2,553$593$353$731$5,394
Ohio6981,3754792179573,726
Washington1,8351,30023686203,477
Pennsylvania51614303419856
California286648255525391,780
Texas747241310335
Colorado8283451403061,349
Connecticut91435287251411,519
Oregon720782974141,644
Massachusetts239481035460855
Other2,0241,9362,1801731,9578,270
Total$9,298$9,360$4,714$989$4,844$29,205
December 31, 2019
New York$1,146$2,655$548$404$797$5,550
Ohio6011,4584612478273,594
Washington1,1261,54625210283,034
Connecticut282677189554771,680
Pennsylvania1,02937568261541,652
Oregon517852944821,513
Colorado5444281093421,117
Massachusetts12343471383591,025
California11741213147118825
Texas25748626437810
Other1,2811,3891,5281231,4935,814
Total$7,023$10,274$3,513$1,130$4,674$26,614

Loan sales

As shown in Figure 14, during 2020, we sold $14.1 billion of our loans. Sales of loans classified as held for sale generated net gains of $233 million during 2020.

Figure 14 summarizes our loan sales during 2020 and 2019.

Figure 14. Loans Sold (Including Loans Held for Sale)

in millionsCommercialCommercial Real EstateCommercial Lease FinancingResidential Real EstateConsumer DirectTotal
2020
Fourth quarter$197$2,412$135$1,256—$4,000
Third quarter1631,999671,235$2083,672
Second quarter822,66147925—3,715
First quarter552,02281546—2,704
Total$497$9,094$330$3,962$208$14,091
2019
Fourth quarter$50$3,138$222$559—$3,969
Third quarter2202,600685692473,704
Second quarter1541,86496329—2,443
First quarter3011,53634225—2,096
Total$725$9,138$420$1,682247$12,212

Figure 15 shows loans that are either administered or serviced by us but not recorded on the balance sheet; this includes loans that were sold.

Figure 15. Loans Administered or Serviced

December 31, in millions20202019201820172016
Commercial real estate loans$371,016$347,186$291,158$238,718$218,135
Residential mortgage8,3116,1465,2094,5824,198
Education loans5166257669321,122
Commercial lease financing1,3591,047916862899
Commercial loans684591549488418
Consumer direct1,7112,243———
Total$383,597$357,838$298,598$245,582$224,772

In the event of default by a borrower, we are subject to recourse with respect to approximately $5.8 billion of the $384 billion of loans administered or serviced at December 31, 2020. Additional information about this recourse arrangement is included in Note 22 (“Commitments, Contingent Liabilities, and Guarantees”) under the heading “Recourse agreement with FNMA.”

We derive income from several sources when retaining the right to administer or service loans that are sold. We earn noninterest income (recorded as “Consumer mortgage income” and “Commercial mortgage servicing fees”) from fees for servicing or administering loans. This fee income is reduced by the amortization of related servicing assets. In addition, we earn interest income from investing funds generated by escrow deposits collected in connection with the servicing loans. Additional information about our mortgage servicing assets is included in Note 9 (“Mortgage Servicing Assets”).

Maturities and sensitivity of certain loans to changes in interest rates

Figure 16 shows the remaining maturities of certain commercial and real estate loans, and the sensitivity of those loans to changes in interest rates. At December 31, 2020, approximately 23% of these outstanding loans were scheduled to mature within one year.

Figure 16. Remaining Maturities and Sensitivity of Certain Loans to Changes in Interest Rates

December 31, 2020
in millionsWithin One YearOne - Five YearsOver Five YearsTotal
Commercial and industrial$11,496$34,546$6,866$52,907
Real estate — construction9447263161,987
Total$12,440$35,272$7,182$54,894
Loans with floating or adjustable interest rates (a)$25,476$3,897$29,373
Loans with predetermined interest rates (b)9,7963,28513,081
Total$35,272$7,182$42,454

(a)Floating and adjustable rates vary in relation to other interest rates (such as the base lending rate) or a variable index that may change during the term of the loan.

(b)Predetermined interest rates either are fixed or may change during the term of the loan according to a specific formula or schedule.

Securities

Our securities portfolio totaled $35.2 billion at December 31, 2020, compared to $31.9 billion at December 31, 2019. Available-for-sale securities were $27.6 billion at December 31, 2020, compared to $21.8 billion at December 31, 2019. Held-to-maturity securities were $7.6 billion at December 31, 2020, compared to $10.1 billion at December 31, 2019.

As shown in Figure 17, all of our mortgage-backed securities, which include both securities available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities, are issued by government-sponsored enterprises or GNMA, and are traded in liquid secondary markets. These securities are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value for the available-for-sale portfolio and at cost for the held-to-maturity portfolio. For more information about these securities, see Note 6 (“Fair Value Measurements”) under the heading “Qualitative Disclosures of Valuation Techniques,” and Note 7 (“Securities”).

Figure 17. Mortgage-Backed Securities by Issuer

December 31, in millions20202019
FHLMC$8,782$5,115
FNMA13,21312,308
GNMA12,10914,112
Total (a)$34,104$31,535

(a)Includes securities held in the available-for-sale and held-to-maturity portfolios.

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Securities available for sale

The majority of our securities available-for-sale portfolio consists of Federal Agency CMOs and mortgage-backed securities. CMOs are debt securities secured by a pool of mortgages or mortgage-backed securities. These mortgage securities generate interest income, serve as collateral to support certain pledging agreements, and provide liquidity value under regulatory requirements.

We periodically evaluate our securities available-for-sale portfolio in light of established A/LM objectives, changing market conditions that could affect the profitability of the portfolio, the regulatory environment, and the level of interest rate risk to which we are exposed. These evaluations may cause us to take steps to adjust our overall balance sheet positioning.

In addition, the size and composition of our securities available-for-sale portfolio could vary with our needs for liquidity and the extent to which we are required (or elect) to hold these assets as collateral to secure public funds and trust deposits. Although we generally use debt securities for this purpose, other assets, such as securities purchased under resale agreements or letters of credit, are used occasionally when they provide a lower cost of collateral or more favorable risk profiles.

Our investing activities continue to complement other balance sheet developments and provide for our ongoing liquidity management needs. Our actions to not reinvest the monthly security cash flows at various times served to provide the liquidity necessary to address our funding requirements. These funding requirements included ongoing loan growth and occasional debt maturities. At other times, we may make additional investments that go beyond the replacement of maturities or mortgage security cash flows as our liquidity position and/or interest rate risk management strategies may require. Lastly, our focus on investing in high quality liquid assets, including GNMA-related securities, is related to liquidity management strategies to satisfy regulatory requirements.

Figure 18 shows the composition, TE yields, and remaining maturities of our securities available for sale. For more information about these securities, including gross unrealized gains and losses by type of security and securities pledged, see Note 7 (“Securities”).

Figure 18. Securities Available for Sale

dollars in millionsU.S. Treasury, Agencies, and CorporationsStates and Political SubdivisionsAgency Residential Collateralized Mortgage Obligations**(a)**Agency Residential Mortgage-backed Securities**(a),(b)**Agency Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities**(a)**Other SecuritiesTotalWeighted-Average Yield**(b)**
December 31, 2020
Remaining maturity:
One year or less$1,000$—$883$1—$12$1,8960.63%
After one through five years——10,2572,145$3,489—15,8912.08
After five through ten years——3,133163,81416,9642.84
After ten years———22,803—2,8051.35
Fair value$1,000$—$14,273$2,164$10,106$13$27,556—
Amortized cost1,000—14,0012,0949,707826,8102.09%
Weighted-average yield (b)0.16%—1.78%1.99%2.77%.05%2.09%—
Weighted-average maturity— years— years3.8 years3.6 years7.5 years.7 years4.5 years—
December 31, 2019
Fair value$334$4$12,783$1,714$6,997$11$21,843—
Amortized cost334412,7721,6776,898721,6922.52%

(a)Maturity is based upon expected average lives rather than contractual terms.

(b)Weighted-average yields are calculated based on amortized cost. Such yields have been adjusted to a TE basis using the statutory federal income tax rate in effect that calendar year.

Held-to-maturity securities

Federal Agency CMOs and mortgage-backed securities constitute essentially all of our held-to-maturity securities. The remaining balance comprises asset-back securities and foreign bonds. Figure 19 shows the composition, yields, and remaining maturities of these securities.

Figure 19. Held-to-Maturity Securities

dollars in millionsAgency Residential Collateralized Mortgage Obligations**(a)**Agency Residential Mortgage-backed Securities**(a)**Agency Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities**(a)**Asset-backed securitiesOther SecuritiesTotalWeighted-Average Yield**(b)**
December 31, 2020
Remaining maturity:
One year or less$70——$4$3$772.49%
After one through five years2,903$234$1,77715124,9412.40
After five through ten years802371,738——2,5772.58
After ten years———————
Amortized cost$3,775$271$3,515$19$15$7,5952.46%
Fair value3,8992853,80519158,023—
Weighted-average yield(b)2.11%2.50%2.83%1.72%3.01%2.46%—
Weighted-average maturity3.7 years4.4 years5.0 years2.8 years2.0 years4.3 years—
December 31, 2019
Amortized cost$5,692$409$3,94011$15$10,0672.43%
Fair value5,6664154,009111510,116—

(a)Maturity is based upon expected average lives rather than contractual terms.

(b)Weighted-average yields are calculated based on amortized cost. Such yields have been adjusted to a TE basis using the statutory federal income tax rate in effect that calendar year.

Deposits and other sources of funds

Figure 20. Breakdown of Deposits at December 31, 2020

key-20201231_g40.jpgkey-20201231_g41.jpgDeposits are our primary source of funding. At December 31, 2020, our deposits totaled $135.3 billion, an increase of $23.4 billion, compared to December 31, 2019. The increase in deposits compared to the prior year reflects the impact of PPP and government stimulus programs, in addition to our strategy to acquire and expand client relationships.

Wholesale funds, consisting of short-term borrowings and long-term debt, totaled $14.7 billion at December 31, 2020, compared to $13.5 billion at December 31, 2019. The increase from the prior year reflects our balance sheet optimization strategy.

Figure 21 shows the maturity distribution of time deposits of $100,000 or more.

Figure 21. Maturity Distribution of Time Deposits of $100,000 or More

December 31, 2020Total
in millions
Remaining maturity:
Three months or less$701
After three through six months773
After six through twelve months835
After twelve months424
Total$2,733

Capital

The objective of management of capital is to maintain capital levels consistent with our risk appetite and sufficient in size to operate within a wide range of operating environments. We have identified three primary uses of capital:

1.Investing in our businesses, supporting our clients, and loan growth;

  1. Maintaining or increasing our Common Share dividend; and

  2. Returning capital in the form of Common Share repurchases to our shareholders.

The following sections discuss certain ways we have deployed our capital. For further information, see the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity and Note 24 (“Shareholders' Equity”).

key-20201231_g42.jpgkey-20201231_g43.jpg

(a)Common Share repurchases were suspended during the third quarter of 2015 due to the then pending merger with First Niagara. We resumed our Common Share repurchase program during the third quarter of 2016 upon the completion of the First Niagara merger. Common Share repurchases were suspended during the second, third and fourth quarters of 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dividends

Consistent with our capital plans, the Board declared a quarterly dividend of $.185 per Common Share for each quarter of 2020. These quarterly dividend payments brought our annual dividend to $.74 per Common Share for 2020.

Common Shares outstanding

Our Common Shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbol KEY with 32,099 holders of record at December 31, 2020. Our book value per Common Share was $16.53 based on 975.8 million shares outstanding at December 31, 2020, compared to $15.54 based on 977.2 million shares outstanding at December 31, 2019. At December 31, 2020, our tangible book value per Common Share was $13.61, compared to $12.56 at December 31, 2019.

Figure 35 in the section entitled “Fourth Quarter Results” shows per Common Share earnings and dividends paid by quarter for each of the last two years.

Figure 22 shows activities that caused the change in our outstanding Common Shares over the past two years.

Figure 22. Changes in Common Shares Outstanding

2020 Quarters
in thousands2020FourthThirdSecondFirst2019
Shares outstanding at beginning of period977,189976,205975,947975,319977,1891,019,503
Open market repurchases and return of shares under employee compensation plans(8,974)(1,092)(1)(19)(7,862)(50,247)
Shares issued under employee compensation plans (net of cancellations)7,5586602596475,9927,933
Shares outstanding at end of period975,773975,773976,205975,947975,319977,189

During 2020, Common Shares outstanding decreased by 1.4 million shares due to Common Share repurchases under our 2019 and 2020 capital plans.

At December 31, 2020, we had 280.9 million treasury shares, compared to 279.5 million treasury shares at December 31, 2019. Going forward, we expect to reissue treasury shares as needed in connection with stock-based compensation awards and for other corporate purposes.

Capital adequacy

Capital adequacy is an important indicator of financial stability and performance. All of our capital ratios remained in excess of regulatory requirements at December 31, 2020. Our capital and liquidity levels are intended to position us to weather an adverse operating environment while continuing to serve our clients’ needs, as well as to meet the Regulatory Capital Rules described in the “Supervision and regulation” section of Item 1 of this report. Our shareholders’ equity to assets ratio was 10.56% at December 31, 2020, compared to 11.75% at December 31, 2019. Our tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio was 7.93% at December 31, 2020, compared to 8.64% at December 31, 2019. The new minimum capital and leverage ratios under the Regulatory Capital Rules together with the estimated ratios of KeyCorp at December 31, 2020, calculated on a fully phased-in basis, are set forth under the heading “Basel III” in the “Supervision and Regulation” section in Item 1 of this report.

Figure 23 represents the details of our regulatory capital positions at December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019, under the Regulatory Capital Rules. Information regarding the regulatory capital ratios of KeyCorp’s banking subsidiaries is presented in Note 24 (“Shareholders' Equity”).

Figure 23. Capital Components and Risk-Weighted Assets

December 31, dollars in millions20202019
COMMON EQUITY TIER 1
Key shareholders’ equity (GAAP)$17,981$17,038
Less:Preferred Stock (a)1,8561,856
Add:CECL phase-in (b)375—
Common Equity Tier 1 capital before adjustments and deductions16,50015,182
Less:Goodwill, net of deferred taxes2,5602,584
Intangible assets, net of deferred taxes151207
Deferred tax assets19
Net unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of deferred taxes583115
Accumulated gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, net of deferred taxes460250
Amounts in AOCI attributed to pension and postretirement benefit costs, net of deferred taxes(306)(339)
Total Common Equity Tier 1 capital13,05112,356
TIER 1 CAPITAL
Common Equity Tier 113,05112,356
Additional Tier 1 capital instruments and related surplus1,8561,856
Less:Deductions——
Total Tier 1 capital14,90714,212
TIER 2 CAPITAL
Tier 2 capital instruments and related surplus1,6571,546
Allowance for losses on loans and liability for losses on lending-related commitments (b)1,412978
Less:Deductions——
Total Tier 2 capital3,0692,524
Total risk-based capital$17,976$16,736
RISK-WEIGHTED ASSETS
Risk-weighted assets on balance sheet$103,604$102,441
Risk-weighted off-balance sheet exposure29,24027,303
Market risk-equivalent assets1,3541,121
Gross risk-weighted assets134,198130,865
Less:Excess allowance for loan and lease losses——
Net risk-weighted assets$134,198$130,865
AVERAGE QUARTERLY TOTAL ASSETS$166,771$143,910
CAPITAL RATIOS
Tier 1 risk-based capital11.11%10.86%
Total risk-based capital13.4012.79
Leverage (c)8.949.88
Common Equity Tier 19.739.44

(a)Net of capital surplus.

(b)Amount reflects our decision to adopt the CECL transitional provision.

(c)The ALLL included in Tier 2 capital is limited by regulation to 1.25% of the institution’s standardized total risk-weighted assets (excluding its standardized market risk-weighted assets). The ALLL includes $36 million and $10 million of allowance classified as “discontinued assets” on the balance sheet at December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019, respectively.

(d)This ratio is Tier 1 capital divided by average quarterly total assets as defined by the Federal Reserve less: (i) goodwill, (ii) the disallowed intangible and deferred tax assets, and (iii) other deductions from assets for leverage capital purposes.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations

Off-balance sheet arrangements

We are party to various types of off-balance sheet arrangements, which could lead to contingent liabilities or risks of loss that are not reflected on the balance sheet.

Variable interest entities

In accordance with the applicable accounting guidance for consolidations, we consolidate a VIE if we have: (i) a variable interest in the entity; (ii) the power to direct activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance; and (iii) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE (i.e., we are considered to be the primary beneficiary). Additional information regarding the nature of VIEs and our involvement with them is included in Note 1 (“Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”) under the heading “Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation” and in Note 13 (“Variable Interest Entities”).

Commitments to extend credit or funding

Loan commitments provide for financing on predetermined terms as long as the client continues to meet specified criteria. These commitments generally carry variable rates of interest and have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses. We typically charge a fee for our loan commitments. Since a commitment may expire without resulting in a loan or being fully utilized, the total amount of an outstanding commitment may significantly exceed any related cash outlay. Further information about our loan commitments at December 31, 2020, is presented in Note 22 (“Commitments, Contingent Liabilities, and Guarantees”) under the heading “Commitments to Extend Credit or Funding.” Figure 24 shows the remaining contractual amount of each class of commitment to extend credit or funding. For loan commitments and commercial letters of credit, this amount represents our maximum possible accounting loss on the unused commitment if the borrower were to draw upon the full amount of the commitment and subsequently default on payment for the total amount of the then outstanding loan.

Other off-balance sheet arrangements

Other off-balance sheet arrangements include financial instruments that do not meet the definition of a guarantee in accordance with the applicable accounting guidance, and other relationships, such as liquidity support provided to asset-backed commercial paper conduits, indemnification agreements and intercompany guarantees. Information about such arrangements is provided in Note 22 under the heading “Other Off-Balance Sheet Risk.”

Contractual obligations

Figure 24 summarizes our significant contractual obligations, and lending-related and other off-balance sheet commitments at December 31, 2020, by the specific time periods in which related payments are due or commitments expire.

Figure 24. Contractual Obligations and Other Off-Balance Sheet Commitments

December 31, 2020Within 1 yearAfter 1 through 3 yearsAfter 3 through 5 yearsAfter 5 yearsTotal
in millions
Contractual obligations:(a)
Deposits with no stated maturity$129,539———$129,539
Time deposits of $100,000 or more2,309$378$38$82,733
Other time deposits2,38252791103,010
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements220———220
Bank notes and other short-term borrowings759———759
Long-term debt2,5873,6342,4355,05313,709
Noncancellable operating leases143252178236809
Liability for unrecognized tax benefits58———58
Purchase obligations (b)213277705565
Total$138,210$5,068$2,812$5,312$151,402
Lending-related and other off-balance sheet commitments:
Commercial, including real estate$17,903$19,650$11,719$885$50,157
Home equity4905106137,6869,299
Credit cards6,685———6,685
Purchase cards708———708
Commercial letters of credit6176—74
Principal investing commitments115——16
Tax credit investment commitments487———487
Total$26,345$20,171$12,338$8,571$67,426

(a)Deposits and borrowings exclude interest.

(b)Includes purchase obligations for goods and services covered by noncancellable contracts and contracts including cancellation fees.

Guarantees

We are a guarantor in various agreements with third parties. As guarantor, we may be contingently liable to make payments to the guaranteed party based on changes in a specified interest rate, foreign exchange rate or other variable (including the occurrence or nonoccurrence of a specified event). These variables, known as underlyings, may be related to an asset or liability, or another entity’s failure to perform under a contract. Additional information regarding these types of arrangements is presented in Note 22 (“Commitments, Contingent Liabilities, and Guarantees”) under the heading “Guarantees.”

Risk Management

Overview

Like all financial services companies, we engage in business activities and assume the related risks. The most significant risks we face are credit, compliance, operational, liquidity, market, reputation, strategic, and model risks. Our risk management activities are shown in the following chart, and we manage such risks across the entire enterprise to maintain safety and soundness and maximize profitability. Certain of these risks are defined and discussed in greater detail in the remainder of this section.

key-20201231_g44.jpg

Federal banking regulators continue to emphasize with financial institutions the importance of relating capital management strategy to the level of risk at each institution. We believe our internal risk management processes help us achieve and maintain capital levels that are commensurate with our business activities and risks, and conform to regulatory expectations. The table below depicts our risk management hierarchy and associated responsibilities and activities of each group.

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GroupOverview and ResponsibilitiesActivities
Board of Directors–Oversight capacity –Ensure Key’s risks are managed in a manner that is not only effective and balanced, but also has a fiduciary duty to the shareholders–Understands Key's risk philosophy –Approves the risk appetite –Inquires about risk practices –Reviews the portfolio of risks –Compares the actual risks to the risk appetite –Is apprised of significant risks, both actual and emerging, and determines whether management is responding appropriately –Challenges management and ensures accountability
Board of Directors Audit Committee (a)–Oversight of financial statement integrity, regulatory and legal requirements, independent auditors’ qualifications and independence, and the performance of the internal audit function and independent auditors –Financial reporting, legal matters, and fraud risk–Meets with management and approves significant policies relating to the risk areas overseen by the Audit Committee –Receives reports on enterprise risk –Meets bi-monthly –Convenes to discuss the content of our financial disclosures and quarterly earnings releases
Board of Directors Risk Committee (a)–Assist the Board in oversight of strategies, policies, procedures, and practices relating to the assessment and management of enterprise-wide risk, including credit, market, liquidity, model, operational, compliance, reputation, and strategic risks –Assist the Board in overseeing risks related to capital adequacy, capital planning, and capital actions–Reviews and provides oversight of management’s activities related to the enterprise-wide risk management framework, which includes an annual review of the ERM Policy, including the Risk Appetite Statement, and management and ERM reports –Approves any material changes to the charter of the ERM Committee and significant policies relating to risk management, including corporate risk tolerances for major risk categories
ERM Committee–Chaired by the Chief Executive Officer and comprising other senior level executives –Manage risk and ensure that the corporate risk profile is managed in a manner consistent with our risk appetite –Oversees the ERM Program, which encompasses our risk philosophy, policy, framework, and governance structure for the management of risks across the entire company–Approves and manages the risk-adjusted capital framework we use to manage risks
Disclosure Committee–Includes representatives from each of the Three Lines of Defense –Meets quarterly to review recent internal and external events to determine whether all appropriate disclosures have been made in reports filed with the SEC–Convenes quarterly to discuss the content of our 10-Q and 10-K
Tier 2 Risk Governance Committees–Include attendees from each of the Three Lines of Defense –The First Line of Defense is the line of business primarily responsible to accept, own, proactively identify, monitor, and manage risk –The Second Line of Defense comprises Risk Management representatives who provide independent, centralized oversight over all risk categories by aggregating, analyzing, and reporting risk information –Risk Review, our internal audit function, provides the Third Line of Defense. Its role is to provide independent assessment and testing of the effectiveness of, appropriateness of, and adherence to KeyCorp’s risk management policies, practices, and controls–Supports the ERM Committee by identifying early warning events and trends, escalating emerging risks, and discussing forward-looking assessments
Chief Risk Officer–Ensure that relevant risk information is properly integrated into strategic and business decisions –Ensure appropriate ownership of risks–Provides input into performance and compensation decisions –Assesses aggregate enterprise risk –Monitors capabilities to manage critical risks –Executes appropriate Board and stakeholder reporting

–The Audit and Risk Committees meet jointly, as appropriate, to discuss matters that relate to each committee’s responsibilities. Committee chairpersons routinely meet with management during interim months to plan agendas for upcoming meetings and to discuss emerging trends and events that have transpired since the preceding meeting. All members of the Board receive formal reports designed to keep them abreast of significant developments during the interim months.

Market risk management

Market risk is the risk that movements in market risk factors, including interest rates, foreign exchange rates, equity prices, commodity prices, credit spreads, and volatilities will reduce Key’s income and the value of its portfolios. These factors influence prospective yields, values, or prices associated with the instrument. We are exposed to market risk both in our trading and nontrading activities, which include asset and liability management activities. Information regarding our fair value policies, procedures, and methodologies is provided in Note 1 (“Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”) under the heading “Fair Value Measurements” and Note 6 (“Fair Value Measurements”) in this report.

Trading market risk

Key incurs market risk as a result of trading activities that are used in support of client facilitation and hedging activities, principally within our investment banking and capital markets businesses. Key has exposures to a wide range of risk factors including interest rates, equity prices, foreign exchange rates, credit spreads, and commodity prices, as well as the associated implied volatilities and spreads. Our primary market risk exposures are a result of trading and hedging activities in the derivative and fixed income markets, including securitization exposures. At December 31, 2020, we did not have any re-securitization positions. We maintain modest trading inventories to facilitate customer flow, make markets in securities, and hedge certain risks including but not limited to credit risk and interest rate risk. The risks associated with these activities are mitigated in accordance with the Market Risk hedging policy. The majority of our positions are traded in active markets.

Management of trading market risks. Market risk management is an integral part of Key’s risk culture. The Risk Committee of our Board provides oversight of trading market risks. The ERM Committee and the Market Risk Committee regularly review and discuss market risk reports prepared by our MRM that contain our market risk exposures and results of monitoring activities. Market risk policies and procedures have been defined and approved by the Market Risk Committee, a Tier 2 Risk Governance Committee, and take into account our tolerance for risk and consideration for the business environment.

The MRM, as the second line of defense, is an independent risk management function that partners with the lines of business to identify, measure, and monitor market risks throughout our company. The MRM is responsible for ensuring transparency of significant market risks, monitoring compliance with established limits, and escalating limit exceptions to appropriate senior management. The various business units and trading desks are responsible for ensuring that market risk exposures are well-managed and prudent. Market risk is monitored through various measures, such as VaR, and through routine stress testing, sensitivity, and scenario analyses. The MRM conducts stress tests for each position using historical worst case and standard shock scenarios. VaR, stressed VaR, and other analyses are prepared daily and distributed to appropriate management.

Covered positions. We monitor the market risk of our covered positions as defined in the Market Risk Rule, which includes all of our trading positions as well as all foreign exchange and commodity positions, regardless of whether the position is in a trading account. Key’s covered positions may also include mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities that may be identified as securitization positions or re-securitization positions under the Market Risk Rule. The MRM as well as the LOB that trades securitization positions monitor the positions, the portfolio composition and the risks identified in this section on a daily basis consistent with the Market Risk policies and procedures. At December 31, 2020, covered positions did not include any re-securitization positions. Instruments that are used to hedge nontrading activities, such as bank-issued debt and loan portfolios, equity positions that are not actively traded, and securities financing activities, do not meet the definition of a covered position. The MRM is responsible for identifying our portfolios as either covered or non-covered. The Covered Position Working Group develops the final list of covered positions, and a summary is provided to the Market Risk Committee.

Our significant portfolios of covered positions are detailed below. We analyze market risk by portfolios of covered positions and do not separately measure and monitor our portfolios by risk type. The descriptions below incorporate the respective risk types associated with each of these portfolios.

  • Fixed income includes those instruments associated with our capital markets business and the trading of securities as a dealer. These instruments may include positions in municipal bonds, bonds backed by the U.S. government, agency and corporate bonds, certain mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, securities issued by the U.S. Treasury, money markets, and certain CMOs. The activities and instruments within the fixed income portfolio create exposures to interest rate and credit spread risks.

  • Interest rate derivatives include interest rate swaps, caps, and floors, which are transacted primarily to accommodate the needs of commercial loan clients. In addition, we enter into interest rate derivatives to offset or mitigate the interest rate risk related to the client positions. The activities within this portfolio create exposures to interest rate risk.

VaR and stressed VaR. VaR is the estimate of the maximum amount of loss on an instrument or portfolio due to adverse market conditions during a given time interval within a stated confidence level. Stressed VaR is used to assess extreme conditions on market risk within our trading portfolios. The MRM calculates VaR and stressed VaR on a daily basis, and the results are distributed to appropriate management. VaR and stressed VaR results are also provided to our regulators and utilized in regulatory capital calculations.

We use a historical simulation VaR model to measure the potential adverse effect of changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, equity prices, and credit spreads on the fair value of our covered positions and other non-covered positions. Historical scenarios are customized for specific positions, and numerous risk factors are incorporated in the calculation. Additional consideration is given to the risk factors to estimate the exposures that contain optionality features, such as options and cancelable provisions. VaR is calculated using daily observations over a one-year time horizon, and approximates a 95% confidence level. Statistically, this means that we would expect to incur losses greater than VaR, on average, five out of 100 trading days, or three to four times each quarter. We also calculate VaR and stressed VaR at a 99% confidence level.

The VaR model is an effective tool in estimating ranges of possible gains and losses on our positions. However, there are limitations inherent in the VaR model since it uses historical results over a given time interval to estimate future performance. Historical results may not be indicative of future results, and changes in the market or composition of our portfolios could have a significant impact on the accuracy of the VaR model. We regularly review and enhance the modeling techniques, inputs, and assumptions used. Our market risk policy includes the independent validation of our VaR model by Key’s internal model validation group on an annual basis. The Model Risk Committee oversees the Model Validation Program, and results of validations are discussed with the ERM Committee.

Actual losses for the total covered positions did not exceed aggregate daily VaR on any day during the quarters ended December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019. The MRM backtests our VaR model on a daily basis to evaluate its predictive power. The test compares VaR model results at the 99% confidence level to daily held profit and loss. Results of backtesting are provided to the Market Risk Committee. Backtesting exceptions occur when trading losses exceed VaR. We do not engage in correlation trading or utilize the internal model approach for measuring default and credit migration risk. Our net VaR approach incorporates diversification, but our VaR calculation does not include the impact of counterparty risk and our own credit spreads on derivatives.

The aggregate VaR at the 99% confidence level with a one day holding period for all covered positions was $2.8 million at December 31, 2020, and $.9 million at December 31, 2019. Figure 25 summarizes our VaR at the 99% confidence level with a one day holding period for significant portfolios of covered positions for the three months ended December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019.

Figure 25. VaR for Significant Portfolios of Covered Positions

20202019
Three months ended December 31,Three months ended December 31,
in millionsHighLowMeanDecember 31,HighLowMeanDecember 31,
Trading account assets:
Fixed income$2.9$1.4$2.1$2.1$1.2$.6$.9$.8
Derivatives:
Interest rate$1.0.2$.5$.5$.1.1$.1$.1

Stressed VaR is calculated by running the portfolios through a predetermined stress period which is approved by the Market Risk Committee and is calculated at the 99% confidence level using the same model and assumptions used for general VaR. The aggregate stressed VaR for all covered positions was $2.8 million at December 31, 2020, and $5.1 million at December 31, 2019. Figure 26 summarizes our stressed VaR at the 99% confidence level with a one day holding period for significant portfolios of covered positions for the three months ended December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019.

Figure 26. Stressed VaR for Significant Portfolios of Covered Positions

20202019
Three months ended December 31,Three months ended December 31,
in millionsHighLowMeanDecember 31,HighLowMeanDecember 31,
Trading account assets:
Fixed income$2.9$1.4$2.1$2.1$5.7$3.2$4.5$4.3
Derivatives:
Interest rate$.9$.2$.5$.5$1.2$.2$.4$.7

Internal capital adequacy assessment. Market risk is a component of our internal capital adequacy assessment. Our risk-weighted assets include a market risk-equivalent asset amount, which consists of a VaR component, stressed VaR component, a de minimis exposure amount, and a specific risk add-on including the securitization positions. We had no securitization positions as defined by the Market Risk Rule at December 31, 2020. Specific risk is the price risk of individual financial instruments, which is not accounted for by changes in broad market risk factors and is measured through a standardized approach. Market risk weighted assets, including the specific risk calculations, are run quarterly by the MRM in accordance with the Market Risk Rule and approved by the Chief Market Risk Officer.

Nontrading market risk

Most of our nontrading market risk is derived from interest rate fluctuations and its impacts on our traditional loan and deposit products, as well as investments, hedging relationships, long-term debt, and certain short-term borrowings. Interest rate risk, which is inherent in the banking industry, is measured by the potential for fluctuations in net interest income and the EVE. Such fluctuations may result from changes in interest rates and differences in the repricing and maturity characteristics of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. We manage the exposure to changes in net interest income and the EVE in accordance with our risk appetite and in accordance with the Board approved ERM policy.

Interest rate risk positions are influenced by a number of factors, including the balance sheet positioning that arises out of customer preferences for loan and deposit products, economic conditions, the competitive environment within our markets, changes in market interest rates that affect client activity, and our hedging, investing, funding, and capital positions. The primary components of interest rate risk exposure consist of reprice risk, basis risk, yield curve risk, and option risk.

  • “Reprice risk****”** is the exposure to changes in the level of interest rates and occurs when the volume of interest-bearing liabilities and the volume of interest-earning assets they fund (e.g., deposits used to fund loans) do not mature or reprice at the same time.

  • “Basis risk”** is the exposure to asymmetrical changes in interest rate indexes and occurs when floating-rate assets and floating-rate liabilities reprice at the same time, but in response to different market factors or indexes.

  • “Yield curve risk”** is the exposure to non-parallel changes in the slope of the yield curve (where the yield curve depicts the relationship between the yield on a particular type of security and its term to maturity) and occurs when interest-bearing liabilities and the interest-earning assets that they fund do not price or reprice to the same term point on the yield curve.

  • “Option risk”** is the exposure to a customer or counterparty’s ability to take advantage of the interest rate environment and terminate or reprice one of our assets, liabilities, or off-balance sheet instruments prior to contractual maturity without a penalty. Option risk occurs when exposures to customer and counterparty early withdrawals or prepayments are not mitigated with an offsetting position or appropriate compensation.

The management of nontrading market risk is centralized within Corporate Treasury. The Risk Committee of our Board provides oversight of nontrading market risk. The ERM Committee and the ALCO review reports on the interest rate risk exposures described above. In addition, the ALCO reviews reports on stress tests and sensitivity analyses related to interest rate risk. These committees have various responsibilities related to managing nontrading market risk, including recommending, approving, and monitoring strategies that maintain risk positions within approved tolerance ranges. The A/LM policy provides the framework for the oversight and management of interest rate risk and is administered by the ALCO. The MRM, as the second line of defense, provides additional oversight.

LIBOR Transition

As disclosed in Item 1A. Risk Factors of this report, LIBOR in its current form is not expected to be available after 2021 for new contracts and to cease publishing all tenors entirely after June 30, 2023. For most products, the most likely replacement rate is expected to be SOFR, which has been recommended by the ARRC, although uncertainty remains as to whether new benchmarks may evolve and a different credit sensitive benchmark could instead become the market-accepted benchmark. The Federal Reserve and the OCC have encouraged financial institutions not to wait for the end of 2021 to make the transition away from LIBOR. We have established an enterprise wide program to identify and address all LIBOR transition issues. We are collaborating closely with regulators and

industry groups on the transition and closely monitoring developments in industry practices related to LIBOR alternatives. The goals of our LIBOR transition program are to:

  • Identify and analyze LIBOR-based exposure and develop and execute transition strategies;

  • Review and update near-term strategies and actions for our current LIBOR-based business currently being written;

  • Assess financial impact and risk while planning and executing mitigation actions;

  • Understand and strategically address the current market approach to LIBOR and SOFR; and

  • Determine and execute system and process work to be operationally ready for SOFR or additional credit sensitive benchmarks.

As part of the LIBOR transition program, we completed an initial risk assessment to help us identify the impact and risks associated with various products, systems, processes, and models. This risk assessment has assisted us in making necessary updates to our infrastructure and operational systems and processes to implement a replacement rate, and we are progressing on schedule to be operationally ready for SOFR. We have compiled an inventory of existing legal contracts that are impacted by the LIBOR transition. We are assessing the LIBOR fallback language in those contracts and are devising a strategy to address the LIBOR transition for those contracts. We have also focused on refining LIBOR fallback language in new legal contracts including requiring the use of robust fallback language. Our progress is well-paced, especially as it is likely many of the legacy contracts will be provided additional time to remediate due to recent announcements by the ICE Benchmark Administration, the FCA-regulated and authorized administrator of LIBOR, that certain LIBOR tenors may continue until June 2023 for legacy contract purposes. We expect to leverage recommendations made by the ARRC and ISDA that are tailored to our specific client segments.

Net interest income simulation analysis. The primary tool we use to measure our interest rate risk is simulation analysis. For purposes of this analysis, we estimate our net interest income based on the current and projected composition of our on- and off-balance sheet positions, accounting for recent and anticipated trends in customer activity. The analysis also incorporates assumptions for the current and projected interest rate environments and balance sheet growth projections based on a most likely macroeconomic view. The modeling incorporates investment portfolio and swap portfolio balances consistent with management's desired interest rate risk positioning. The simulation model estimates the amount of net interest income at risk by simulating the change in net interest income that would occur if rates were to gradually increase or decrease over the next 12 months (subject to a floor on market interest rates at zero).

Figure 27 presents the results of the simulation analysis at December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019. At December 31, 2020, our simulated impact to changes in interest rates was modest. Exposure to declining rates

remains nominal given the low level of market rates in comparison to the floor utilized in the scenario. Exposure to

rising rates has changed from a detriment in 2019 to a benefit currently as the lower actual market rates reduce the

need for additional modeled hedges and lower the projected deposit pricing beta to rising rates. Tolerance levels for risk management require the development of remediation plans to maintain residual risk within tolerance if simulation modeling demonstrates that a gradual, parallel 200 basis point increase or 200 basis point decrease in interest rates over the next 12 months would adversely affect net interest income over the same period by more than 5.5%. Current modeled exposure is within Board approved tolerances.

Figure 27. Simulated Change in Net Interest Income

December 31, 2020December 31, 2019
Basis point change assumption (short-term rates)-200+200-150+200
Assumed floor in market rates (in basis points)—N/A25N/A
Tolerance level-5.50%-5.50%-5.50%-5.50%
Interest rate risk assessment-2.52%4.98%-2.47%-1.45%

Simulation analysis produces a sophisticated estimate of interest rate exposure based on assumptions input into the model. We tailor certain assumptions to the specific interest rate environment and yield curve shape being modeled and validate those assumptions on a regular basis. However, actual results may differ from those derived in simulation analysis due to unanticipated changes to the balance sheet composition, customer behavior, product pricing, market interest rates, changes in management’s desired interest rate risk positioning, investment, funding and hedging activities, and repercussions from unanticipated or unknown events.

We also perform regular stress tests and sensitivity analyses on the model inputs that could materially change the resulting risk assessments. Assessments are performed using different shapes of the yield curve, including

steepening or flattening of the yield curve, immediate changes in market interest rates, and changes in the relationship of money market interest rates. Assessments are also performed on changes to the following assumptions: loan and deposit balances, the pricing of deposits without contractual maturities, changes in lending spreads, prepayments on loans and securities, investment, funding and hedging activities, and liquidity and capital management strategies.

The results of additional assessments indicate that net interest income could increase or decrease from the base simulation results presented in Figure 27. Net interest income is highly dependent on the timing, magnitude, frequency, and path of interest rate changes and the associated assumptions for deposit repricing relationships, lending spreads, and the balance behavior of transaction accounts. If fixed rate assets increase by $1 billion, or fixed rate liabilities decrease by $1 billion, then the benefit to rising rates would decrease by approximately 25 basis points. If the interest-bearing liquid deposit beta assumption increases or decreases by 5% (e.g., 40% to 45%), then the benefit to rising rates would decrease or increase by approximately 120 basis points.

Our current interest rate risk position could fluctuate to higher or lower levels of risk depending on the competitive environment and client behavior that may affect the actual volume, mix, maturity, and repricing characteristics of loan and deposit flows. Corporate Treasury discretionary activities related to funding, investing, and hedging may also change as a result of changes in customer business flows or changes in management’s desired interest rate risk positioning. As changes occur to both the configuration of the balance sheet and the outlook for the economy, management proactively evaluates hedging opportunities that may change our interest rate risk profile.

We also conduct simulations that measure the effect of changes in market interest rates in the second and third years of a three-year horizon. These simulations are conducted in a manner similar to those based on a 12-month horizon. To capture longer-term exposures, we calculate exposures to changes of the EVE as discussed in the following section.

Economic value of equity modeling. EVE complements net interest income simulation analysis as it estimates risk exposure beyond 12-, 24-, and 36-month horizons. EVE modeling measures the extent to which the economic values of assets, liabilities, and off-balance sheet instruments may change in response to fluctuations in interest rates. EVE is calculated by subjecting the balance sheet to an immediate 200 basis point increase or decrease in interest rates, measuring the resulting change in the values of assets, liabilities, and off-balance sheet instruments, and comparing those amounts with the base case of the current interest rate environment. This analysis is highly dependent upon assumptions applied to assets and liabilities with non-contractual maturities. Those assumptions are based on historical behaviors, as well as our expectations. We develop remediation plans that would maintain residual risk within tolerance if this analysis indicates that our EVE will decrease by more than 15% in response to an immediate increase or decrease in interest rates. We are operating within these guidelines as of December 31, 2020.

Management of interest rate exposure. We use the results of our various interest rate risk analyses to formulate A/LM strategies to achieve the desired risk profile while managing to our objectives for capital adequacy and liquidity risk exposures. Specifically, we manage interest rate risk positions by purchasing securities, issuing term debt with floating or fixed interest rates, and using derivatives. We predominantly use interest rate swaps and options, which modify the interest rate characteristics of certain assets and liabilities.

Figure 28 shows all derivative positions that we hold for A/LM purposes. The swap positions are used to convert the contractual interest rate index of agreed-upon amounts of assets and liabilities (i.e., notional amounts) to another interest rate index. For example, fixed-rate debt is converted to a floating rate through a “receive fixed/pay variable” interest rate swap. The volume, maturity, and mix of portfolio swaps change frequently as we adjust our broader A/LM objectives and the balance sheet positions to be hedged. For more information about how we use interest rate swaps to manage our risk profile, see Note 8 (“Derivatives and Hedging Activities”).

Figure 28. Portfolio Swaps and Options by Interest Rate Risk Management Strategy

December 31, 2020
Weighted-AverageDecember 31, 2019
dollars in millionsNotional AmountFair ValueMaturity (Years)Receive RatePay RateNotional AmountFair Value
Receive fixed/pay variable — conventional A/LM (a)$21,035$6322.41.8%.2%$19,270$312
Receive fixed/pay variable — conventional debt7,7874153.82.1.18,189240
Receive fixed/pay variable — forward A/LM—————3,40032
Pay fixed/receive variable — conventional debt50(11)7.5.23.650(7)
Pay fixed/receive variable — forward securities2,0802111.2.31.0——
Total portfolio swaps$30,952$1,057(c)3.41.8%.2%$30,909$577(c)
Floors — conventional A/LM — purchased (b)$5,000$17.8——$4,200149
Floors — conventional A/LM — sold (b)—————3,900(15)
Total floors$5,000$171.0——$8,100134

(a)Portfolio swaps designated as A/LM are used to manage interest rate risk tied to both assets and liabilities.

(b)Conventional A/LM floors do not have a stated receive rate or pay rate and are given a strike price on the option.

(c)Excludes accrued interest of $145 million and $543 million at December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019, respectively.

Liquidity risk management

Liquidity risk, which is inherent in the banking industry, is measured by our ability to accommodate liability maturities and deposit withdrawals, meet contractual obligations, and fund new business opportunities at a reasonable cost, in a timely manner, and without adverse consequences. Liquidity management involves maintaining sufficient and diverse sources of funding to accommodate planned, as well as unanticipated, changes in assets and liabilities under both normal and adverse conditions.

Governance structure

We manage liquidity for all of our affiliates on an integrated basis. This approach considers the unique funding sources available to each entity, as well as each entity’s capacity to manage through adverse conditions. The approach also recognizes that adverse market conditions or other events that could negatively affect the availability or cost of liquidity will affect the access of all affiliates to sufficient wholesale funding.

The management of consolidated liquidity risk is centralized within Corporate Treasury. Oversight and governance is provided by the Board, the ERM Committee, the ALCO, and the Chief Risk Officer. The Asset Liability Management Policy provides the framework for the oversight and management of liquidity risk and is administered by the ALCO. The Corporate Treasury Oversight group within the MRM, as the second line of defense, provides additional oversight. Our current liquidity risk management practices are in compliance with the Federal Reserve Board’s Enhanced Prudential Standards.

These committees regularly review liquidity and funding summaries, liquidity trends, peer comparisons, variance analyses, liquidity projections, hypothetical funding erosion stress tests, and goal tracking reports. The reviews generate a discussion of positions, trends, and directives on liquidity risk and shape a number of our decisions. When liquidity pressure is elevated, positions are monitored more closely and reporting is more intensive. To ensure that emerging issues are identified, we also communicate with individuals inside and outside of the company on a daily basis.

Factors affecting liquidity

Our liquidity could be adversely affected by both direct and indirect events. An example of a direct event would be a downgrade in our public credit ratings by a rating agency. Examples of indirect events (events unrelated to us) that could impair our access to liquidity would be an act of terrorism or war, natural disasters, global pandemics (including COVID-19), political events, or the default or bankruptcy of a major corporation, mutual fund or hedge fund. Similarly, market speculation, or rumors about us or the banking industry in general, may adversely affect the cost and availability of normal funding sources.

Our credit ratings at December 31, 2020, are shown in Figure 29 . We believe these credit ratings, under normal conditions in the capital markets, will enable KeyCorp or KeyBank to issue fixed income securities to investors.

Figure 29. Credit Ratings

December 31, 2020Short-Term BorrowingsLong-Term Deposits**(a)**Senior Long-Term DebtSubordinated Long-Term DebtCapital SecuritiesPreferred Stock
KEYCORP (THE PARENT COMPANY)
Standard & Poor’sA-2N/ABBB+BBBBB+BB+
Moody’sP-2N/ABaa1Baa1Baa2Baa3
FitchF1N/AA-BBB+BB+BB+
DBRSR-1(low)N/AAA (low)A (low)BBB
KEYBANK
Standard & Poor’sA-2N/AA-BBB+N/AN/A
Moody’sP-2P-1/Aa3A3Baa1N/AN/A
FitchF1AA-BBB+N/AN/A
DBRSR-1(middle)A (high)A (high)AN/AN/A

(a)P-1 rating assigned by Moody’s is specific to KeyBank’s short-term bank deposit ratings.

Managing liquidity risk

Most of our liquidity risk is derived from our business model, which involves taking in deposits, many of which can be withdrawn at anytime, and lending them out in the form of illiquid loan assets. The assessments of liquidity risk are measured under the assumption of normal operating conditions as well as under a stressed environment. We manage these exposures in accordance with our risk appetite, and within Board-approved policy limits.

We regularly monitor our liquidity position and funding sources and measure our capacity to obtain funds in a variety of hypothetical scenarios in an effort to maintain an appropriate mix of available and affordable funding. In the normal course of business, we perform a monthly hypothetical funding erosion stress test for both KeyCorp and KeyBank. In a “heightened monitoring mode,” we may conduct the hypothetical funding erosion stress tests more frequently, and use assumptions to reflect the changed market environment. Our testing incorporates estimates for loan and deposit lives based on our historical studies. Erosion stress tests analyze potential liquidity scenarios under various funding constraints and time periods. Ultimately, they determine the periodic effects that major direct and indirect events would have on our access to funding markets and our ability to fund our normal operations. To compensate for the effect of these assumed liquidity pressures, we consider alternative sources of liquidity and maturities over different time periods to project how funding needs would be managed.

We maintain a Contingency Funding Plan that outlines the process for addressing a liquidity crisis. The plan provides for an evaluation of funding sources under various market conditions. It also assigns specific roles and responsibilities for managing liquidity through a problem period. As part of the plan, we maintain on-balance sheet liquid reserves referred to as our liquid asset portfolio, which consists of high quality liquid assets. During a problem period, that reserve could be used as a source of funding to provide time to develop and execute a longer-term strategy. The liquid asset portfolio at December 31, 2020, totaled $36.6 billion, consisting of $21.1 billion of unpledged securities, $66.9 million of securities available for secured funding at the FHLB, and $15.4 billion of net balances of federal funds sold and balances in our Federal Reserve account. The liquid asset portfolio can fluctuate due to excess liquidity, heightened risk, or prefunding of expected outflows, such as debt maturities. Additionally, as of December 31, 2020, our unused borrowing capacity secured by loan collateral was $22.6 billion at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and $8.4 billion at the FHLB of Cincinnati. In 2020, Key’s outstanding FHLB of Cincinnati advances increased by $0.5 billion due to an increase in borrowings.

Long-term liquidity strategy

Our long-term liquidity strategy is to be predominantly funded by core deposits. However, we may use wholesale funds to sustain an adequate liquid asset portfolio, meet daily cash demands, and allow management flexibility to execute business initiatives. Key’s client-based relationship strategy provides for a strong core deposit base that, in conjunction with intermediate and long-term wholesale funds managed to a diversified maturity structure and investor base, supports our liquidity risk management strategy. We use the loan-to-deposit ratio as a metric to monitor these strategies. Our target loan-to-deposit ratio is 90-100% (at December 31, 2020, our loan-to-deposit ratio was 76.5%), which we calculate as the sum of total loans, loans held for sale, and nonsecuritized discontinued loans divided by deposits.

Sources of liquidity

Our primary sources of liquidity include customer deposits, wholesale funding, and liquid assets. If the cash flows needed to support operating and investing activities are not satisfied by deposit balances, we rely on wholesale funding or on-balance sheet liquid reserves. Conversely, excess cash generated by operating, investing, and deposit-gathering activities may be used to repay outstanding debt or invest in liquid assets.

Liquidity programs

We have several liquidity programs, which are described in Note 20 (“Long-Term Debt”), that are designed to enable KeyCorp and KeyBank to raise funds in the public and private debt markets. The proceeds from most of these programs can be used for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions. These liquidity programs are reviewed from time to time by the Board and are renewed and replaced as necessary. There are no restrictive financial covenants in any of these programs.

On March 10, 2020, KeyBank issued $700 million of 1.25% Senior Bank Notes due March 10, 2023. On December 16, 2020, KeyBank issued $750 million of Fixed-to-Floating Rate Senior Bank Notes due January 3, 2024, and $350 million of Floating Rate Senior Bank Notes due January 3, 2024.

Liquidity for KeyCorp

The primary source of liquidity for KeyCorp is from subsidiary dividends, primarily from KeyBank. KeyCorp has sufficient liquidity when it can service its debt; support customary corporate operations and activities (including acquisitions); support occasional guarantees of subsidiaries’ obligations in transactions with third parties at a reasonable cost, in a timely manner, and without adverse consequences; and fund capital distributions in the form of dividends and share buybacks.

We use a parent cash coverage months metric as the primary measure to assess parent company liquidity. The parent cash coverage months metric measures the number of months into the future where projected obligations can be met with the current quantity of liquidity. We generally issue term debt to supplement dividends from KeyBank to manage our liquidity position at or above our targeted levels. The parent company generally maintains cash and short-term investments in an amount sufficient to meet projected debt maturities over at least the next 24 months. At December 31, 2020, KeyCorp held $3.8 billion in cash, which we projected to be sufficient to meet our projected obligations, including the repayment of our maturing debt obligations for the periods prescribed by our risk tolerance.

Typically, KeyCorp meets its liquidity requirements through regular dividends from KeyBank, supplemented with term debt. Federal banking law limits the amount of capital distributions that a bank can make to its holding company without prior regulatory approval. A national bank’s dividend-paying capacity is affected by several factors, including net profits (as defined by statute) for the two previous calendar years and for the current year, up to the date of dividend declaration. During 2020, KeyBank paid $1.25 billion in cash dividends to KeyCorp. At January 1, 2021, KeyBank had regulatory capacity to pay $720 million in dividends to KeyCorp without prior regulatory approval.

On February 6, 2020, KeyCorp issued $800 million of 2.250% Senior Notes due April 6, 2027, under its Medium-Term Note Program.

Our liquidity position and recent activity

Over the past 12 months, our liquid asset portfolio, which includes overnight and short-term investments, as well as unencumbered, high quality liquid securities held as protection against a range of potential liquidity stress scenarios, has increased as a result of an increase in balances held at the Federal Reserve, partially offset by a decrease in unpledged securities. The liquid asset portfolio continues to exceed the amount that we estimate would be necessary to manage through an adverse liquidity event by providing sufficient time to develop and execute a longer-term solution.

From time to time, KeyCorp or KeyBank may seek to retire, repurchase, or exchange outstanding debt, capital securities, preferred shares, or Common Shares through cash purchase, privately negotiated transactions or other means. Additional information on repurchases of Common Shares by KeyCorp is included in Part II, Item 5. Market

for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities of this report. Such transactions depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity and capital requirements, contractual restrictions, regulatory requirements, and other factors. The amounts involved may be material, individually or collectively.

The Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows summarize our sources and uses of cash by type of activity for the years ended December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019.

Credit risk management

Credit risk is the risk of loss arising from an obligor’s inability or failure to meet contractual payment or performance terms. Like other financial services institutions, we make loans, extend credit, purchase securities, provide financial and payments products, and enter into financial derivative contracts, all of which have related credit risk.

Credit policy, approval, and evaluation

We manage credit risk exposure through a multifaceted program. The Credit Risk Committee approves management credit policies and recommends significant credit policies to the Enterprise Risk Management Committee, the KeyBank Board, and the Risk Committee of the Board for approval. These policies are communicated throughout the organization to foster a consistent approach to granting credit.

Our credit risk management team and certain individuals within our lines of business, to whom credit risk management has delegated limited credit authority, are responsible for credit approval. Individuals with assigned credit authority are authorized to grant exceptions to credit policies. It is not unusual to make exceptions to established policies when mitigating circumstances dictate, however, a corporate level tolerance has been established to keep exceptions at an acceptable level based upon portfolio and economic considerations.

Our credit risk management team uses risk models to evaluate consumer loans. These models, known as scorecards, forecast the probability of serious delinquency and default for an applicant. The scorecards are embedded in the application processing system, which allows for real-time scoring and automated decisions for many of our products. We periodically validate the loan scoring processes.

We maintain an active concentration management program to mitigate concentration risk in our credit portfolios. For individual obligors, we employ a sliding scale of exposure, known as hold limits, which is dictated by the type of loan and strength of the borrower.

Allowance for loan and lease losses

We estimate the appropriate level of the ALLL on at least a quarterly basis. The methodology used is described in Note 1 (“Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”) under the heading “Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses.” Briefly, the ALLL estimate uses various models and estimation techniques based on our historical loss experience, current borrower characteristics, current conditions, reasonable and supportable forecasts and other relevant factors. As described in Note 1 (“Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”), on January 1, 2020, we adopted ASC 326, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses, and as such, an expected credit loss methodology, specifically current expected credit losses for the remaining life of our loans and leases, will be used to estimate the appropriate level of the ALLL. For more information, see Note 5 (“Asset Quality”).

As shown in Figure 30, our ALLL from continuing operations increased by $726 million, or 80.7%, from December 31, 2019. Our commercial ALLL decreased by $124 million, or 16.5%, with the adoption of ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses at January 1, 2020. The commercial ALLL increased by $472 million, or 75.3%, from January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2020, driven by updated economic forecasts that capture additional deterioration triggered by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Our consumer ALLL increased by $328 million, or 220.1%, with the adoption of ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses at January 1, 2020. The consumer ALLL increased $50 million, or 10.5%, from January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2020, driven by portfolio growth and updated economic forecasts that capture additional deterioration triggered by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Figure 30. Allocation of the Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses

202020192018
December 31, dollars in millionsTotal AllowancePercent of Allowance to Total AllowancePercent of Loan Type to Total LoansTotal AllowancePercent of Allowance to Total AllowancePercent of Loan Type to Total LoansTotal AllowancePercent of Allowance to Total AllowancePercent of Loan Type to Total Loans
Commercial and industrial$67841.7%52.3%$55161.2%51.0%$53260.2%51.1%
Commercial real estate:
Commercial mortgage32720.112.514315.914.314216.115.9
Construction472.92.0222.41.6333.81.9
Total commercial real estate loans37423.014.516518.315.917519.917.8
Commercial lease financing472.94.3353.95.0364.15.1
Total commercial loans1,09967.671.175183.471.974384.274.0
Real estate — residential mortgage1026.39.27.87.470.86.2
Home equity loans17110.59.2313.510.9353.912.4
Consumer direct loans1285.34.7343.83.7303.42.0
Credit cards877.91.0475.21.2485.41.3
Consumer indirect loans392.44.8303.34.9202.34.1
Total consumer loans52732.428.914916.628.114015.826.0
Total loans (a)$1,626100.0%100.0%$900100.0%100.0%$883100.0%100.0%
20172016
Total AllowancePercent of Allowance to Total AllowancePercent of Loan Type to Total LoansTotal AllowancePercent of Allowance to Total AllowancePercent of Loan Type to Total Loans
Commercial and industrial$52960.3%48.4%$50859.2%46.2%
Commercial real estate:
Commercial mortgage13315.216.314416.817.6
Construction303.42.3222.62.7
Total commercial real estate loans16318.618.616619.420.3
Commercial lease financing434.95.6424.95.4
Total commercial loans73583.872.671683.571.9
Real estate — residential mortgage70.86.3172.06.5
Home equity loans434.913.9546.314.7
Consumer direct loans283.22.1242.82.1
Credit cards445.01.3384.41.3
Consumer indirect loans202.33.891.03.5
Total consumer loans14216.227.414216.528.1
Total loans (a)$877100.0%100.0%$858100.0%100.0%

(a)Excludes allocations of the ALLL related to the discontinued operations of the education lending business in the amount of $36 million at December 31, 2020, $10 million at December 31, 2019, $14 million at December 31, 2018, $16 million at December 31, 2017, and $24 million at December 31, 2016.

Net loan charge-offs

Figure 31 shows the trend in our net loan charge-offs by loan type, while the composition of loan charge-offs and recoveries by type of loan is presented in Figure 32.

Over the past 12 months, net loan charge-offs increased $19 million. In 2021, we expect net loan charge-offs to average loans to remain within our long-term targeted range of 40 to 60 basis points.

Figure 31. Net Loan Charge-offs from Continuing Operations

Year ended December 31,
dollars in millions20202019201820172016
Commercial and industrial$317$292$122$93$107
Real estate — commercial mortgage166189(4)
Real estate — construction—5(2)17
Commercial lease financing3421589
Total commercial loans367324143111119
Real estate — residential mortgage111(1)3
Home equity loans411101516
Consumer direct loans3034292822
Credit cards3137373931
Consumer indirect loans1017141614
Total consumer loans76100919786
Total net loan charge-offs$443$424$234$208$205
Net loan charge-offs to average loans.43%.46%.26%.24%.29%
Net loan charge-offs from discontinued operations — education lending business$—$7$10$18$17

(a)Credit amounts indicate that recoveries exceeded charge-offs.

Figure 32. Summary of Loan and Lease Loss Experience from Continuing Operations

Year ended December 31, dollars in millions20202019201820172016
Average loans outstanding$102,689$91,511$88,338$86,365$71,148
Allowance for loan and lease looses at the end of the prior period$900$883$877$858$796
Cumulative effect from change in accounting principle (a)204————
Allowance for loan and lease losses at beginning of period1,104883877858796
Loans charged off:
Commercial and industrial351319159133118
Real estate — commercial mortgage19821115
Real estate — construction—5—29
Total commercial real estate loans (c)1913211314
Commercial lease financing3526101412
Total commercial loans (d)405358190160144
Real estate — residential mortgage23334
Home equity loans1119213030
Consumer direct loans3741363427
Credit cards3944444435
Consumer indirect loans2834303121
Total consumer loans117141134142117
Total loans charged off522499324302261
Recoveries:
Commercial and industrial3427374011
Real estate — commercial mortgage32329
Real estate — construction——212
Total commercial real estate loans (c)325311
Commercial lease financing15563
Total commercial loans (d)3834474925
Real estate — residential mortgage12241
Home equity loans78111514
Consumer direct loans77765
Credit cards87754
Consumer indirect loans181716157
Total consumer loans4141434531
Total recoveries7975909456
Net loan charge-offs(443)(424)(234)(208)(205)
Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses965441240227267
Foreign currency translation adjustment—————
Allowance for loan and lease losses at end of year$1,626$900$883$877$858
Liability for credit losses on lending-related commitments at the end of the prior period$68$64$57$55$56
Liability for credit losses on contingent guarantees at the end of the prior period7————
Cumulative effect from change in accounting principle (a)(b)66————
Liability for credit losses on lending-related commitments at beginning of the year14164575556
Provision (credit) for losses on lending-related commitments56462(1)
Liability for credit losses on lending-related commitments at end of the year (e)$197$68$63$57$55
Total allowance for credit losses at end of the year$1,823$968$946$934$913
Net loan charge-offs to average total loans.43%.46%.26%.24%.29%
Allowance for loan and lease losses to period-end loans1.61.95.991.011.00
Allowance for credit losses to period-end loans1.801.021.061.081.06
Allowance for loan and lease losses to nonperforming loans207.1156.0162.9174.4137.3
Allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans232.2167.8174.5185.7146.1
Discontinued operations — education lending business:
Loans charged off$5$12$15$26$28
Recoveries555811
Net loan charge-offs$—$(7)$(10)$(18)$(17)

(a)The cumulative effect from change in accounting principle relates to the January 1, 2020, adoption of ASC 2016-13.

(b)Excludes $4 million related to the provision for other financial assets.

(c)See Figure 12 and the accompanying discussion in the “Loans and loans held for sale” section for more information related to our commercial real estate loan portfolio.

(d)See Figure 11 and the accompanying discussion in the “Loans and loans held for sale” section for more information related to our commercial loan portfolio.

(e)Included in “accrued expense and other liabilities” on the balance sheet.

Nonperforming assets

Figure 33 shows the composition of our nonperforming assets. As shown in Figure 33, nonperforming assets increased $222 million during 2020. The increase was in part driven by pandemic impacts on our consumer related mortgages, commercial and industrial exposures, and modest increases in real estate commercial mortgages. NPAs were also impacted by the addition of a single large oil and gas property into OREO. See Note 1 (“Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”) under the headings “Nonperforming Loans,” “Impaired Loans,” and “Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses” for a summary of our nonaccrual and charge-off policies.

Figure 33. Summary of Nonperforming Assets and Past Due Loans from Continuing Operations

December 31,
dollars in millions20202019201820172016
Commercial and industrial$385$264$152$153$297
Real estate — commercial mortgage10483813026
Real estate — construction—2223
Total commercial real estate loans (a)10485833229
Commercial lease financing86968
Total commercial loans (b)497355244191334
Real estate — residential mortgage11048625856
Home equity loans154145210229223
Consumer direct loans54446
Credit cards23222
Consumer indirect loans172220194
Total consumer loans288222298312291
Total nonperforming loans785577542503625
Nonperforming loans held for sale4994———
OREO10035353151
Other nonperforming assets39———
Total nonperforming assets$937$715$577$534$676
Accruing loans past due 90 days or more$86$101$112$89$87
Accruing loans past due 30 through 89 days241389312359404
Restructured loans — accruing and nonaccruing (c)363347399317280
Restructured loans included in nonperforming loans (c)229183247189141
Nonperforming assets from discontinued operations — education lending business57875
Nonperforming loans to period-end portfolio loans.78%.61%.61%.58%.73%
Nonperforming assets to period-end portfolio loans plus OREO and other nonperforming assets (c).92.75.64.62.79

(a)See Figure 12 and the accompanying discussion in the “Loans and loans held for sale” section for more information related to our commercial real estate loan portfolio.

(b)See Figure 11 and the accompanying discussion in the “Loans and loans held for sale” section for more information related to our commercial loan portfolio.

(c)Restructured loans (i.e., TDRs) are those for which Key, for reasons related to a borrower’s financial difficulties, grants a concession to the borrower that it would not otherwise consider. See Note 5,(“Asset Quality“) for more information on our TDRs.

Figure 34 shows the types of activity that caused the change in our nonperforming loans during each of the last four quarters and the years ended December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019.

Figure 34. Summary of Changes in Nonperforming Loans from Continuing Operations

2020 Quarters
in millions2020FourthThirdSecondFirst2019
Balance at beginning of period$577$834$760$632$577$542
Loans placed on nonaccrual status(a)1,199300387293219924
Charge-offs(521)(160)(150)(111)(100)(380)
Loans sold(24)(9)(6)(5)(4)(57)
Payments(226)(83)(83)(29)(31)(141)
Transfers to OREO(6)(3)——(3)(19)
Transfers to nonperforming loans held for sale—————(125)
Transfers to other nonperforming assets—————(13)
Loans returned to accrual status(214)(94)(74)(20)(26)(154)
Balance at end of period$785$785$834$760$632$577

(a)PCI loans meeting nonperforming criteria were historically excluded from Key's nonperforming disclosures. As a result of CECL implementation on January 1, 2020, PCI loans became PCD loans. PCD loans that met the definition of nonperforming are now included in nonperforming disclosures, resulting in a $45 million increase in nonperforming loans in the first quarter of 2020.

Operational and compliance risk management

Like all businesses, we are subject to operational risk, which is the risk of loss resulting from human error or malfeasance, inadequate or failed internal processes and systems, and external events. These events include, among other things, threats to our cybersecurity, as we are reliant upon information systems and the Internet to conduct our business activities. Operational risk also encompasses compliance risk, which is the risk of loss from violations of, or noncompliance with, laws, rules and regulations, prescribed practices, and ethical standards. Under the Dodd-Frank Act, large financial companies like Key are subject to heightened prudential standards and regulation. This heightened level of regulation has increased our operational risk. Resulting operational risk losses and/or additional regulatory compliance costs could take the form of explicit charges, increased operational costs, harm to our reputation, or foregone opportunities.

We seek to mitigate operational risk through identification and measurement of risk, alignment of business strategies with risk appetite and tolerance, and a system of internal controls and reporting. We continuously strive to strengthen our system of internal controls to improve the oversight of our operational risk and to ensure compliance with laws, rules, and regulations. For example, an operational event database tracks the amounts and sources of operational risk and losses. This tracking mechanism helps to identify weaknesses and to highlight the need to take corrective action. We also rely upon software programs designed to assist in assessing operational risk and monitoring our control processes. This technology has enhanced the reporting of the effectiveness of our controls to senior management and the Board.

The Operational Risk Management Program provides the framework for the structure, governance, roles, and responsibilities, as well as the content, to manage operational risk for Key. The Compliance Risk Committee serves the same function in managing compliance risk for Key. The Operational Risk Committee supports the ERM Committee by identifying early warning events and trends, escalating emerging risks, and discussing forward-looking assessments. The Operational Risk Committee includes attendees from each of the Three Lines of Defense. Primary responsibility for managing and monitoring internal control mechanisms lies with the managers of our various lines of business. The Operational Risk Committee and Compliance Risk Committee are senior management committees that oversee our level of operational and compliance risk and direct and support our operational and compliance infrastructure and related activities. These committees and the Operational Risk Management and Compliance functions are an integral part of our ERM Program. Our Risk Review function regularly assesses the overall effectiveness of our Operational Risk Management and Compliance Programs and our system of internal controls. Risk Review reports the results of reviews on internal controls and systems to senior management and the Risk and Audit Committees and independently supports the Risk Committee’s oversight of these controls.

Cybersecurity

We maintain comprehensive Cyber Incident Response Plans, and we devote significant time and resources to maintaining and regularly updating our technology systems and processes to protect the security of our computer systems, software, networks, and other technology assets against attempts by third parties to obtain unauthorized access to confidential information, destroy data, disrupt or degrade service, sabotage systems, or cause other damage. We and many other U.S. financial institutions have experienced distributed denial-of-service attacks from technologically sophisticated third parties. These attacks are intended to disrupt or disable online banking services and prevent banking transactions. We also periodically experience other attempts to breach the security of our systems and data. These cyberattacks have not, to date, resulted in any material disruption of our operations or material harm to our customers, and have not had a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

Cyberattack risks may also occur with our third-party technology service providers, and may result in financial loss or liability that could adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations. Cyberattacks could also interfere with third-party providers’ ability to fulfill their contractual obligations to us. High-profile cyberattacks have targeted retailers, credit bureaus, and other businesses for the purpose of acquiring the confidential information (including personal, financial, and credit card information) of customers, some of whom are customers of ours. We may incur expenses related to the investigation of such attacks or related to the protection of our customers from identity theft as a result of such attacks. In 2020, many companies and U.S. government organizations were victims of a sophisticated and targeted supply chain attack on the SolarWinds Orion software. While Key does not utilize the SolarWinds software products, some of our vendors do. We may incur expenses to enhance our systems or processes to protect against cyber or other security incidents. Risks and exposures related to cyberattacks are expected to remain high for the foreseeable future due to the rapidly evolving nature and sophistication of these

threats, as well as due to the expanding use of Internet banking, mobile banking, and other technology-based products and services by us and our clients. See the risk factor entitled “Our information systems may experience an interruption or breach in security” in Part 1, Item 1A. Risk Factors for additional information on risks related to information security.

As described in more detail in “Risk Management — Overview” in Item 7 of this report, the Board serves in an oversight capacity ensuring that Key’s risks are managed in a manner that is effective and balanced and adds value for the shareholders. The Board’s Risk Committee has primary oversight for enterprise-wide risk at KeyCorp, including operational risk (which includes cybersecurity). The Risk Committee reviews and provides oversight of management’s activities related to the enterprise-wide risk management framework, including cyber-related risk. Board members are updated on cybersecurity matters at each regularly-scheduled Board meeting. The ERM Committee, chaired by the Chief Executive Officer and comprising other senior level executives, is responsible for managing risk (including cyber-related risk) and ensuring that the corporate risk profile is managed in a manner consistent with our risk appetite. The ERM Committee reports to the Board’s Risk Committee.

GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliations

Non-GAAP financial measures have inherent limitations, are not required to be uniformly applied, and are not

audited. Although these non-GAAP financial measures are frequently used by investors to evaluate a company,

they have limitations as analytical tools, and should not be considered in isolation, nor as a substitute for analyses

of results as reported under GAAP.

The tangible common equity ratio and the return on tangible common equity ratio have been a focus for some investors, and management believes that these ratios may assist investors in analyzing Key’s capital position without regard to the effects of intangible assets and preferred stock. Since analysts and banking regulators may assess our capital adequacy using tangible common equity, we believe it is useful to enable investors to assess our capital adequacy on these same bases.

Year ended December 31,
dollars in millions20202019201820172016
Tangible common equity to tangible assets at period end
Key shareholders’ equity (GAAP)$17,981$17,038$15,595$15,023$15,240
Less:Intangible assets (a)2,8482,9102,8182,9282,788
Preferred Stock (b)1,8561,8561,4211,0091,640
Tangible common equity (non-GAAP)$13,277$12,272$11,356$11,086$10,812
Total assets (GAAP)$170,336$144,988$139,613$137,698$136,453
Less:Intangible assets (a)2,8482,9102,8182,9282,788
Tangible assets (non-GAAP)$167,488$142,078$136,795$134,770$133,665
Tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio (non-GAAP)7.93%8.64%8.30%8.23%8.09%
Average tangible common equity
Average Key shareholders’ equity (GAAP)$17,636$16,636$15,131$15,224$12,647
Less:Intangible assets (average) (c)2,8782,9092,8692,8371,825
Preferred Stock (average)1,9001,7551,2051,137627
Average tangible common equity (non-GAAP)$12,858$11,972$11,057$11,250$10,195
Return on average tangible common equity from continuing operations
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Key common shareholders (GAAP)$1,223$1,611$1,793$1,219$753
Average tangible common equity (non-GAAP)$12,858$11,972$11,057$11,250$10,195
Return on average tangible common equity from continuing operations (non-GAAP)9.51%13.46%16.22%10.84%7.39%
Return on average tangible common equity consolidated
Net income (loss) attributable to Key common shareholders (GAAP)$1,237$1,620$1,800$1,226$754
Average tangible common equity (non-GAAP)12,85811,97211,05711,25010,195
Return on average tangible common equity consolidated (non-GAAP)9.62%13.53%16.28%10.90%7.40

(a)For the years ended December 31, 2020, December 31, 2019, December 31, 2018, December 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, intangible assets exclude $4 million, $7 million, $14 million, $26 million, and $42 million,, respectively, of period-end purchased credit card relationships.

(b)Net of capital surplus.

(c)For the years ended December 31, 2020, December 31, 2019, December 31, 2018, December 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, average intangible assets exclude $6 million, $10 million, $20 million, $34 million, and $43 million, respectively, of average purchased credit card relationships.

The cash efficiency ratio is a ratio of two non-GAAP performance measures. Accordingly, there is no directly

comparable GAAP performance measure. The cash efficiency ratio excludes the impact of our intangible asset

amortization from the calculation. We believe this ratio provides greater consistency and comparability between our results and those of our peer banks. Additionally, this ratio is used by analysts and investors to evaluate how effectively management is controlling noninterest expenses in generating revenue, as they develop earnings forecasts and peer bank analysis.

Year ended December 31,
dollars in millions20202019201820172016
Cash efficiency ratio
Noninterest expense (GAAP)$4,109$3,901$3,975$4,098$3,756
Less:Intangible asset amortization (GAAP)6589999555
Adjusted noninterest expense (non-GAAP)$4,044$3,812$3,876$4,003$3,701
Net interest income (GAAP)$4,034$3,909$3,909$3,777$2,919
Plus:TE adjustment2932315334
Noninterest income (GAAP)2,6522,4592,5152,4782,071
Total TE revenue (non-GAAP)$6,715$6,400$6,455$6,308$5,024
Cash efficiency ratio (non-GAAP)60.2%59.6%60.0%63.5%73.7%

Fourth Quarter Results

Figure 35 shows our financial performance for each of the past eight quarters. Highlights of our results for the fourth quarter of 2020 are summarized below.

Earnings

Our fourth quarter net income from continuing operations attributable to Key common shareholders was $549 million, or $.56 per diluted Common Share, compared to $439 million, or $.45 per diluted Common Share, for the fourth quarter of 2019.

On an annualized basis, our return on average total assets from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2020 was 1.35%, compared to 1.27% for the fourth quarter of 2019. The annualized return on average tangible common equity from continuing operations was 16.61% for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to 14.09% for the year-ago quarter.

Net interest income

TE net interest income was $1.0 billion for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to TE net interest income of $987 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. The increase in net interest income reflects higher earning asset balances and loan fees, partially offset by a lower net interest margin. The net interest margin was impacted by lower interest rates and a change in balance sheet mix, including elevated levels of liquidity and Key's participation in the PPP.

Noninterest income

Our noninterest income was $802 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to $651 million for the year-ago quarter. Noninterest income increased by $151 million, primarily driven by a $62 million increase in investment banking and debt placement fees. The record fourth quarter of 2020 for investment banking and debt placement fees was largely related to strong M&A activity. Cards and payments income increased $30 million from the year-ago period, driven by higher prepaid card activity. Additionally, investments made in Key's mortgage business continue to drive consumer mortgage income and commercial mortgage servicing fees, which increased $22 million and $13 million, respectively, from the year-ago quarter.

Noninterest expense

Our noninterest expense was $1.1 billion for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to $980 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. The increase is primarily related to higher personnel costs of $110 million, reflecting higher production-related incentives and higher salaries due to merit increases. Other drivers for the year-over-year increases include payments-related expenses from prepaid card activity incurred in the current period, as well as COVID-19-related costs related to steps that the company has taken to ensure the health and safety of teammates.

Provision for credit losses

Our provision for credit losses was $20 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to $109 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. The provision for credit losses reflects the adoption of the CECL accounting standard on January 1, 2020. This framework requires that management estimate credit losses over the full remaining expected life and consider expected future changes in macroeconomic conditions. Our ALLL was $1.6 billion, or 1.61% of total period-end loans, at December 31, 2020, compared to .95% at December 31, 2019.

Net loan charge-offs for the fourth quarter of 2020 totaled $135 million, or .53% of average total loans. These results compare to $99 million, or .42%, for the fourth quarter of 2019. The allowance for credit losses was $1.8 billion, or 1.80% of total period-end loans at December 31, 2020, compared to 1.02% at December 31, 2019.

At December 31, 2020, Key’s nonperforming loans totaled $785 million, which represented .78% of period-end portfolio loans. These results compare to .61% at December 31, 2019. Nonperforming assets at December 31, 2020, totaled $937 million, and represented .92% of period-end portfolio loans and OREO and other nonperforming assets compared to .75% at December 31, 2019.

Income taxes

For the fourth quarter of 2020, we recorded a tax provision from continuing operations of $114 million, compared to a tax provision of $75 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. The fourth quarter of 2019 included a tax benefit of $11 million related to the reversal of a valuation allowance against federal and state capital loss carryforwards acquired from First Niagara Financial Group utilized in the quarter. The effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2020 was 16.5%, compared to 14.0% for the same quarter one year ago.

Our federal tax expense and effective tax rate differ from the amount that would be calculated using the federal statutory tax rate; primarily from investments in tax-advantaged assets, such as corporate-owned life insurance, tax credits associated with investments in low-income housing projects and energy related projects, and periodic adjustments to our tax reserves as described in Note 14 (“Income Taxes”).

Figure 35. Selected Quarterly Financial Data

2020 Quarters2019 Quarters
dollars in millions, except per share amountsFourthThirdSecondFirstFourthThirdSecondFirst
FOR THE PERIOD
Interest income$1,125$1,119$1,190$1,251$1,285$1,317$1,329$1,304
Interest expense90119172270306345348327
Net interest income1,0351,0001,018981979972981977
Provision for credit losses201604823591092007462
Noninterest income802681692477651650622536
Noninterest expense1,1281,0371,0139319809391,019963
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes689484215168541483510488
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Key575424185145466413423406
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes74213321
Net income (loss) attributable to Key582428187146469416425407
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Key common shareholders549397159118439383403386
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes74213321
Net income (loss) attributable to Key common shareholders556401161119442386405387
PER COMMON SHARE
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Key common shareholders$.57$.41$.16$.12$.45$.39$.40$.38
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes.01———————
Net income (loss) attributable to Key common shareholders (a).57.41.17.12.45.39.40.38
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Key common shareholders — assuming dilution.56.41.16.12.45.38.40.38
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes — assuming dilution.01———————
Net income (loss) attributable to Key common shareholders — assuming dilution (a).57.41.17.12.45.39.40.38
Cash dividends paid.185.185.185.185.185.185.170.170
Book value at period end16.5316.2516.0715.9515.5415.4415.0714.31
Tangible book value at period end13.6113.3213.1212.9812.5612.4812.1211.55
Weighted-average Common Shares outstanding (000)967,987967,804967,147967,446973,450988,319999,1631,006,717
Weighted-average Common Shares and potential Common Shares outstanding (000) (b)976,460973,988972,141976,110984,361998,3281,007,9641,016,504
AT PERIOD END
Loans$101,185$103,081$106,159$103,198$94,646$92,760$91,937$90,178
Earning assets155,469155,585156,177141,333130,807132,160130,213127,296
Total assets170,336170,540171,192156,197144,988146,691144,545141,515
Deposits135,282136,746135,513115,304111,870111,649109,946108,175
Long-term debt13,70912,68513,73413,73212,44814,47014,31214,168
Key common shareholders’ equity16,08115,82215,64215,51115,13815,21615,06914,474
Key shareholders’ equity17,98117,72217,54217,41117,03817,11616,96915,924
PERFORMANCE RATIOS — FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
Return on average total assets1.35%1.00%.45%.40%1.27%1.14%1.19%1.18%
Return on average common equity13.659.984.053.1011.409.9910.9410.98
Return on average tangible common equity (c)16.6112.194.963.8214.0912.3813.6913.69
Net interest margin (TE)2.702.622.763.012.983.003.063.13
Cash efficiency ratio (c)60.360.657.962.358.756.061.961.9
PERFORMANCE RATIOS — FROM CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS
Return on average total assets1.36%1.00%.46%.40%1.27%1.14%1.19%1.17%
Return on average common equity13.8210.084.103.1211.4810.0711.0011.01
Return on average tangible common equity (c)16.8212.315.023.8614.1912.4813.7513.72
Net interest margin (TE)2.692.622.763.002.972.983.053.12
Loan to deposit (d)76.577.280.480.486.685.386.185.1
CAPITAL RATIOS AT PERIOD END
Key shareholders’ equity to assets10.56%10.39%10.25%11.15%11.75%11.67%11.74%11.25%
Key common shareholders’ equity to assets9.479.309.169.9610.4710.4010.4610.25
Tangible common equity to tangible assets (c)7.937.767.618.268.648.588.598.43
Common Equity Tier 19.739.479.098.879.449.489.579.81
Tier 1 risk-based capital11.1110.8610.4510.2110.8610.9111.0110.94
Total risk-based capital13.4013.2612.8012.2212.7912.9013.0312.98
Leverage8.948.728.809.789.889.9310.009.89
TRUST ASSETS
Assets under management$44,140$41,312$39,722$36,189$40,833$39,416$38,942$38,742
OTHER DATA
Average full-time-equivalent employees17,02917,09716,64616,52916,53716,89817,20617,554
Branches1,0731,0771,0771,0821,0981,1011,1021,158

(a)EPS may not foot due to rounding.

(b)Assumes conversion of Common Share options and other stock awards and/or convertible preferred stock, as applicable.

(c)See Figure 36 entitled “Selected Quarterly GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliations,” which presents the computations of certain financial measures related to “tangible common equity,” and “cash efficiency.” The table reconciles the GAAP performance measures to the corresponding non-GAAP measures, which provides a basis for period-to-period comparisons.

(d)Represents period-end consolidated total loans and loans held for sale divided by period-end consolidated total deposits.

Figure 36. Selected Quarterly GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliations

2020 Quarters2019 Quarters
dollars in millionsFourthThirdSecondFirstFourthThirdSecondFirst
Tangible common equity to tangible assets at period end
Key shareholders’ equity (GAAP)$17,981$17,722$17,542$17,411$17,038$17,116$16,969$15,924
Less:Intangible assets (a)2,8482,8622,8772,8942,9102,9282,9522,804
Preferred Stock (b)1,8561,8561,8561,8561,8561,8561,8561,421
Tangible common equity (non-GAAP)$13,277$13,004$12,809$12,661$12,272$12,332$12,161$11,699
Total assets (GAAP)$170,336$170,540$171,192$156,197$144,988$146,691$144,545$141,515
Less:Intangible assets (a)2,8482,8622,8772,8942,9102,9282,9522,804
Tangible assets (non-GAAP)$167,488$167,678$168,315$153,303$142,078$143,763$141,593$138,711
Tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio (non-GAAP)7.93%7.76%7.61%8.26%8.64%8.58%8.59%8.43%
Average tangible common equity
Average Key shareholders’ equity (GAAP)$17,905$17,730$17,688$17,216$17,178$17,113$16,531$15,702
Less:Intangible assets (average) (c)2,8552,8702,8862,9022,9192,9422,9592,813
Preferred Stock (average)1,9001,9001,9001,9001,9001,9001,7621,450
Average tangible common equity (non-GAAP)$13,150$12,960$12,902$12,414$12,359$12,271$11,810$11,439
Return on average tangible common equity from continuing operations
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Key common shareholders (GAAP)$549$397$159$118$439$383$403$386
Average tangible common equity (non-GAAP)13,15012,96012,90212,41412,35912,27111,81011,439
Return on average tangible common equity from continuing operations (non-GAAP)16.61%12.19%4.96%3.82%14.09%12.38%13.69%13.69%
Return on average tangible common equity consolidated
Net income (loss) attributable to Key common shareholders (GAAP)$556$401$161$119$442$386$405$387
Average tangible common equity (non-GAAP)13,15012,96012,90212,41412,35912,27111,81011,439
Return on average tangible common equity consolidated (non-GAAP)16.82%12.31%5.02%3.86%14.19%14.19%14.19%14.19%
Cash efficiency ratio
Noninterest expense (GAAP)$1,128$1,037$1,013$931$980$939$1,019$963
Less:Intangible asset amortization (GAAP)1515181719262222
Adjusted noninterest expense (non-GAAP)$1,113$1,022$995$914$961$913$997$941
Net interest income (GAAP)$1,035$1,000$1,018$981$979$972$981$977
Plus:TE adjustment86788888
Noninterest income (GAAP)802681692477651650622536
Total TE revenue (non-GAAP)$1,845$1,687$1,717$1,466$1,638$1,630$1,611$1,521
Cash efficiency ratio (non-GAAP)60.3%60.6%57.9%62.3%58.7%56.0%61.9%61.9%

(a)For the three months ended December 31, 2020, September 30, 2020, June 30, 2020, and March 31, 2020, intangible assets exclude $4 million, $5 million, $5 million, and $6 million, respectively, of period-end purchased credit card relationships. For the three months ended December 31, 2019, September 30, 2019, June 30, 2019, and March 31, 2019, intangible assets exclude $7 million, $9 million, $10 million, and $12 million, respectively, of period-end purchased credit card relationships.

(b)Net of capital surplus.

(c)For the three months ended December 31, 2020, September 30, 2020, June 30, 2020, and March 31, 2020, average intangible assets exclude $5 million, $5 million, $6 million, and $7 million, respectively, of average purchased credit card relationships. For the three months ended December 31, 2019, September 30, 2019, June 30, 2019, and March 31, 2019, average intangible assets exclude $8 million, $9 million, $11 million, and $13 million, respectively, of average purchased credit card relationships.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our business is dynamic and complex. Consequently, we must exercise judgment in choosing and applying accounting policies and methodologies. These choices are critical; not only are they necessary to comply with GAAP, they also reflect our view of the appropriate way to record and report our overall financial performance. All accounting policies are important, and all policies described in Note 1 (“Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”) should be reviewed for a greater understanding of how we record and report our financial performance.

In our opinion, some accounting policies are more likely than others to have a critical effect on our financial results and to expose those results to potentially greater volatility. These policies apply to areas of relatively greater business importance, or require us to exercise judgment and to make assumptions and estimates that affect amounts reported in the financial statements. Because these assumptions and estimates are based on current circumstances, they may prove to be inaccurate, or we may find it necessary to change them. The following is a description of our current critical accounting policies.

In conjunction with the adoption of ASC 326 on January 1, 2020, the critical accounting policy and estimate disclosure for our ALLL was updated. The accounting policy for goodwill was also updated due to the adoption of ASU 2017-04, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment.”

Allowance for loan and lease losses

The allowance for loan and lease losses represents management’s estimate of all expected credit losses over the expected contractual life of our existing loan portfolio. Determining the appropriateness of the allowance is complex and requires judgment by management about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. These critical estimates include significant use of our own historical data and complex methods to interpret them. We have an ongoing process to evaluate and enhance the quality, quantity, and timeliness of our data and interpretation methods used in the determination of these allowances. These evaluations are inherently subjective, as they require material estimates and may be susceptible to significant change, and include, among others:

  • PD,

  • LGD,

  • Outstanding balance of the loan,

  • Movement through delinquency stages,

  • Amounts and timing of expected future cash flows,

  • Value of collateral, which may be obtained from third parties,

  • Economic forecasts which are obtained from a third party provider, and

  • Qualitative factors, such as changes in current economic conditions, that may not be reflected in modeled

results.

As described in our accounting policy related to the ALLL in Note 1 (“Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies”) of this report under the heading “Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses," we employ a disciplined process and methodology to establish our ALLL, which has three main components: (i) asset specific / individual loan reserves; (ii) quantitative (formulaic or pooled) reserves; and (iii) qualitative (judgmental) reserves.

We use a non-DCF factor-based approach to estimate expected credit losses that include component PD/LGD/EAD models as well as less complex estimation methods for smaller loan portfolios. Probability of default models estimate the likelihood a borrower will cease making payments as agreed. These models use observed loan-level information and projected paths of macroeconomic variables. Borrower credit attributes including FICO scores of consumers and internally assigned risk ratings for commercial borrowers are significant inputs to the models. Consumer FICO scores are refreshed quarterly and commercial risk ratings are updated annually with select borrowers updated more frequently. The macroeconomic trends that have a significant impact on the probability of default vary by portfolio segment. Exposure at default models estimate the loan balance at the time the borrower stops making payments. We use an amortization based formulaic approach to estimate account level EAD for all

term loans. We use portfolio specific methods in each of our revolving product portfolios. LGD models estimate the loss we will suffer once a loan is in default. Account level inputs to LGD models include collateral attributes, such as loan to value.

If we observe limitations in the data or models, we use model overlays to make adjustments to model outputs to capture a particular risk or compensate for a known limitation. These variables and others may result in actual loan losses that differ from the originally estimated amounts.

This estimate produced by our models is forward-looking and requires management to use forecasts about future economic conditions to determine the expected credit loss over the remaining life of an instrument. Moody’s Consensus forecast is the source of macroeconomic projections, including the interest rate forecasts used in the credit models. We use a two year reasonable and supportable period across all products to forecast economic conditions. As the length of the life of a financial asset increases, these inputs may become impractical to estimate as reasonable and supportable. We believe the two year time horizon appropriately aligns with our business planning, available industry guidance, and reliability of various forecasting services. Following this two year period in which supportable forecasts can be generated, for all modeled loan portfolios, we revert expected credit losses to a level that is consistent with our historical information by reverting the macroeconomic variables (model inputs) to their long run average. We revert to historical loss rates for less complex estimation methods for smaller portfolios.

A four quarter reversion period is used where the macroeconomic variables linearly revert to their long run average following the two year reasonable and supportable period. We use a 20 year lookback period for determining long run historical average of the macroeconomic variables. We determined the 20 year lookback period is appropriate as it captures the previous two economic cycles including the last downturn and our more recent positive credit experience.

The ALLL is sensitive to various macroeconomic drivers such as GDP and unemployment as well as portfolio attributes such as remaining term, outstanding balance, risk ratings, FICO, LTV, and delinquency status. Our ALLL models were designed to capture the correlation between economic and portfolio changes. As such, evaluating shifts in individual portfolio attributes and macroeconomic variables in isolation may not be indicative of past or future performance.

It is difficult to estimate how potential changes in any one factor or input might affect the overall ALLL because we consider a wide variety of factors and inputs in estimating the ALLL. Changes in the factors and inputs considered may not occur at the same rate and may not be consistent across all geographies or product types, and changes in factors and input may be directionally inconsistent, such that improvement in one factor may offset deterioration in others. However, to consider the impact of a hypothetical alternate economic forecast, we compared the modeled quantitative allowance results using a downside economic scenario. The maximum difference in the quarterly macroeconomic variables between the base and downside scenarios over the two year reasonable and supportable period includes an approximate 8% decline in GDP annualized growth and an approximate 4% increase in the U.S. unemployment rate. The difference between these two scenarios would have driven an increase of approximately 1.9x for commercial and 1.4x for the consumer modeled allowance results.

Similarly, deteriorating conditions for portfolio factors were also considered by moderately stressing key portfolio drivers, relative to the baseline portfolio conditions. Stressing risk ratings by two grades for commercial loans generates a 1.3x increase in the commercial modeled allowance results. Stressing FICO by ten points, and LTV and utilization by 10% for consumer loans generates a 1.2x increase in the consumer modeled allowance results.

Note that these analyses demonstrate the sensitivity of the ALLL to key quantitative assumptions; however, they are not intended to estimate changes in the overall ALLL as they do not reflect qualitative factors related to idiosyncratic risk factors, changes in current economic conditions that may not be reflected in quantitatively derived results, and other relevant factors that must be considered to ensure the ALLL reflects our best estimate of current expected credit losses. With the unprecedented economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, future ALLL results may vary considerably based on the actual magnitude of the pandemic and impact of the United States' monetary and fiscal response.

Valuation methodologies

Fair value measurements

We measure or monitor many of our assets and liabilities on a fair value basis. Fair value is generally defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) as opposed to the price that would be paid to acquire the asset or received to assume the liability (an entry price), in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions. While management uses judgment when determining the price at which willing market participants would transact when there has been a significant decrease in the volume or level of activity for the asset or liability in relation to “normal” market activity, management’s objective is to determine the point within the range of fair value estimates that is most representative of a sale to a third-party investor under current market conditions. The value to us if the asset or liability were held to maturity is not included in the fair value estimates.

A fair value measure should reflect the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including the assumptions about the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique, the effect of a restriction on the sale or use of an asset and the risk of nonperformance. Fair value is measured based on a variety of inputs. Fair value may be based on quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities traded in active markets (Level 1 valuations). If market prices are not available, quoted market prices for similar instruments traded in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, or model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market are used (Level 2 valuations). Where observable market data is not available, the valuation is generated from model based techniques that use significant assumptions not observable in the market, but observable based on our specific data (Level 3 valuations). Unobservable assumptions reflect our estimates for assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques typically include option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques, but may also include the use of market prices of assets or liabilities that are not directly comparable to the subject asset or liability.

The selection and weighting of the various fair value techniques may result in a fair value higher or lower than carrying value. Considerable judgment may be involved in determining the amount that is most representative of fair value.

For assets and liabilities recorded at fair value, our policy is to maximize the use of observable inputs

and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when developing fair value measurements for those items where there

is an active market. In certain cases, when market observable inputs for model-based valuation techniques may not

be readily available, we are required to make judgments about assumptions market participants would use

in estimating the fair value of the financial instrument. The models used to determine fair value adjustments are

regularly evaluated by management for relevance under current facts and circumstances.

Changes in market conditions may reduce the availability of quoted prices or observable data. For example, reduced liquidity in the capital markets or changes in secondary market activities could result in observable market inputs becoming unavailable. When market data is not available, we use valuation techniques requiring more management judgment to estimate the appropriate fair value.

Fair value is used on a recurring basis for certain assets and liabilities in which fair value is the primary measure of

accounting. Fair value is used on a nonrecurring basis to measure certain assets or liabilities (including held-to-maturity securities, commercial loans held for sale, and OREO) for impairment or for disclosure purposes in accordance with current accounting guidance.

Impairment analysis also relates to long-lived assets and core deposit and other intangible assets. An

impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount of the asset is not likely to be recoverable and exceeds its fair

value. In determining the fair value, management uses models and applies the techniques and assumptions

previously discussed.

See Note 1 under the heading “Fair Value Measurements” and Note 6 (“Fair Value Measurements”) for a detailed discussion of determining fair value, including pricing validation processes.

Goodwill

The valuation and testing methodologies used in our analysis of goodwill impairment are summarized in Note 1

under the heading “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” Goodwill is initially recorded as the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired in a business combination. Goodwill is tested for impairment for all three of our reporting units: Consumer Bank, Commercial Bank and Institutional Bank. We perform our annual impairment test as of October 1st and on an interim basis if events or changes in circumstances between annual tests suggest additional testing is needed. Effective January 1, 2020, we adopted ASU 2017-04, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment,” eliminating the second step of goodwill impairment testing. Under the new guidance, if the fair value of a reporting unit declines below its carrying value, an impairment charge will be recognized for any amount by which the carrying value exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, to the extent that the loss recognized does not exceed the amount of the goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The adoption of ASU 2017-04 did not impact our current financial condition or results of operations.

In consideration of the deterioration in macroeconomic conditions and industry and market conditions due to the

COVID-19 pandemic during the third quarter of 2020, we identified a triggering event and performed an interim quantitative test. Impairment indicators comprised economic conditions, including projections of the duration of current conditions and timing of a potential recovery; industry and market considerations; government intervention and regulatory updates; the impact of recent events to financial performance and cost factors of the reporting units; performance of our stock; and other relevant events. We utilized a qualitative approach to our annual goodwill impairment test as of October 1, 2020. No impairment was recorded in 2020 as a result of these assessments.

We continue to monitor the impairment indicators for goodwill and other intangible assets, and to evaluate the carrying amount of these assets quarterly. Additional information is provided in Note 12 (“Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”).

Derivatives and hedging

We primarily use interest rate swaps to hedge interest rate risk for asset and liability management purposes. These derivative instruments modify the interest rate characteristics of specified on-balance sheet assets and liabilities. Our accounting policies related to derivatives reflect the current accounting guidance, which provides that all derivatives should be recognized as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet at fair value, after taking into account the effects of master netting agreements. Accounting for changes in the fair value (i.e., gains or losses) of a particular derivative depends on whether the derivative has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship, and further, on the type of hedging relationship.

The application of hedge accounting requires significant judgment to interpret the relevant accounting guidance, as well as to assess hedge effectiveness, identify similar hedged item groupings, and measure changes in the fair value of the hedged items. We believe our methods of addressing these judgments and applying the accounting guidance are consistent with both the guidance and industry practices. Additional information relating to our use of derivatives is included in Note 1 under the heading “Derivatives and Hedging,” and Note 8 (“Derivatives and Hedging Activities”).

Contingent liabilities, guarantees and income taxes

Note 22 (“Commitments, Contingent Liabilities, and Guarantees”) summarizes contingent liabilities arising from litigation and contingent liabilities arising from guarantees in various agreements with third parties under which we are a guarantor, and the potential effects of these items on the results of our operations. We record a liability for the fair value of the obligation to stand ready to perform over the term of a guarantee. Contingent aspects of guarantees within the scope of ASC 326 are assessed a reserve under CECL. There is a risk that our actual future payments in the event of a default by the guaranteed party could exceed the recorded amount. See Note 22 (“Commitments, Contingent Liabilities, and Guarantees”) for a comparison of the liability recorded and the maximum potential undiscounted future payments for the various types of guarantees that we had outstanding at December 31, 2020.

It is not always clear how the Internal Revenue Code and various state tax laws apply to transactions that we undertake. In the normal course of business, we may record tax benefits and then have those benefits contested by the IRS or state tax authorities. We have provided tax reserves that we believe are adequate to absorb potential adjustments that such challenges may necessitate. However, if our judgment later proves to be inaccurate, the tax reserves may need to be adjusted, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and capital.

Additionally, we conduct quarterly assessments that determine the amount of deferred tax assets that are more-likely-than-not to be realized, and therefore recorded. The available evidence used in connection with these assessments includes a history of pretax income, projected future taxable income, potential tax-planning strategies, and projected future reversals of deferred tax liabilities. These assessments are subjective and may change. Based on these criteria, and all available positive and negative evidence, we establish a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets when we are unable to conclude it is more likely than not that they will be realized. However, if our assessments prove incorrect, they could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations in the period in which they occur. For further information on our accounting for income taxes, see Note 1 (“Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”) and Note 14 (“Income Taxes”).

Accounting and reporting developments

Accounting guidance pending adoption at December 31, 2020

StandardRequired AdoptionDescriptionEffect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters
ASU 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging— Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40)January 1, 2022 Early adoption is permitted.The ASU simplifies the accounting for convertible debt instruments by eliminating the legacy accounting models for convertible instruments with beneficial conversion features or cash conversion features. The guidance also amends the guidance used to determine if a freestanding financial instrument or an embedded feature qualifies for a scope exception from derivative accounting. For freestanding financial instruments and embedded features that have all the characteristics of a derivative instrument and are potentially settled in an entity’s own stock, the guidance simplifies the settlement assessment that entities are required to perform. Also, the Update now requires the use of the if-converted method for all convertible instruments and includes the effect of potential share settlement in diluted EPS if the effect is more dilutive. The new guidance also makes clarifications to the EPS calculation. Further, the ASU expands disclosure requirements. The guidance should be applied on a modified retrospective or retrospective basis.The adoption of this accounting guidance is not expected to have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Our total European sovereign and non-sovereign debt exposure is presented in Figure 37.

Figure 37. European Sovereign and Non-Sovereign Debt Exposures

December 31, 2020Short- and Long- Term Commercial Total (a)Foreign Exchange and Derivatives with Collateral (b)Net Exposure
in millions
France:
Sovereigns———
Non-sovereign financial institutions———
Non-sovereign non-financial institutions$1—$1
Total1—1
Germany:
Sovereigns———
Non-sovereign financial institutions———
Non-sovereign non-financial institutions33—33
Total33—33
Italy:
Sovereigns———
Non-sovereign financial institutions———
Non-sovereign non-financial institutions———
Total———
Luxembourg:
Sovereigns———
Non-sovereign financial institutions———
Non-sovereign non-financial institutions———
Total———
Switzerland:
Sovereigns———
Non-sovereign financial institutions—11
Non-sovereign non-financial institutions———
Total—11
United Kingdom:
Sovereigns———
Non-sovereign financial institutions—$406406
Non-sovereign non-financial institutions———
Total—406406
Total Europe:
Sovereigns———
Non-sovereign financial institutions—407407
Non-sovereign non-financial institutions34—34
Total$34$407$441

(a)Represents our outstanding leases.

(b)Represents contracts to hedge our balance sheet asset and liability needs, and to accommodate our clients’ trading and/or hedging needs. Our derivative mark-to-market exposures are calculated and reported on a daily basis. These exposures are largely covered by cash or highly marketable securities collateral with daily collateral calls.

Our credit risk exposure is largely concentrated in developed countries with emerging market exposure essentially limited to commercial facilities; these exposures are actively monitored by management. We do not have at-risk exposures in the rest of the world.

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