KEYCORP NEW

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.

Net interest income (TE) for 2024 was $3.8 billion, and the net interest margin was 2.16%. Compared to 2023, net interest income (TE) decreased $133 million, and the net interest margin was relatively stable, decreasing by one basis point. The decline in net interest income (TE) and the net interest margin reflects higher deposit costs, partly due to a shift in funding mix from noninterest-bearing deposits to higher cost deposits in 2024, and lower loan balances, in part due to the residual effect of Key’s balance sheet optimization efforts during the second half of 2023. Net interest income (TE) and the net interest margin benefited from higher earning asset yields as a result of the higher interest rate environment, including the reinvestment of proceeds from maturing investment securities into higher-yielding investments. Net interest income (TE) and the net interest margin also benefited from the maturity of interest rate swaps with negative carry, and an increase in lower-cost deposits, which contributed to the decline in wholesale borrowings. In addition, during the second half of 2024, Key completed the available-for-sale portfolio repositioning, which involved the sale and reinvestment of approximately $10.0 billion of lower-yielding mortgaged-backed securities into higher-yielding investments.

Average loans totaled $107.7 billion for 2024, compared to $118.0 billion in 2023. The $10.3 billion decrease reflected continued tepid client loan demand. Commercial loans decreased $7.6 billion, due to lower commercial and industrial loans and commercial mortgage real estate loans. Additionally, average consumer loans declined by $2.6 billion, reflective of broad-based declines across all consumer loan categories.

Average deposits totaled $146.2 billion for 2024, an increase of $2.1 billion compared to 2023, reflecting growth in both consumer and commercial deposits, partially offset by a decline in brokered CDs.

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 three 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.

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

(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 taxabale-equivalent 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 $215 million, $196 million, and $157 million of assets from commercial credit cards for the years ended December 31, 2024, December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, respectively.

(e)Yield presented is calculated on the basis of amortized cost excluding fair value hedge basis adjustments. The average amortized cost for securities available for sale was $42.2 billion and $44.0 billion for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, respectively. Yield based on the fair value of securities available for sale was 3.08% and 2.10% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, respectively.

(f)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.

(g)Average balances presented are based on daily average balances over the respective stated period.

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

(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.