KEYCORP /NEW/

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, distribute credit risk, 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 recommends Significant Level 1 credit policies to the Board Risk Committee 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” beginning on page 109 of our 2025 Form 10-K. Briefly, the ALLL estimate uses various models and estimation techniques based on our historical loss experience, current borrower characteristics, current economic conditions, reasonable and supportable forecasts, and other relevant factors. The ALLL at September 30, 2026, represents our best estimate of the lifetime expected credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio at that date.

As shown in Figure 26, our ALLL from continuing operations decreased by $29 million, or 2.0%, from December 31, 2025. The decrease in the ALLL from continuing operations primarily reflects continued improvement in the commercial portfolio mix, partially offset by increased economic uncertainty and downside risks related to inflation, energy price volatility, and higher-for-longer interest rates. The commercial ALLL decreased by $23 million, or 2.1%, from December 31, 2025, through September 30, 2026. Our consumer ALLL decreased $6 million, or 1.7%, from December 31, 2025, through September 30, 2026. Refer to Note 4 (“Asset Quality”) within this report for further discussion of changes in the ALLL.

Net loan charge-offs

Figure 27 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 29. Figure 28 shows the ratios of net charge-offs by loan category as a percentage of the respective average loan balance.

Net loan charge-offs for the three months ended September 30, 2026, decreased $25 million compared to the year-ago quarter.

Figure 26. Allocation of the Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses

(a)Excludes allocations of the ALLL related to the discontinued operations of the education lending business in the amount of $9 million at September 30, 2026, and $11 million at December 31, 2025.

Figure 27. Net Loan Charge-offs (Recoveries) from Continuing Operations

Figure 28. Net Loan Charge-offs (Recoveries) to Average Loans from Continuing Operations

Figure 29. Summary of Loan and Lease Loss Experience from Continuing Operations

(a)See Figure 10 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)Included in "Accrued expense and other liabilities" on the balance sheet.

Nonperforming assets

Figure 30 shows the composition of our nonperforming assets. As shown in Figure 30, nonperforming assets at September 30, 2026 were unchanged compared to December 31, 2025.

See Note 1 (“Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”) of our 2025 Form 10-K 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 30. Summary of Nonperforming Assets and Past Due Loans from Continuing Operations

(a)See Figure 10 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 9 and the accompanying discussion in the “Loans and loans held for sale” section for more information related to our commercial loan portfolio.

Figure 31 shows the activity that caused the change in our nonperforming loan balance during each of the last five quarters.

Figure 31. Summary of Changes in Nonperforming Loans from Continuing Operations