1. Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies

As used in these Notes, references to “Key,” “we,” “our,” “us,” and similar terms refer to the consolidated entity consisting of KeyCorp and its subsidiaries. KeyCorp refers solely to the parent holding company, and KeyBank refers to KeyCorp’s subsidiary, KeyBank National Association.

The acronyms and abbreviations identified below are used in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) as well as in the Management’s Discussion & Analysis of Financial Condition & Results of Operations. You may find it helpful to refer back to this page as you read this report.

References to our “2014 Form 10-K” refer to our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, which was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and is available on its website (www.sec.gov) and on our website (www.key.com/ir).


AICPA: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.		KREEC: Key Real Estate Equity Capital, Inc.
ALCO: Asset/Liability Management Committee.		LCR: Liquidity coverage ratio.
ALLL: Allowance for loan and lease losses.		LIBOR: London Interbank Offered Rate.
A/LM: Asset/liability management.		LIHTC: Low-income housing tax credit.
AOCI: Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).		Moody’s: Moody’s Investor Services, Inc.
APBO: Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation.		MRM: Market Risk Management group.
Austin: Austin Capital Management, Ltd.		N/A: Not applicable.
BHCs: Bank holding companies.		NASDAQ: The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC.
Board: KeyCorp Board of Directors.		N/M: Not meaningful.
CCAR: Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review.		NOW: Negotiable Order of Withdrawal.
CMBS: Commercial mortgage-backed securities.		NYSE: New York Stock Exchange.
CMO: Collateralized mortgage obligation.		OCC: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
Common shares: KeyCorp common shares, $1 par value.		OCI: Other comprehensive income (loss).
Dodd-Frank Act: Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and		OREO: Other real estate owned.
Consumer Protection Act of 2010.		OTTI: Other-than-temporary impairment.
EBITDA: Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and		PBO: Projected benefit obligation.
amortization.		PCI: Purchased credit impaired.
EPS: Earnings per share.		S&P: Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services, a Division of The
ERM: Enterprise risk management.		McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
EVE: Economic value of equity.		SEC: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
FASB: Financial Accounting Standards Board.		Series A Preferred Stock: KeyCorp’s 7.750% Noncumulative
FDIC: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.		Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A.
Federal Reserve: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve		SIFIs: Systemically important financial institutions, including
System.		BHCs with total consolidated assets of at least $50 billion
FHLB: Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati.		and nonbank financial companies designated by FSOC for
FHLMC: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.		supervision by the Federal Reserve.
FNMA: Federal National Mortgage Association, or Fannie Mae.		TDR: Troubled debt restructuring.
FSOC: Financial Stability Oversight Council.		TE: Taxable-equivalent.
GAAP: U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.		U.S. Treasury: United States Department of the Treasury.
GNMA: Government National Mortgage Association.		VaR: Value at risk.
ISDA: International Swaps and Derivatives Association.		VEBA: Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association.
KAHC: Key Affordable Housing Corporation.		Victory: Victory Capital Management and/or
KBCM: KeyBanc Capital Markets, Inc.		Victory Capital Advisors.
KCDC: Key Community Development Corporation.		VIE: Variable interest entity.
KEF: Key Equipment Finance.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of KeyCorp and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Some previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to current reporting practices.

The consolidated financial statements include any voting rights entities in which we have a controlling financial interest. 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). Variable interests can include equity interests, subordinated debt, derivative contracts, leases, service agreements, guarantees, standby letters of credit, loan commitments, and other contracts, agreements, and financial instruments. See Note 9 (“Variable Interest Entities”) for information on our involvement with VIEs.

We use the equity method to account for unconsolidated investments in voting rights entities or VIEs if we have significant influence over the entity’s operating and financing decisions (usually defined as a voting or economic interest of 20% to 50%, but not controlling). Unconsolidated investments in voting rights entities or VIEs in which we have a voting or economic interest of less than 20% generally are carried at cost. Investments held by our registered broker-dealer and investment company subsidiaries (principal investing entities and Real Estate Capital line of business) are carried at fair value.

We believe that the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements reflect all adjustments of a normal recurring nature and disclosures that are necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for the interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the full year. The interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our 2014 Form 10-K.

In preparing these financial statements, subsequent events were evaluated through the time the financial statements were issued. Financial statements are considered issued when they are widely distributed to all shareholders and other financial statement users, or filed with the SEC.

Offsetting Derivative Positions

In accordance with the applicable accounting guidance, we take into account the impact of bilateral collateral and master netting agreements that allow us to settle all derivative contracts held with a single counterparty on a net basis, and to offset the net derivative position with the related cash collateral when recognizing derivative assets and liabilities. Additional information regarding derivative offsetting is provided in Note 7 (“Derivatives and Hedging Activities”).

Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses

In the third quarter of 2015, we enhanced the approach used to determine the commercial reserve factors used in estimating the commercial ALLL, which had the effect of capturing certain elements in the commercial quantitative reserve component that had formerly been included in the commercial qualitative component. Under the enhanced methodology, we began utilizing more refined commercial estimated loss rates that represent cumulative losses over the estimated average time period from the onset of credit deterioration to the initial loss recorded for an individual loan. In addition, we began utilizing an enhanced framework to quantify commercial ALLL adjustments resulting from qualitative factors that may not be fully captured within the statistical analysis of incurred loss. The impact of these changes was largely neutral to the total ALLL at September 30, 2015. However, because the quantitative reserve is allocated to the business segments at a loan level, while the qualitative portion is allocated at the portfolio level, the impact of the methodology enhancements on the allowance for each business segment and each portfolio caused the business segment and commercial portfolio reserves to increase or decrease accordingly. The impact of the increases and decreases on the business segment and commercial portfolio reserves was not significant.

Accounting Guidance Adopted in 2015

Troubled debt restructurings. In August 2014, the FASB issued new accounting guidance that clarifies how to account for certain government-guaranteed mortgage loans upon foreclosure. This accounting guidance was effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014 (effective January 1, 2015, for us) and could be implemented using either a modified retrospective method or a prospective method. Early adoption was permitted. We elected to implement the new accounting guidance using a prospective approach. The adoption of this accounting guidance did not have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Transfers and servicing of financial assets. In June 2014, the FASB issued new accounting guidance that applies secured borrowing accounting to repurchase-to-maturity transactions and linked repurchase financings and expands disclosure requirements. This accounting guidance was effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014 (effective January 1, 2015, for us) and was implemented using a cumulative-effect approach to transactions outstanding as of the effective date with no adjustment to prior periods. The disclosure for secured borrowings will be presented for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014, and has been presented for interim periods beginning after March 15, 2015 (June 30, 2015, for us). Early adoption was not permitted. The adoption of this accounting guidance did not have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Discontinued operations. In April 2014, the FASB issued new accounting guidance that revises the criteria for determining when disposals should be reported as discontinued operations and modifies the disclosure requirements. This accounting guidance was effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014 (effective January 1, 2015, for us). Early adoption was permitted. The adoption of this accounting guidance did not have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Investments in qualified affordable housing projects. In January 2014, the FASB issued new accounting guidance that modifies the conditions that must be met to make an election to account for investments in qualified affordable housing projects using the proportional amortization method or the practical expedient method to the proportional amortization method. This accounting guidance was effective retrospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014 (effective January 1, 2015, for us). Early adoption was permitted. We elected to amortize our LIHTCs under the practical expedient method to the proportional amortization method. As our LIHTCs were previously accounted for under the effective yield method and related amortization expense was previously classified as income taxes in our Consolidated Statements of Income, the adoption of this accounting guidance did not have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations. We provide additional information regarding our LIHTCs in Note 9.

Troubled debt restructurings. In January 2014, the FASB issued new accounting guidance that clarifies the definition of when an in substance repossession or foreclosure occurs for purposes of creditor reclassification of residential real estate collateralized consumer mortgage loans by derecognizing the loan and recognizing the collateral asset. This accounting guidance was effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014 (effective January 1, 2015, for us) and could be implemented using either a modified retrospective method or prospective method. Early adoption was permitted. We elected to implement the new accounting guidance using a prospective approach. The adoption of this accounting guidance did not have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations. We provide the disclosure related to consumer residential mortgages required by this new accounting guidance in Note 4 (“Asset Quality”).

Accounting Guidance Pending Adoption at September 30, 2015

Business combinations. In September 2015, the FASB issued new accounting guidance that obligates an acquirer in a business combination to recognize adjustments to provisional amounts in the reporting period that the amounts were determined, eliminating the requirement for retrospective adjustments. The acquirer should record in the current period any income effects that resulted from the change in provisional amounts, calculated as if the accounting were completed at the acquisition date. This accounting guidance will be effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015 (effective January 1, 2016, for us) and should be implemented using the prospective method. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this accounting guidance is not expected to have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Fair value measurement. In May 2015, the FASB issued new disclosure guidance that eliminates the requirement to categorize investments measured using the net asset value practical expedient in the fair value hierarchy table. Entities will be required to disclose the fair value of investments measured using the net asset value practical expedient so that financial statement users can reconcile amounts reported in the fair value hierarchy table to amounts reported on the balance sheet. This disclosure will be presented for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015 (March 31, 2016, for us) on a retrospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this disclosure guidance will not affect our financial condition or results of operations.

Cloud computing fees. In April 2015, the FASB issued new accounting guidance that clarifies a customer’s accounting for fees paid in a cloud computing arrangement. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, then the customer should account for the software license element of the arrangement consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the customer should account for the arrangement as a service contract. This accounting guidance will be effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015 (effective January 1, 2016, for us) and can be implemented using either a prospective method or a retrospective method. Early adoption is permitted. We have elected to implement this new accounting guidance using a prospective approach. The adoption of this accounting guidance is not expected to have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Imputation of interest. In April 2015, the FASB issued new accounting guidance that requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. This accounting guidance will be effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015 (effective January 1, 2016, for us) and should be implemented using a retrospective method. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this accounting guidance is not expected to have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Consolidation. In February 2015, the FASB issued new accounting guidance that changes the analysis that a reporting entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. The new guidance amends the current accounting guidance to address limited partnerships and similar legal entities, certain investment funds, fees paid to a decision maker or service provider, and the impact of fee arrangements and related parties on the primary beneficiary determination. This accounting guidance will be effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015 (effective January 1, 2016, for us) and should be implemented using a modified retrospective basis. Retrospective application to all relevant prior periods and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this accounting guidance is not expected to have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Derivatives and hedging. In November 2014, the FASB issued new accounting guidance that clarifies how current guidance should be interpreted when evaluating the economic characteristics and risks of a host contract in a hybrid financial instrument that is issued in the form of a share. An entity should consider all relevant terms and features, including the embedded derivative feature being evaluated for bifurcation, when evaluating the nature of a host contract. This accounting guidance will be effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015 (effective January 1, 2016, for us) and should be implemented using a modified retrospective basis. Retrospective application to all relevant prior periods and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this accounting guidance is not expected to have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Going concern. In August 2014, the FASB issued new accounting guidance that requires management to perform interim and annual assessments of an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date the financial statements are issued. Disclosure is required when conditions or events raise substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. This accounting guidance will be effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 (effective January 1, 2017, for us). Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this accounting guidance is not expected to have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Consolidation. In August 2014, the FASB issued new accounting guidance that clarifies how to measure the financial assets and the financial liabilities of a consolidated collateralized financing entity. This accounting guidance will be effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015 (effective January 1, 2016, for us) and can be implemented using either a retrospective method or a cumulative-effect approach. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this accounting guidance is not expected to have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Stock-based compensation. In June 2014, the FASB issued new accounting guidance that clarifies how to account for share-based payments when the terms of an award provide that a performance target could be achieved after the requisite service period. This accounting guidance will be effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015 (effective January 1, 2016, for us) and can be implemented using either a retrospective method or a prospective method. Early adoption is permitted. We have elected to implement this new accounting guidance using a prospective approach. The adoption of this accounting guidance is not expected to have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Revenue recognition. In May 2014, the FASB issued new accounting guidance that revises the criteria for determining when to recognize revenue from contracts with customers and expands disclosure requirements. This accounting guidance can be implemented using either a retrospective method or a cumulative-effect approach. In August 2015, the FASB issued an update that defers the effective date of the revenue recognition guidance by one year. This new guidance will be effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 (effective January 1, 2018, for us). Early adoption is permitted but only for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. We have elected to implement this new accounting guidance using a cumulative-effect approach. Our preliminary analysis suggests that the adoption of this accounting guidance is not expected to have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations. There are many aspects of this new accounting guidance that are still being interpreted, and the FASB has recently issued and proposed updates to certain aspects of the guidance. Therefore, the results of our materiality analysis may change based on the conclusions reached as to the application of the new guidance.