KeyCorp Earnings Call Nuggets: Growth Rate of Core Expenses and Positive Operating Leverage

KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY) recently reported its fourth quarter earnings and discussed the following topics in its earnings conference call.

Growth Rate of Core Expenses

Steven Alexopoulos – JPMorgan: My question is on the expenses. Ex the severance charges core expenses are running at $740 million and if I look at your comments that $60 million of cost saves are now realized out of the $150 million to $200 million. This would imply a run rate, right, of somewhere around $705 million to $718 million for expenses, with all the cost saves. Now, I know you’re saying expenses are going to stay high in the first half of ’13. But as we get towards the last quarter of 2013, is that how we should be thinking about expenses sort of $705 million to $718 million with some adjustment for growth rate of core expenses?

Jeffrey B. Weeden – SEVP and CFO: Steve, this is Jeff. I think as we look at how the year plays out is that expenses will trend down in the second half of the year. We’re not giving that specific of a number, but I would say in general terms, you’re thinking of it how we’re looking at those overall expense trends and I think we do have to factor in what other investments in terms of business opportunities that may exist. If we see opportunities in the market to add bankers, we will add bankers to grow revenue. So, we’re really trying to look at it on a net basis too is in terms of not just the expenses but also focusing on the revenue side of the equation.

Steven Alexopoulos – JPMorgan: Jeff, just a follow-up on that. In terms of the shift on this one slide to the cash efficiency target, could you give some color on that shift and should we read into that that the timing of getting into the 60%, 60% GAAP efficiency ratio range has maybe been extended a bit?

Jeffrey B. Weeden – SEVP and CFO: Steve, I think the cash efficiency ratio of the 60% to 65% just simply excludes the intangible amortization expense that we have. That was an item that also will decrease over time on the purchase credit card receivable amortization. Of course, it’s heavier in the first couple of years and the other core deposit intangible amortization is also heavier in the first couple of years. That will start to decrease over time. So what we wanted to get to is what’s the efficiency ratio ex the intangibles, and I think that’s where we are focused on, and we know we have to – 65% is the first step. Then we have to figure out how we are going to also continue to step down those overall expenses as well as grow revenue to get it down closer to the 60% level.