CLEVELAND - Building on its existing understanding and knowledge of the financial priorities, laws and unique cultures of Native Americans, KeyBank has launched a national strategy aimed at helping tribal businesses, individuals and governments achieve financial success.

Key's understanding of - and respect for - tribal laws, governmental infrastructure and Native cultures has been crucial to its success in conducting business within the Native American segment. Currently, Key provides capital and financial services to more than 45 Native American tribes and corporations, with a total credit commitment of $414 million. Of the 562 federally recognized tribes in the United States, 305 reside in KeyBank's retail footprint.

With this launch, Key aims to use its understanding of Native American cultures and customs to deliver its full breadth of financial products and services to a significant but underserved market segment. A 2003 Census Bureau reported that individuals identifying themselves as Native Americans represented one percent of the U.S. population, or 2.9 million people.

To support the launch, Key has named Mike Lettig Native American Financial Services national executive and Steve Barker vice president and Western Region senior relationship manager for Key's newly formed Native American Financial Services team.

Lettig, who is based in Bellevue, Wash., is responsible for Key's strategy to deliver its full array of financial products, services and expertise to Native American clients and prospects nationwide. Also based in Bellevue, Barker is responsible for delivering Key's products and services to Native American clients throughout California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Key is currently in the process of recruiting an East Region senior relationship manager, who will be responsible for the states of Maine, New York, Connecticut, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

For business enterprises, Key will deliver products and services such as loans and letters of credit; equipment leasing; treasury and asset management services; loan sales, and syndications and depository accounts. For individuals and communities, these include retail banking; wealth management and trust services; financing options for education; financial education; and home ownership solutions. For governments, Key will provide financial solutions for infrastructure, governmental and social services, general obligation bonds and other debt instruments.

Supporting Lettig and his team are numerous KeyCorp product and service professionals in areas such as loan underwriting and closing, credit, equipment leasing and cash management; foreign exchange, investment banking and financial planning.

"KeyBank has long been involved in helping Native American communities to achieve financial success," Lettig said. "By first recognizing the important role tribal customs, culture and laws play in business dealings, Key has been able to tailor its broad range of products and services to truly meet tribal needs, becoming a trusted financial advisor to Native American tribes, villages and corporations."

Narrative of select KeyBank Deals with Native American Tribes / Native Corporations:

• Mescalero Apache Tribe (New Mexico):

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KeyCorp's roots trace back 190 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $176.2 billion at March 31, 2021. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,100 branches and more than 1,400 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC. 

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