Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Significant Accounting Policies	Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation The financial reporting and accounting policies of SLM Corporation (“Sallie Mae,” “SLM,” the “Company,” “we” or “us”) conform to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). In conjunction with the Spin-Off (as herein after defined), our consolidated financial statements are comprised of financial information relating to Sallie Mae Bank (the “Bank”), Upromise, Inc. ("Upromise") and the Private Education Loan origination functions. We use “Private Education Loans” to mean education loans to students or their families that are non-federal loans and loans not insured or guaranteed under the previously existing Federal Family Education Loan Program (“FFELP”). Also included in our financial statements, for periods before the Spin-Off, are certain general corporate overhead expenses allocated to the Company. On April 30, 2014, we completed our plan to legally separate into two distinct publicly traded entities - an education loan management, servicing and asset recovery business, Navient Corporation (“Navient”), and a consumer banking business, SLM Corporation. The separation of Navient from SLM Corporation (the “Spin-Off”) was preceded by an internal corporate reorganization, which was the first step to separate the education loan management, servicing and asset recovery business from the consumer banking business. As a result of a holding company merger under Section 251(g) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”), which is referred to herein as the “SLM Merger,” all of the shares of then existing SLM Corporation’s common stock were converted, on a 1-to-1 basis, into shares of common stock of New BLC Corporation, a newly formed company that was a subsidiary of pre-Spin-Off SLM Corporation (“pre-Spin-Off SLM”), and, pursuant to the SLM Merger, New BLC Corporation replaced then existing SLM Corporation as the publicly-traded registrant and changed its name to SLM Corporation. As part of the internal corporate reorganization, the assets and liabilities associated with the education loan management, servicing and asset recovery business were transferred to Navient, and those assets and liabilities associated with the consumer banking business remained with or were transferred to the newly constituted SLM Corporation. The separation and distribution were accounted for on a substantially tax-free basis. The timing and steps necessary to complete the Spin-Off and comply with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") reporting requirements, including the replacement of pre-Spin-Off SLM Corporation with our current publicly-traded registrant, have resulted in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 filed with the SEC on February 19, 2014, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, filed with the SEC on May 12, 2014, providing business results and financial information for the periods reported therein on the basis of the consolidated businesses of pre-Spin-Off SLM. While information contained in those prior reports may provide meaningful historical context for the Company’s business, the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2014 was our first periodic report made on the basis of the post-Spin-Off business of the Company. At the time of the Spin-Off transaction, we had a targeted starting equity balance of $1,710 million. To achieve the targeted equity balance we retained $565 million of preferred stock and approximately $473 million of cash to offset the obligation attributable to the principal of Series A Preferred Stock and the Series B Preferred Stock, substantially similar to pre-Spin-Off SLM's respective series of preferred stock. For periods before the Spin-Off, these financial statements are presented on a basis of accounting that reflects a change in reporting entity and have been adjusted for the effects of the Spin-Off. These carve-out financial statements and selected financial information represent only those operations, assets, liabilities and equity that form Sallie Mae on a stand-alone basis. Because the Spin-Off occurred on April 30, 2014, these financial statements include the carved out financial results for the first four months of 2014. All prior period amounts represent carved-out amounts. Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries after eliminating the effects of intercompany accounts and transactions. Allowance for Private Education Loan Losses We maintain an allowance for loan losses at an amount sufficient to absorb probable losses incurred in our portfolios at the reporting date based on a projection of estimated probable credit losses incurred in the portfolio. We analyze our portfolio to determine the effects various stages of delinquency have on borrower default behavior and ultimate charge-off activity. We estimate the allowance for loan losses for our loan portfolio using a migration analysis of delinquent and current accounts. A migration analysis is a technique used to estimate the likelihood a loan receivable may progress through the various delinquency stages and ultimately charge off. We may also take into account the current and future economic environment and other qualitative factors when calculating the allowance for loan losses. The evaluation of the allowance for loan losses is inherently subjective, as it requires material estimates that may be susceptible to significant changes. Our default estimates are based on a loss confirmation period (loss confirmation period represents the expected period between a loss event and when management considers the debt to be uncollectible), taking into consideration account management practices that affect the timing of a loss, such as the usage of forbearance. Prior to the Spin-Off, the Bank exercised its right and sold substantially all of the Private Education Loans it originated that became delinquent or were granted forbearance to one or more of its then affiliates at its fair value. Because of this arrangement, the Bank did not hold many loans in forbearance. As a result, the Bank had very little historical forbearance activity and very few delinquencies. In connection with the Spin-Off, the agreement under which the Bank previously made these sales was amended so that the Bank now only has the right to require Navient to purchase (at fair value) loans only where (a) the borrower has a lending relationship with both the Bank and Navient (“Split Loans”) and (b) the Split Loans either (1) are more than 90 days past due; (2) have been restructured; (3) have been granted a hardship forbearance or more than six months of administrative forbearance; or (4) have a borrower or cosigner who has filed for bankruptcy. At September 30, 2014, we held approximately $126 million of Split Loans. Pre-Spin-Off SLM charged off loans when they were 212 days delinquent. As such, default aversion strategies were focused on the final stages of delinquency, from 150 days to 212 days. In connection with the Spin-Off, we changed our charge-off policy for Private Education Loans to charging off loans when they reach 120 days delinquent. As a result of changing our corporate charge-off policy and greatly reducing the number of potentially delinquent loans we sell to Navient, our default aversion strategies must now focus on loans 30 to 120 days delinquent. This change has the effect of accelerating the recognition of losses due to the shorter charge-off period (120 days). In addition, at the time of the Spin-Off, we changed our loss confirmation period from two years to one year to reflect the shorter charge-off policy and our revised servicing practices. These two changes resulted in recognizing a $14 million net reduction in our allowance for loan losses in second quarter 2014 because we are now only reserving for one year of losses as compared with two years under the prior policy, which more than offset the impact of the shorter charge-off period. The one-year estimate underlying the allowance for loan losses is subject to a number of assumptions. If actual future performance in delinquency, charge-offs and recoveries are significantly different than estimated, or account management assumptions or practices were to change, this could materially affect the estimate of the allowance for loan losses, the timing of when losses are recognized, and the related provision for loan losses on our consolidated statements of income. Separately, for our troubled debt restructurings ("TDR") portfolio, we estimate an allowance amount sufficient to cover life-of-loan expected losses through an impairment calculation based on the difference between the loan’s basis and the present value of expected future cash flows (which would include life-of-loan default and recovery assumptions) discounted at the loan’s original effective interest rate. Our TDR portfolio is comprised mostly of loans with interest rate reductions and forbearance usage greater than three months. Securitization Accounting In the third quarter 2014, we entered into our first securitization transaction. We accounted for this as a sale of loans and we do not consolidate the securitization trust. This securitization used a two-step structure with a special purpose entity that legally isolated the transferred assets from us, even in the event of bankruptcy. The transaction was also structured to ensure the holders of the beneficial interests issued are not constrained from pledging or exchanging their interests, and we do not maintain effective control over the transferred assets. If these criteria had not been met, then the transaction would be accounted for as an on-balance sheet secured borrowing. Our securitization transaction was legally structured to be a sale of assets that isolated the transferred assets from us. If a securitization qualifies as a sale, we then assess whether we are the primary beneficiary of the securitization trust and are required to consolidate such trust. If we are the primary beneficiary then no gain or loss is recognized. The investors in the securitization trust have no recourse to our assets should there be a failure of the trust to pay when due. Generally, the only recourse the trust has to us is in the event we breach a seller representation or warranty or our duties as master servicer, in which event we agree to repurchase the related loans from the trust. As master servicer, our primary responsibility will be to monitor the performance of the subservicer and find a substitute subservicer in the event the subservicer of the trust defaults. We did not record a servicing asset or servicing liability related to the securitization transaction we entered into in third quarter 2014 because we determined the master servicing fee we receive is at market rate. Gains on Sale of Loans, net We participate and sell loans to third parties and affiliates (including entities that were related parties prior to the Spin-off Transaction). These sales may be through whole loan sales or securitization transactions that qualify for sales treatment. These loans were initially recorded as held for investment, and were transferred to held-for-sale immediately prior to sale or securitization. Beginning in April 2012, loans were sold at fair value. Details of these transactions are further discussed in Note 12, “Arrangements with Navient Corporation.” In the third quarter 2014, we sold $1.2 billion of loans through loan sales and a securitization transaction with third parties. As a result of these loan sales we recorded net gains of $85 million. In the third quarter 2013, we recorded $43 million in net gains from the sale of $0.6 billion of loan sales. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we sold $1.9 billion of loans through loan sales and a securitization transaction. As a result of these loan sales we recorded net gains of $121 million. In the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we recorded $192 million in net gains from the sale of $2.3 billion of loans. Income Taxes In connection with the Spin-Off, the Company has become the taxpayer legally responsible for $283 million of deferred taxes payable (installment payments due quarterly through 2018) in connection with gains recognized by pre-Spin-Off SLM on debt repurchases in prior years. As part of the tax sharing agreement between the Company and Navient, Navient has agreed to fully pay us for these deferred taxes due. An indemnification receivable of $264 million was recorded, which represents the fair value of the future payments under the agreement based on a discounted cash flow model. We will accrue interest income on the indemnification receivable using the interest method. The Company also recorded a liability related to uncertain tax positions of $27 million for which we are indemnified by Navient. If there is an adjustment to the indemnified uncertain tax liability, an offsetting adjustment to the indemnification receivable will be recorded as pre-tax adjustment to the income statement. As of the date of the Spin-Off on April 30, 2014, we recorded a liability of $310 million ($283 million related to deferred taxes and $27 million related to uncertain tax positions) and an indemnification receivable of $291 million ($310 million less the $19 million discount). As of September 30, 2014, the liability balance is $299 million ($283 million related to deferred taxes and $16 million related to uncertain tax positions) and the indemnification receivable balance is $254 million ($238 million related to deferred taxes and $16 million related to uncertain tax positions). Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements On May 28, 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective on January 1, 2017. Early application is not permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. We have determined that this new guidance will have an immaterial impact on the financial results of the Company.

Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The financial reporting and accounting policies of SLM Corporation (“Sallie Mae,” “SLM,” the “Company,” “we” or “us”) conform to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). In conjunction with the Spin-Off (as herein after defined), our consolidated financial statements are comprised of financial information relating to Sallie Mae Bank (the “Bank”), Upromise, Inc. ("Upromise") and the Private Education Loan origination functions. We use “Private Education Loans” to mean education loans to students or their families that are non-federal loans and loans not insured or guaranteed under the previously existing Federal Family Education Loan Program (“FFELP”). Also included in our financial statements, for periods before the Spin-Off, are certain general corporate overhead expenses allocated to the Company.

On April 30, 2014, we completed our plan to legally separate into two distinct publicly traded entities - an education loan management, servicing and asset recovery business, Navient Corporation (“Navient”), and a consumer banking business, SLM Corporation. The separation of Navient from SLM Corporation (the “Spin-Off”) was preceded by an internal corporate reorganization, which was the first step to separate the education loan management, servicing and asset recovery business from the consumer banking business. As a result of a holding company merger under Section 251(g) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”), which is referred to herein as the “SLM Merger,” all of the shares of then existing SLM Corporation’s common stock were converted, on a 1-to-1 basis, into shares of common stock of New BLC Corporation, a newly formed company that was a subsidiary of pre-Spin-Off SLM Corporation (“pre-Spin-Off SLM”), and, pursuant to the SLM Merger, New BLC Corporation replaced then existing SLM Corporation as the publicly-traded registrant and changed its name to SLM Corporation. As part of the internal corporate reorganization, the assets and liabilities associated with the education loan management, servicing and asset recovery business were transferred to Navient, and those assets and liabilities associated with the consumer banking business remained with or were transferred to the newly constituted SLM Corporation. The separation and distribution were accounted for on a substantially tax-free basis.

The timing and steps necessary to complete the Spin-Off and comply with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") reporting requirements, including the replacement of pre-Spin-Off SLM Corporation with our current publicly-traded registrant, have resulted in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 filed with the SEC on February 19, 2014, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, filed with the SEC on May 12, 2014, providing business results and financial information for the periods reported therein on the basis of the consolidated businesses of pre-Spin-Off SLM. While information contained in those prior reports may provide meaningful historical context for the Company’s business, the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2014 was our first periodic report made on the basis of the post-Spin-Off business of the Company.

At the time of the Spin-Off transaction, we had a targeted starting equity balance of $1,710 million. To achieve the targeted equity balance we retained $565 million of preferred stock and approximately $473 million of cash to offset the obligation attributable to the principal of Series A Preferred Stock and the Series B Preferred Stock, substantially similar to pre-Spin-Off SLM's respective series of preferred stock.

For periods before the Spin-Off, these financial statements are presented on a basis of accounting that reflects a change in reporting entity and have been adjusted for the effects of the Spin-Off. These carve-out financial statements and selected financial information represent only those operations, assets, liabilities and equity that form Sallie Mae on a stand-alone basis. Because the Spin-Off occurred on April 30, 2014, these financial statements include the carved out financial results for the first four months of 2014. All prior period amounts represent carved-out amounts.

Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries after eliminating the effects of intercompany accounts and transactions.

Allowance for Private Education Loan Losses

We maintain an allowance for loan losses at an amount sufficient to absorb probable losses incurred in our portfolios at the reporting date based on a projection of estimated probable credit losses incurred in the portfolio.

We analyze our portfolio to determine the effects various stages of delinquency have on borrower default behavior and ultimate charge-off activity. We estimate the allowance for loan losses for our loan portfolio using a migration analysis of delinquent and current accounts. A migration analysis is a technique used to estimate the likelihood a loan receivable may progress through the various delinquency stages and ultimately charge off. We may also take into account the current and future economic environment and other qualitative factors when calculating the allowance for loan losses.

The evaluation of the allowance for loan losses is inherently subjective, as it requires material estimates that may be susceptible to significant changes. Our default estimates are based on a loss confirmation period (loss confirmation period represents the expected period between a loss event and when management considers the debt to be uncollectible), taking into consideration account management practices that affect the timing of a loss, such as the usage of forbearance.

Prior to the Spin-Off, the Bank exercised its right and sold substantially all of the Private Education Loans it originated that became delinquent or were granted forbearance to one or more of its then affiliates at its fair value. Because of this arrangement, the Bank did not hold many loans in forbearance. As a result, the Bank had very little historical forbearance activity and very few delinquencies.

In connection with the Spin-Off, the agreement under which the Bank previously made these sales was amended so that the Bank now only has the right to require Navient to purchase (at fair value) loans only where (a) the borrower has a lending relationship with both the Bank and Navient (“Split Loans”) and (b) the Split Loans either (1) are more than 90 days past due; (2) have been restructured; (3) have been granted a hardship forbearance or more than six months of administrative forbearance; or (4) have a borrower or cosigner who has filed for bankruptcy. At September 30, 2014, we held approximately $126 million of Split Loans.

Pre-Spin-Off SLM charged off loans when they were 212 days delinquent. As such, default aversion strategies were focused on the final stages of delinquency, from 150 days to 212 days. In connection with the Spin-Off, we changed our charge-off policy for Private Education Loans to charging off loans when they reach 120 days delinquent. As a result of changing our corporate charge-off policy and greatly reducing the number of potentially delinquent loans we sell to Navient, our default aversion strategies must now focus on loans 30 to 120 days delinquent. This change has the effect of accelerating the recognition of losses due to the shorter charge-off period (120 days). In addition, at the time of the Spin-Off, we changed our loss confirmation period from two years to one year to reflect the shorter charge-off policy and our revised servicing practices. These two changes resulted in recognizing a $14 million net reduction in our allowance for loan losses in second quarter 2014 because we are now only reserving for one year of losses as compared with two years under the prior policy, which more than offset the impact of the shorter charge-off period.

The one-year estimate underlying the allowance for loan losses is subject to a number of assumptions. If actual future performance in delinquency, charge-offs and recoveries are significantly different than estimated, or account management assumptions or practices were to change, this could materially affect the estimate of the allowance for loan losses, the timing of when losses are recognized, and the related provision for loan losses on our consolidated statements of income.

Separately, for our troubled debt restructurings ("TDR") portfolio, we estimate an allowance amount sufficient to cover life-of-loan expected losses through an impairment calculation based on the difference between the loan’s basis and the present value of expected future cash flows (which would include life-of-loan default and recovery assumptions) discounted at the loan’s original effective interest rate. Our TDR portfolio is comprised mostly of loans with interest rate reductions and forbearance usage greater than three months.

Securitization Accounting

In the third quarter 2014, we entered into our first securitization transaction. We accounted for this as a sale of loans and we do not consolidate the securitization trust. This securitization used a two-step structure with a special purpose entity that legally isolated the transferred assets from us, even in the event of bankruptcy. The transaction was also structured to ensure the holders of the beneficial interests issued are not constrained from pledging or exchanging their interests, and we do not maintain effective control over the transferred assets. If these criteria had not been met, then the transaction would be accounted for as an on-balance sheet secured borrowing. Our securitization transaction was legally structured to be a sale of assets that isolated the transferred assets from us. If a securitization qualifies as a sale, we then assess whether we are the primary beneficiary of the securitization trust and are required to consolidate such trust. If we are the primary beneficiary then no gain or loss is recognized.

The investors in the securitization trust have no recourse to our assets should there be a failure of the trust to pay when due. Generally, the only recourse the trust has to us is in the event we breach a seller representation or warranty or our duties as master servicer, in which event we agree to repurchase the related loans from the trust. As master servicer, our primary responsibility will be to monitor the performance of the subservicer and find a substitute subservicer in the event the subservicer of the trust defaults.

We did not record a servicing asset or servicing liability related to the securitization transaction we entered into in third quarter 2014 because we determined the master servicing fee we receive is at market rate.

Gains on Sale of Loans, net

We participate and sell loans to third parties and affiliates (including entities that were related parties prior to the Spin-off Transaction). These sales may be through whole loan sales or securitization transactions that qualify for sales treatment. These loans were initially recorded as held for investment, and were transferred to held-for-sale immediately prior to sale or securitization. Beginning in April 2012, loans were sold at fair value. Details of these transactions are further discussed in Note 12, “Arrangements with Navient Corporation.”

In the third quarter 2014, we sold $1.2 billion of loans through loan sales and a securitization transaction with third parties. As a result of these loan sales we recorded net gains of $85 million. In the third quarter 2013, we recorded $43 million in net gains from the sale of $0.6 billion of loan sales.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we sold $1.9 billion of loans through loan sales and a securitization transaction. As a result of these loan sales we recorded net gains of $121 million. In the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we recorded $192 million in net gains from the sale of $2.3 billion of loans.

Income Taxes

In connection with the Spin-Off, the Company has become the taxpayer legally responsible for $283 million of deferred taxes payable (installment payments due quarterly through 2018) in connection with gains recognized by pre-Spin-Off SLM on debt repurchases in prior years. As part of the tax sharing agreement between the Company and Navient, Navient has agreed to fully pay us for these deferred taxes due. An indemnification receivable of $264 million was recorded, which represents the fair value of the future payments under the agreement based on a discounted cash flow model. We will accrue interest income on the indemnification receivable using the interest method.

The Company also recorded a liability related to uncertain tax positions of $27 million for which we are indemnified by Navient. If there is an adjustment to the indemnified uncertain tax liability, an offsetting adjustment to the indemnification receivable will be recorded as pre-tax adjustment to the income statement.

As of the date of the Spin-Off on April 30, 2014, we recorded a liability of $310 million ($283 million related to deferred taxes and $27 million related to uncertain tax positions) and an indemnification receivable of $291 million ($310 million less the $19 million discount). As of September 30, 2014, the liability balance is $299 million ($283 million related to deferred taxes and $16 million related to uncertain tax positions) and the indemnification receivable balance is $254 million ($238 million related to deferred taxes and $16 million related to uncertain tax positions).

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

On May 28, 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective on January 1, 2017. Early application is not permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. We have determined that this new guidance will have an immaterial impact on the financial results of the Company.