Selected Quarterly Financial Information (unaudited) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information

	2014
	First			Second			Third		Fourth
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	Quarter			Quarter			Quarter		Quarter
Net interest income	$	139,238		$	144,539		$	144,026	$	150,676
Less: provisions for loan losses	39,159			1,014			14,898		30,458
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses	100,079			143,525			129,128		120,218
Gains on sales of loans, net	33,888			1,928			85,147		396
(Losses) gains on derivative and hedging activities, net	(764		)	(9,458		)	5,401		825
Other income	8,136			15,229			5,461		11,095
Operating expenses	63,671			61,127			72,721		77,362
Acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization expense	1,767			508			508		507
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses	229			13,520			14,079		10,483
Income tax expense	28,658			31,941			54,903		24,465
Net income	47,014			44,128			82,926		19,717
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(434		)	—			—		—
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation	47,448			44,128			82,926		19,717
Preferred stock dividends	—			3,228			4,850		4,855
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	$	47,448		$	40,900		$	78,076	$	14,862
Basic earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation	$	0.11		$	0.10		$	0.18	$	0.04
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation	$	0.11		$	0.09		$	0.18	$	0.03

	2013
	First			Second			Third			Fourth
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	Quarter			Quarter			Quarter			Quarter
Net interest income	$	115,702		$	107,417		$	116,783		$	122,213
Less: provisions for loan losses	20,692			(1,015		)	20,404			29,258
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses	95,010			108,432			96,379			92,955
Gains on sales of loans, net	75,222			73,441			43,434			4,496
Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net	610			(52		)	297			(215		)
Other income	7,799			8,665			9,416			75,155
Operating expenses	60,771			66,771			68,717			74,215
Acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization expense	537			536			1,480			764
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses	23			84			—			619
Income tax expense	44,765			46,973			30,272			36,923
Net income	72,545			76,122			49,057			59,870
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(340		)	(347		)	(333		)	(332		)
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation	72,885			76,469			49,390			60,202
Preferred stock dividends	—			—			—			—
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	$	72,885		$	76,469		$	49,390		$	60,202
Basic earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation	$	0.16		$	0.17		$	0.11		$	0.14
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation	$	0.16		$	0.17		$	0.11		$	0.14