CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 2,416,219	$ 2,359,780
Available-for-sale investments at fair value (cost of $196,402 and $167,740, respectively)	195,391	168,934
Loans held for investment (net of allowance for losses of $112,507 and $83,842, respectively)	11,630,591	9,509,786
Restricted cash and investments	27,980	4,804
Other interest-earning assets	54,845	72,479
Accrued interest receivable	564,496	469,697
Premises and equipment, net	81,273	78,470
Acquired intangible assets, net	1,745	3,225
Tax indemnification receivable	186,076	240,311
Other assets	55,482	64,757
Total assets	15,214,098	12,972,243
Liabilities
Deposits	11,487,707	10,540,555
Short-term borrowings	500,175	0
Long-term borrowings	579,101	0
Income taxes payable, net	166,662	191,499
Upromise related liabilities	275,384	293,004
Other liabilities	108,746	117,227
Total liabilities	$ 13,117,775	$ 11,142,285
Commitments and contingencies
Preferred stock, par value $0.20 per share, 20 million shares authorized
Common stock, par value $0.20 per share, 1.125 billion shares authorized: 430.7 million and 424.8 million shares, issued, respectively	$ 86,136	$ 84,961
Additional paid-in capital	1,135,860	1,090,511
Accumulated other comprehensive loss tax benefit	(16,059)	(11,393)
Retained earnings	366,609	113,066
Total SLM Corporation's stockholders' equity before treasury stock	2,137,546	1,842,145
Less: Common stock held in treasury at cost: 4.4 million and 1.4 million shares, respectively	(41,223)	(12,187)
Total equity	2,096,323	1,829,958
Total liabilities and equity	15,214,098	12,972,243
Series A Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, par value $0.20 per share, 20 million shares authorized
Preferred stock value outstanding	165,000	165,000
Series B Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, par value $0.20 per share, 20 million shares authorized
Preferred stock value outstanding	$ 400,000	$ 400,000