Selected Quarterly Financial Information (unaudited) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information

	2015
	First		Second		Third			Fourth
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	Quarter		Quarter		Quarter			Quarter
Net interest income	$	170,954	$	168,257	$	175,442		$	187,846
Less: provisions for credit losses	16,618		15,558		27,497			30,382
Net interest income after provisions for credit losses	154,336		152,699		147,945			157,464
Gains on sales of loans, net	—		76,874		—			58,484
Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net	3,292		1,602		(547		)	953
Other income	8,007		10,912		10,455			12,561
Operating expenses	81,187		89,799		92,864			85,245
Acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization expense	370		370		370			370
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses	4,657		744		910			(913		)
Income tax expense	31,722		60,158		17,985			54,915
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation	47,699		91,016		45,724			89,845
Preferred stock dividends	4,823		4,870		4,913			4,989
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	$	42,876	$	86,146	$	40,811		$	84,856
Basic earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation	$	0.10	$	0.20	$	0.10		$	0.20
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation	$	0.10	$	0.20	$	0.09		$	0.20

	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 credit losses	39,159			1,014			14,898		30,458
Net interest income after provisions for credit 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			60,479			72,079		78,724
Acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization expense	1,767			1,156			1,150		(855		)
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		$	0.1		$	0.18	$	0.04
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation	$	0.11		$	0.09		$	0.18	$	0.03