CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Interest income:
Loans	$ 245,230	$ 197,856
Investments	2,591	2,720
Cash and cash equivalents	1,634	780
Total interest income	249,455	201,356
Interest expense:
Deposits	34,012	29,570
Interest expense on short-term borrowings	2,163	832
Interest expense on long-term borrowings	3,415	0
Other interest expense	2	0
Total interest expense	39,592	30,402
Net interest income	209,863	170,954
Less: provisions for credit losses	32,602	16,618
Net interest income after provisions for credit losses	177,261	154,336
Non-interest income:
(Losses) gains on derivatives and hedging activities, net	(354)	3,292
Other	21,028	8,007
Total non-interest income	20,674	11,299
Expenses:
Compensation and benefits	50,209	41,203
Other operating expenses	42,676	39,984
Total operating expenses	92,885	81,187
Acquired intangible asset amortization expense	260	370
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses	0	4,657
Total expenses	93,145	86,214
Income before income tax expense	104,790	79,421
Income tax expense	38,875	31,722
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation	65,915	47,699
Preferred stock dividends	5,139	4,823
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	$ 60,776	$ 42,876
Basic earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation (in dollars per share)	$ 0.14	$ 0.10
Average common shares outstanding (in shares)	427,111	424,428
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation (in dollars per share)	$ 0.14	$ 0.10
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)	430,903	432,302