CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,918,793	$ 2,416,219
Available-for-sale investments at fair value (cost of $211,406 and $196,402, respectively)	208,603	195,391
Loans held for investment (net of allowance for losses of $184,701 and $112,507, respectively)	15,137,922	11,630,591
Restricted cash and investments	53,717	27,980
Other interest-earning assets	49,114	54,845
Accrued interest receivable	766,106	564,496
Premises and equipment, net	87,063	81,273
Tax indemnification receivable	259,532	186,076
Other assets	52,153	57,227
Total assets	18,533,003	15,214,098
Liabilities
Deposits	13,435,667	11,487,707
Short-term borrowings	0	500,175
Long-term borrowings	2,167,979	579,101
Income taxes payable, net	184,324	166,662
Upromise member accounts	256,041	275,384
Other liabilities	141,934	108,746
Total liabilities	16,185,945	13,117,775
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: 436.6 million and 430.7 million shares issued, respectively	87,327	86,136
Additional paid-in capital	1,175,564	1,135,860
Accumulated other comprehensive loss tax benefit	(8,671)	(16,059)
Retained earnings	595,322	366,609
Total SLM Corporation stockholders’ equity before treasury stock	2,414,542	2,137,546
Less: Common stock held in treasury at cost: 7.7 million and 4.4 million shares, respectively	(67,484)	(41,223)
Total equity	2,347,058	2,096,323
Total liabilities and equity	18,533,003	15,214,098
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