CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Interest income:
Loans	$ 336,739	$ 251,675	$ 661,496	$ 496,905
Investments	2,201	2,371	4,344	4,962
Cash and cash equivalents	3,155	1,195	5,743	2,829
Total interest income	342,095	255,241	671,583	504,696
Interest expense:
Deposits	50,730	35,409	95,583	69,423
Interest expense on short-term borrowings	1,194	2,060	2,430	4,223
Interest expense on long-term borrowings	20,278	5,006	35,601	8,421
Total interest expense	72,202	42,475	133,614	82,067
Net interest income	269,893	212,766	537,969	422,629
Less: provisions for credit losses	50,215	41,793	75,511	74,395
Net interest income after provisions for credit losses	219,678	170,973	462,458	348,234
Non-interest income:
(Losses) gains on derivatives and hedging activities, net	(3,609)	2,142	(8,987)	1,788
Other income	10,629	13,683	21,975	34,711
Total non-interest income	7,020	15,825	12,988	36,499
Non-interest expenses:
Compensation and benefits	51,007	44,570	106,471	94,779
FDIC assessment fees	6,622	4,277	13,851	8,453
Other operating expenses	53,622	45,930	93,606	84,430
Total operating expenses	111,251	94,777	213,928	187,662
Acquired intangible asset amortization expense	117	261	234	521
Total non-interest expenses	111,368	95,038	214,162	188,183
Income before income tax expense	115,330	91,760	261,284	196,550
Income tax expense	44,713	34,555	95,724	73,430
Net income	70,617	57,205	165,560	123,120
Preferred stock dividends	3,974	5,243	9,549	10,382
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	$ 66,643	$ 51,962	$ 156,011	$ 112,738
Basic earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15	$ 0.12	$ 0.36	$ 0.26
Average common shares outstanding (in shares)	431,245	427,942	430,572	427,526
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15	$ 0.12	$ 0.35	$ 0.26
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)	438,115	431,796	438,424	431,349