CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Interest income:
Loans	$ 553,479	$ 430,048
Investments	1,421	1,947
Cash and cash equivalents	11,553	5,236
Total interest income	566,453	437,231
Interest expense:
Deposits	125,987	77,456
Interest expense on short-term borrowings	1,165	2,393
Interest expense on long-term borrowings	37,020	24,768
Total interest expense	164,172	104,617
Net interest income	402,281	332,614
Less: provisions for credit losses	63,790	53,931
Net interest income after provisions for credit losses	338,491	278,683
Non-interest income:
Gains on derivatives and hedging activities, net	2,763	3,892
Other income	13,378	9,642
Total non-interest income	16,141	13,534
Non-interest expenses:
Compensation and benefits	78,738	68,317
FDIC assessment fees	7,618	8,796
Other operating expenses	53,791	47,853
Total non-interest expenses	140,147	124,966
Income before income tax expense	214,485	167,251
Income tax expense	56,296	40,997
Net income	158,189	126,254
Preferred stock dividends	4,468	3,397
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	$ 153,721	$ 122,857
Basic earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation (in dollars per share)	$ 0.35	$ 0.28
Average common shares outstanding (in shares)	434,574	433,952
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation (in dollars per share)	$ 0.35	$ 0.28
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)	438,248	438,977
Dividends per common share attributable to SLM Corporation (in dollars per share)	$ 0.03	$ 0