10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

(Mark One)

☑    QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2023

or

☐    TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             

Commission File Number: 001-13251

SLM Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware			52-2013874
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)			(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
300 Continental Drive	Newark,	Delaware	19713
(Address of principal executive offices)			(Zip Code)

(302) 451-0200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, par value $.20 per share	SLM	The NASDAQ Global Select Market
Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B, par value $.20 per share	SLMBP	The NASDAQ Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☑    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  ☑    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer	☑		Accelerated filer	☐
Non-accelerated filer	☐	(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	☐
Emerging growth company	☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes ☐ No ☑ 

As of September 30, 2023, there were 226,271,057 shares of common stock outstanding.

SLM CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

INDEX

Part I. Financial Information
Item 1.	Financial Statements	3
Item 1.	Notes to the Financial Statements	12
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	53
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	83
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	86
PART II. Other Information
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	87
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	87
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	87
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	87
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	87
Item 5.	Other Information	87
Item 6.	Exhibits	88

2 SLM CORPORATION

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
	September 30,		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)	2023		2022
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,548,225	$	4,616,117
Investments:
Trading investments at fair value (cost of $42,196 and $47,554, respectively)	52,561		55,903
Available-for-sale investments at fair value (cost of $2,524,634 and $2,554,332, respectively)	2,315,978		2,342,089
Other investments	94,068		94,716
Total investments	2,462,607		2,492,708
Loans held for investment (net of allowance for losses of $1,416,048 and $1,357,075, respectively)	20,899,181		19,626,868
Loans held for sale	—		29,448
Restricted cash	175,061		156,719
Other interest-earning assets	11,087		11,162
Accrued interest receivable	1,457,323		1,202,059
Premises and equipment, net	132,622		140,728
Goodwill and acquired intangible assets, net	127,723		118,273
Income taxes receivable, net	409,658		380,058
Tax indemnification receivable	2,945		2,816
Other assets	46,787		34,073
Total assets	$	29,273,219	$	28,811,029
Liabilities
Deposits	$	21,550,745	$	21,448,071
Long-term borrowings	5,515,532		5,235,114
Other liabilities	407,718		400,874
Total liabilities	27,473,995		27,084,059
Commitments and contingencies
Equity
Preferred stock, par value $0.20 per share, 20 million shares authorized:
Series B: 2.5 million and 2.5 million shares issued, respectively, at stated value of $100 per share	251,070		251,070
Common stock, par value $0.20 per share, 1.125 billion shares authorized: 438.2 million and 435.1 million shares issued, respectively	87,639		87,025
Additional paid-in capital	1,140,599		1,109,072
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (net of tax benefit of ($32,548) and ($30,160), respectively)	(101,315)		(93,870)
Retained earnings	3,485,575		3,163,640
Total SLM Corporation stockholders’ equity before treasury stock	4,863,568		4,516,937
Less: Common stock held in treasury at cost: 211.9 million and 194.4 million shares, respectively	(3,064,344)		(2,789,967)
Total equity	1,799,224		1,726,970
Total liabilities and equity	$	29,273,219	$	28,811,029

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

SLM CORPORATION 3

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)	Three Months Ended   September 30,				Nine Months Ended   September 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Interest income:
Loans	$	581,080	$	483,327	$	1,732,206	$	1,387,411
Investments	13,268		10,260		36,636		24,252
Cash and cash equivalents	57,902		26,324		154,911		36,317
Total interest income	652,250		519,911		1,923,753		1,447,980
Interest expense:
Deposits	209,921		105,468		584,859		215,473
Interest expense on short-term borrowings	3,576		3,054		9,893		8,902
Interest expense on long-term borrowings	54,125		41,879		152,674		116,255
Total interest expense	267,622		150,401		747,426		340,630
Net interest income	384,628		369,510		1,176,327		1,107,350
Less: provisions for credit losses	198,023		207,598		329,864		336,193
Net interest income after provisions for credit losses	186,605		161,912		846,463		771,157
Non-interest income:
Gains (losses) on sales of loans, net	(5)		74,978		124,740		324,856
Gains (losses) on securities, net	1,490		891		1,988		(2,021)
Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net	—		—		—		(5)
Other income	22,753		19,234		63,275		52,451
Total non-interest income	24,238		95,103		190,003		375,281
Non-interest expenses:
Operating expenses:
Compensation and benefits	83,577		65,003		249,459		202,995
FDIC assessment fees	12,283		4,592		33,663		11,501
Other operating expenses	71,542		80,369		192,983		199,204
Total operating expenses	167,402		149,964		476,105		413,700
Acquired intangible assets amortization expense	2,834		2,328		7,351		5,478
Total non-interest expenses	170,236		152,292		483,456		419,178
Income before income tax expense	40,607		104,723		553,010		727,260
Income tax expense	11,242		29,551		140,062		181,203
Net income	29,365		75,172		412,948		546,057
Preferred stock dividends	4,642		2,531		12,979		5,563
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	$	24,723	$	72,641	$	399,969	$	540,494
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.11	$	0.29	$	1.71	$	2.05
Average common shares outstanding	226,120		251,266		234,170		263,098
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.11	$	0.29	$	1.69	$	2.03
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding	228,800		253,716		236,593		266,065
Declared dividends per common share	$	0.11	$	0.11	$	0.33	$	0.33

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

4 SLM CORPORATION

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)	Three Months Ended   September 30,				Nine Months Ended   September 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Net income	$	29,365	$	75,172	$	412,948	$	546,057
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments	(17,686)		(68,701)		3,358		(197,930)
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	(5,767)		29,823		(13,191)		98,248
Total unrealized gains (losses)	(23,453)		(38,878)		(9,833)		(99,682)
Income tax (expense) benefit	5,702		9,400		2,388		24,102
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (expense) benefit	(17,751)		(29,478)		(7,445)		(75,580)
Total comprehensive income	$	11,614	$	45,694	$	405,503	$	470,477

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

SLM CORPORATION 5

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Unaudited)
		Common Stock Shares
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)	Preferred Stock Shares	Issued	Treasury	Outstanding	Preferred Stock		Common Stock		Additional Paid-In Capital		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss		Retained Earnings		Treasury Stock		Total Equity
Balance at June 30, 2022	2,510,696	435,102,082	(183,717,942)	251,384,140	$	251,070	$	87,021	$	1,095,296	$	(63,999)	$	3,225,610	$	(2,618,188)	$	1,976,810
Net income	—	—	—	—	—		—		—		—		75,172		—		75,172
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	—	—	—	—	—		—		—		(29,478)		—		—		(29,478)
Total comprehensive income	—	—	—	—	—		—		—		—		—		—		45,694
Cash dividends declared:
Common stock ($0.11 per share)	—	—	—	—	—		—		—		—		(27,643)		—		(27,643)
Preferred Stock, Series B ($1.01 per share)	—	—	—	—	—		—		—		—		(2,531)		—		(2,531)
Dividend equivalent units related to employee stock-based compensation plans	—	—	—	—	—		—		(539)		—		(1)		—		(540)
Issuance of common shares	—	4,682	—	4,682	—		1		539		—		—		—		540
Stock-based compensation expense	—	—	—	—	—		—		6,465		—		289		—		6,754
Common stock repurchased	—	—	(1,191,544)	(1,191,544)	—		—		—		—		—		(16,849)		(16,849)
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans	—	—	(448)	(448)	—		—		—		—		—		(7)		(7)
Balance at September 30, 2022	2,510,696	435,106,764	(184,909,934)	250,196,830	$	251,070	$	87,022	$	1,101,761	$	(93,477)	$	3,270,896	$	(2,635,044)	$	1,982,228

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

6 SLM CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Unaudited)
		Common Stock Shares
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)	Preferred Stock Shares	Issued	Treasury	Outstanding	Preferred Stock		Common Stock		Additional Paid-In Capital		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss		Retained Earnings		Treasury Stock		Total Equity
Balance at June 30, 2023	2,510,696	437,993,893	(211,913,035)	226,080,858	$	251,070	$	87,599	$	1,129,537	$	(83,564)	$	3,485,732	$	(3,064,010)	$	1,806,364
Net income	—	—	—	—	—		—		—		—		29,365		—		29,365
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	—	—	—	—	—		—		—		(17,751)		—		—		(17,751)
Total comprehensive income	—	—	—	—	—		—		—		—		—		—		11,614
Cash dividends declared:
Common stock ($0.11 per share)	—	—	—	—	—		—		—		—		(24,879)		—		(24,879)
Preferred Stock, Series B ($1.85 per share)	—	—	—	—	—		—		—		—		(4,642)		—		(4,642)
Issuance of common shares	—	200,886	—	200,886	—		40		2,590		—		(1)		—		2,629
Stock-based compensation expense	—	—	—	—	—		—		8,472		—		—		—		8,472
Common stock repurchased	—	—	—	—	—		—		—		—		—		(161)		(161)
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans	—	—	(10,687)	(10,687)	—		—		—		—		—		(173)		(173)
Balance at September 30, 2023	2,510,696	438,194,779	(211,923,722)	226,271,057	$	251,070	$	87,639	$	1,140,599	$	(101,315)	$	3,485,575	$	(3,064,344)	$	1,799,224

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

SLM CORPORATION 7

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Unaudited)
		Common Stock Shares
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)	Preferred Stock Shares	Issued	Treasury	Outstanding	Preferred Stock		Common Stock		Additional Paid-In Capital		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss		Retained Earnings		Treasury Stock		Total Equity
Balance at December 31, 2021	2,510,696	432,013,372	(153,056,639)	278,956,733	$	251,070	$	86,403	$	1,074,384	$	(17,897)	$	2,817,134	$	(2,061,383)	$	2,149,711
Net income	—	—	—	—	—		—		—		—		546,057		—		546,057
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	—	—	—	—	—		—		—		(75,580)		—		—		(75,580)
Total comprehensive income	—	—	—	—	—		—		—		—		—		—		470,477
Cash dividends declared:
Common stock ($0.33 per share)	—	—	—	—	—		—		—		—		(86,219)		—		(86,219)
Preferred Stock, Series B ($2.22 per share)	—	—	—	—	—		—		—		—		(5,563)		—		(5,563)
Dividend equivalent units related to employee stock-based compensation plans	—	—	—	—	—		—		245		—		(802)		—		(557)
Issuance of common shares	—	3,093,392	—	3,093,392	—		619		371		—		—		—		990
Stock-based compensation expense	—	—	—	—	—		—		26,761		—		289		—		27,050
Common stock repurchased	—	—	(30,721,944)	(30,721,944)	—		—		—		—		—		(552,887)		(552,887)
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans	—	—	(1,131,351)	(1,131,351)	—		—		—		—		—		(20,774)		(20,774)
Balance at September 30, 2022	2,510,696	435,106,764	(184,909,934)	250,196,830	$	251,070	$	87,022	$	1,101,761	$	(93,477)	$	3,270,896	$	(2,635,044)	$	1,982,228

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

8 SLM CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Unaudited)
		Common Stock Shares
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)	Preferred Stock Shares	Issued	Treasury	Outstanding	Preferred Stock		Common Stock		Additional Paid-In Capital		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss		Retained Earnings		Treasury Stock		Total Equity
Balance at December 31, 2022	2,510,696	435,121,140	(194,445,696)	240,675,444	$	251,070	$	87,025	$	1,109,072	$	(93,870)	$	3,163,640	$	(2,789,967)	$	1,726,970
Net income	—	—	—	—	—		—		—		—		412,948		—		412,948
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	—	—	—	—	—		—		—		(7,445)		—		—		(7,445)
Total comprehensive income	—	—	—	—	—		—		—		—		—		—		405,503
Cash dividends declared:
Common stock ($0.33 per share)	—	—	—	—	—		—		—		—		(76,817)		—		(76,817)
Preferred Stock, Series B ($5.17 per share)	—	—	—	—	—		—		—		—		(12,979)		—		(12,979)
Issuance of common shares	—	3,073,639		3,073,639	—		614		3,227		—		(1,217)		—		2,624
Stock-based compensation expense	—	—	—	—	—		—		28,300		—		—		—		28,300
Common stock repurchased	—	—	(16,389,696)	(16,389,696)	—		—		—		—		—		(257,563)		(257,563)
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans	—	—	(1,088,330)	(1,088,330)	—		—		—		—		—		(16,814)		(16,814)
Balance at September 30, 2023	2,510,696	438,194,779	(211,923,722)	226,271,057	$	251,070	$	87,639	$	1,140,599	$	(101,315)	$	3,485,575	$	(3,064,344)	$	1,799,224

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

SLM CORPORATION 9

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
	Nine Months Ended   September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023		2022
Operating activities
Net income	$	412,948	$	546,057
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Provisions for credit losses	329,864		336,193
Income tax expense	140,062		181,203
Amortization of brokered deposit placement fee	8,818		9,757
Amortization of Secured Borrowing Facility upfront fee	2,149		1,930
Amortization of deferred loan origination costs and loan premium/(discounts), net	9,831		11,619
Net amortization of discount on investments	(2,012)		802
Increase in tax indemnification receivable	(129)		(345)
Depreciation of premises and equipment	13,404		12,840
Acquired intangible assets amortization expense	7,351		5,478
Stock-based compensation expense	28,300		27,152
Unrealized (gains) losses on derivatives and hedging activities, net	(280)		247
Gains on sales of loans, net	(124,740)		(324,856)
(Gains) losses on securities, net	(1,988)		2,021
Acquisition transaction costs, net	997		2,602
Other adjustments to net income, net	12,279		11,153
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Increase in accrued interest receivable	(777,125)		(580,704)
Increase in trading investments	—		(5,064)
Increase in non-marketable securities	(853)		(2,050)
Decrease (increase) in other interest-earning assets	75		(1,370)
Increase in other assets	(31,211)		(20,725)
Decrease in income taxes payable, net	(163,077)		(217,909)
Increase in accrued interest payable	27,829		25,307
Decrease in other liabilities	(9,988)		(15,471)
Total adjustments	(530,444)		(540,190)
Total net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(117,496)		5,867
Investing activities
Loans acquired and originated	(5,600,123)		(5,234,895)
Net proceeds from sales of loans held for investment and loans held for sale	2,157,024		3,460,758
Proceeds from FFELP Loan claim payments	39,836		22,587
Net decrease in loans held for investment and loans held for sale (other than loans acquired and originated, and loan sales)	2,338,426		2,833,822
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	(70,790)		(753,129)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of available-for-sale securities	215,042		812,712
Purchase of subsidiary, net of cash acquired	(14,654)		(127,654)
Total net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(935,239)		1,014,201
Financing activities
Brokered deposit placement fee	(6,904)		(8,147)
Net increase (decrease) in certificates of deposit	886,475		(77,938)
Net increase (decrease) in other deposits	(796,218)		611,851
Issuance costs for collateralized borrowings	(15)		(40)
Borrowings collateralized by loans in securitization trusts - issued	1,135,054		572,640
Borrowings collateralized by loans in securitization trusts - repaid	(863,230)		(988,505)
Issuance costs for unsecured debt offering	—		(375)
Fees paid on Secured Borrowing Facility	(2,850)		(2,838)
Common stock dividends paid	(76,817)		(86,219)
Preferred stock dividends paid	(12,979)		(5,563)
Common stock repurchased	(259,331)		(555,607)
Total net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	3,185		(540,741)

10 SLM CORPORATION

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(1,049,550)		479,327
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	4,772,836		4,545,344
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$	3,723,286	$	5,024,671
Cash disbursements made for:
Interest	$	691,632	$	285,626
Income taxes paid	$	171,022	$	219,975
Income taxes refunded	$	(8,157)	$	(2,023)
Reconciliation of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to the Consolidated Balance Sheets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,548,225	$	4,846,754
Restricted cash	175,061		177,917
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	3,723,286	$	5,024,671

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

SLM CORPORATION 11

1. Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited, consolidated financial statements of SLM Corporation (“Sallie Mae,” “SLM,” the “Company,” “we,” or “us”) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete consolidated financial statements. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SLM Corporation and its majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries after eliminating the effects of intercompany accounts and transactions. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods have been included. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2023 or for any other period. These unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 (the “2022 Form 10-K”).

Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries after eliminating the effects of intercompany accounts and transactions.

We consolidate any variable interest entity (“VIE”) where we have determined we are the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary is the entity which has both: (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance; and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE.

Business Combination

On July 21, 2023, we completed the acquisition of several key assets of Scholly, Inc. (“Scholly”). Scholly is engaged in the business of operating as a scholarship publishing and servicing platform, comprised of websites and mobile application search products which offer custom recommendations for post-secondary scholarships for students, their families, and others as well as related services for scholarship providers. The addition of Scholly assets will support our mission of providing students with the confidence needed to successfully navigate the higher education journey.

The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB’s”) Accounting Standard Codification 805, “Business Combinations,” whereby as of the acquisition date, the acquired tangible assets and liabilities were recorded at their estimated fair values. The identifiable intangible assets were recorded at fair values as determined by an independent appraiser. The purchase price allocation for Scholly resulted in an excess purchase price over fair value of net assets acquired, or goodwill, of $5 million. Certain amounts are provisional and are subject to change, including final working capital adjustments and goodwill.

The results of operations of Scholly have been included in our consolidated financial statements since the acquisition date. We have not disclosed the pro forma impact of this acquisition to the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, as the pro forma impact was deemed immaterial. Transaction costs associated with the Scholly acquisition were approximately $1 million and were expensed as incurred within “Other operating expenses” in the consolidated statements of income.

Identifiable intangible assets at the acquisition date included definite life intangible assets with an aggregate fair value of approximately $11 million, including tradename and trademarks, developed technology, customer relationships, and partner relationships. The intangible assets will be amortized over a period of two to four years based on the estimated economic benefit derived from each of the underlying assets.

See Note 7, “Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets,” for additional details.

12 SLM CORPORATION

2. Investments

Trading Investments

We periodically sell Private Education Loans through securitization transactions where we are required to retain a five percent vertical risk retention interest (i.e., five percent of each class issued in the securitizations). We classify those vertical risk retention interests related to the transactions as available-for-sale investments, except for the interest in the residual classes, which we classify as trading investments recorded at fair value with changes recorded through earnings.

At December 31, 2022 we had a $5 million investment in a convertible debt security classified as a trading investment. In March 2023, this security, and the related accrued interest, was converted into equity securities classified as investments in non-marketable securities.

At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we had $53 million and $56 million, respectively, classified as trading investments.

Available-for-Sale Investments

The amortized cost and fair value of securities available for sale are as follows:

As of September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	Amortized Cost		Allowance for credit losses(1)		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value
Available-for-sale:
Mortgage-backed securities	$	438,527	$	—	$	—	$	(87,399)	$	351,128
Utah Housing Corporation bonds	3,408		—		—		(555)		2,853
U.S. government-sponsored enterprises and Treasuries	1,669,748		—		—		(96,757)		1,572,991
Other securities	412,951		—		595		(24,540)		389,006
Total	$	2,524,634	$	—	$	595	$	(209,251)	$	2,315,978
As of December 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	Amortized Cost		Allowance for credit losses(1)		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value
Available-for-sale:
Mortgage-backed securities	$	389,067	$	—	$	2	$	(68,705)	$	320,364
Utah Housing Corporation bonds	3,584		—		—		(357)		3,227
U.S. government-sponsored enterprises and Treasuries	1,804,726		—		—		(115,416)		1,689,310
Other securities	356,955		—		33		(27,800)		329,188
Total	$	2,554,332	$	—	$	35	$	(212,278)	$	2,342,089

(1) Represents the amount of impairment that has resulted from credit-related factors and that was recognized in the consolidated balance sheets (as a credit loss expense on available-for-sale securities). The amount excludes unrealized losses related to non-credit factors.

SLM CORPORATION 13

2. Investments (Continued)

The following table summarizes the amount of gross unrealized losses for our available-for-sale securities and the estimated fair value for securities having gross unrealized loss positions, categorized by length of time the securities have been in an unrealized loss position:

(Dollars in thousands)	Less than 12 months				12 months or more				Total
	Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value
As of September 30, 2023:
Mortgage-backed securities	$	(3,342)	$	67,737	$	(84,057)	$	283,391	$	(87,399)	$	351,128
Utah Housing Corporation bonds	—		—		(555)		2,853		(555)		2,853
U.S. government-sponsored enterprises and Treasuries	—		—		(96,757)		1,572,991		(96,757)		1,572,991
Other securities	(2,051)		81,109		(22,489)		236,226		(24,540)		317,335
Total	$	(5,393)	$	148,846	$	(203,858)	$	2,095,461	$	(209,251)	$	2,244,307
As of December 31, 2022:
Mortgage-backed securities	$	(13,956)	$	99,598	$	(54,749)	$	220,576	$	(68,705)	$	320,174
Utah Housing Corporation bonds	(357)		3,227		—		—		(357)		3,227
U.S. government-sponsored enterprises and Treasuries	(28,128)		689,300		(87,288)		1,000,010		(115,416)		1,689,310
Other securities	(15,852)		232,546		(11,948)		92,883		(27,800)		325,429
Total	$	(58,293)	$	1,024,671	$	(153,985)	$	1,313,469	$	(212,278)	$	2,338,140

At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, 226 of 230 and 191 of 194, respectively, of our available-for-sale securities were in an unrealized loss position.

Impairment

For available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position, we first assess whether we intend to sell, or it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell, the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of these criteria are met, the security’s amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through net income. For securities in an unrealized loss position that do not meet these criteria, we evaluate whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit loss or other factors. In making this assessment, we consider the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency, adverse conditions specifically related to the security, as well as any guarantees (e.g., guarantees by the U.S. Government) that may be applicable to the security. If this assessment indicates a credit loss exists, the credit-related portion of the loss is recorded as an allowance for losses on the security.

Our investment portfolio contains mortgage-backed securities issued by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac, as well as Utah Housing Corporation bonds. We own these securities to meet our requirements under the Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”). We also invest in other U.S. government-sponsored enterprise securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Banks, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Farm Credit Bank. Our mortgage-backed securities that were issued under Ginnie Mae programs carry a full faith and credit guarantee from the U.S. Government. The remaining mortgage-backed securities in a net loss position carry a principal and interest guarantee by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, respectively. Our Treasury and other U.S. government-sponsored enterprise bonds are rated Aaa by Moody’s Investors Service or AA+ by Standard and Poor’s. We have the intent and ability to hold these bonds for a period of time sufficient for the market price to recover to at least the adjusted amortized cost of the security. Based on this qualitative analysis, we have determined that no credit impairment exists.

We periodically sell Private Education Loans through securitization transactions where we are required to retain a five percent vertical risk retention interest. We classify the non-residual vertical risk retention interests as available-for-sale investments. We have the intent and ability to hold each of these bonds for a period of time sufficient for the market price to recover to at least the adjusted amortized cost of the security. We expect to receive all contractual cash flows related to these investments and do not consider a credit impairment to exist.

14 SLM CORPORATION

2. Investments (Continued)

As of September 30, 2023, the amortized cost and fair value of securities, by contractual maturities, are summarized below. Contractual maturities versus actual maturities may differ due to the effect of prepayments.

As of September 30, 2023 Year of Maturity (dollars in thousands)	Amortized Cost		Estimated Fair Value
2023	$	25,000	$	24,767
2024	699,111		677,812
2025	298,564		285,252
2026	548,563		492,182
2027	98,511		92,979
2038	69		68
2039	663		622
2042	2,439		2,008
2043	4,209		3,573
2044	4,945		4,302
2045	5,163		4,337
2046	7,841		6,540
2047	7,917		6,658
2048	2,032		1,790
2049	15,899		13,366
2050	109,845		82,601
2051	156,133		116,543
2052	54,219		44,328
2053	163,617		150,202
2054	75,509		67,142
2055	90,148		86,125
2056	105,584		104,292
2058	48,653		48,489
Total	$	2,524,634	$	2,315,978

Some of the mortgage-backed securities and a portion of the government securities have been pledged to the Federal Reserve Bank (the “FRB”) as collateral against any advances and accrued interest under the Primary Credit lending program sponsored by the FRB. We had $582 million and $547 million par value of securities pledged to this borrowing facility at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, as discussed further in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 9, “Borrowings” in this Form 10-Q.

Other Investments

Investments in Non-Marketable Securities

We hold investments in non-marketable securities and account for these investments at cost, less impairment, plus or minus observable price changes of identical or similar securities of the same issuer. Changes in market value are recorded through earnings. Because these are non-marketable securities, we use observable price changes of identical or similar securities of the same issuer, or when observable prices are not available, use market data of similar entities, in determining any changes in the value of the securities. In March 2023 our $5 million investment in a convertible debt security, classified as a trading investment, and the related accrued interest were converted into equity securities and were reclassified to investments in non-marketable securities. As of September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, our total investment in these securities was $14 million and $8 million, respectively.

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2. Investments (Continued)

Low Income Housing Tax Credit Investments

We invest in affordable housing projects that qualify for the low-income housing tax credit (“LIHTC”), which is designed to promote private development of low-income housing. These investments generate a return mostly through realization of federal tax credits and tax benefits from net operating losses on the underlying properties. Total carrying value of the LIHTC investments was $74 million at September 30, 2023 and $80 million at December 31, 2022. We are periodically required to provide additional financial support during the investment period. Our liability for these unfunded commitments was $34 million at September 30, 2023 and $46 million at December 31, 2022.

Related to these investments, we recognized tax credits and other tax benefits through tax expense of $1 million at September 30, 2023 and $9 million at December 31, 2022. Tax credits and other tax benefits are recognized as part of our annual effective tax rate used to determine tax expense in a given quarter. Accordingly, the portion of a year’s expected tax benefits recognized in any given quarter may differ from 25 percent.

3. Loans Held for Investment

Loans held for investment consist of Private Education Loans and FFELP Loans. We use “Private Education Loans” to mean education loans to students or their families that are not made, insured, or guaranteed by any state or federal government. Private Education Loans do not include loans insured or guaranteed under the previously existing Federal Family Education Loan Program (“FFELP”). We use “Credit Cards” to refer to the suite of Credit Cards that we previously held. At September 30, 2022, we transferred our Credit Card portfolio to loans held for sale and subsequently sold the Credit Card portfolio to a third party in May 2023. For additional information, see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 4, “Loans Held for Sale” in this Form 10-Q.

Our Private Education Loans are made largely to bridge the gap between the cost of higher education and the amount funded through financial aid, government loans, and customers’ resources. Private Education Loans bear the full credit risk of the customer. We manage this risk through risk-performance underwriting strategies and qualified cosigners. Private Education Loans may be fixed-rate or may carry a variable interest rate indexed to SOFR, the Secured Overnight Financing Rate. As of September 30, 2023, 35 percent of all of our Private Education Loans were indexed to SOFR. As of December 30, 2022, 45 percent of all of our Private Education Loans were indexed to LIBOR, the London interbank offered rate, or SOFR. We provide incentives for customers to include a cosigner on the loan, and the vast majority of Private Education Loans in our portfolio are cosigned. We also encourage customers to make payments while in school.

FFELP Loans are insured as to their principal and accrued interest in the event of default, subject to a risk-sharing level based on the date of loan disbursement. These insurance obligations are supported by contractual rights against the United States. For loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2006, we receive 97 percent reimbursement on all qualifying claims. For loans disbursed after October 1, 1993, and before July 1, 2006, we receive 98 percent reimbursement on all qualifying claims. For loans disbursed prior to October 1, 1993, we receive 100 percent reimbursement on all qualifying claims.

In the first nine months of 2023, we recognized $128 million in gains from the sale of approximately $2.10 billion of Private Education Loans, including $1.96 billion of principal and $144 million in capitalized interest, to an unaffiliated third party. In the first nine months of 2022, we recognized $325 million in gains from the sale of approximately $3.29 billion of our Private Education Loans, including $3.08 billion of principal and $213 million in capitalized interest, to unaffiliated third parties. There were VIEs created in the execution of certain of these loan sales; however, based on our consolidation analysis, we are not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs. These transactions qualified for sale treatment and removed the balance of the loans from our balance sheet on the respective settlement dates. We remained the servicer of these loans pursuant to applicable servicing agreements executed in connection with the sales. For additional information, see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 9, “Borrowings - Unconsolidated VIEs” in this Form 10-Q.

16 SLM CORPORATION

3. Loans Held for Investment (Continued)

Loans held for investment are summarized as follows:

	September 30,		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023		2022
Private Education Loans:
Fixed-rate	$	14,000,110	$	11,108,079
Variable-rate	7,680,757		9,195,609
Total Private Education Loans, gross	21,680,867		20,303,688
Deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)	78,673		69,656
Allowance for credit losses	(1,411,232)		(1,353,631)
Total Private Education Loans, net	20,348,308		19,019,713
FFELP Loans	554,309		609,050
Deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)	1,380		1,549
Allowance for credit losses	(4,816)		(3,444)
Total FFELP Loans, net	550,873		607,155
Loans held for investment, net	$	20,899,181	$	19,626,868

The estimated weighted average life of education loans in our portfolio was approximately 5.0 years and 5.0 years at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

The average balance (net of unamortized premium/(discount)) and the respective weighted average interest rates of loans held for investment in our portfolio are summarized as follows:

	2023				2022
Three Months Ended September 30, (dollars in thousands)	Average Balance		Weighted Average Interest Rate		Average Balance		Weighted Average Interest Rate
Private Education Loans	$	20,649,663	10.96	%	$	19,958,763	9.43	%
FFELP Loans	563,502		7.35		655,724		5.03
Total portfolio	$	21,213,165			$	20,614,487

	2023				2022
Nine Months Ended September 30, (dollars in thousands)	Average Balance		Weighted Average Interest Rate		Average Balance		Weighted Average Interest Rate
Private Education Loans	$	21,032,541	10.80	%	$	20,685,372	8.82	%
FFELP Loans	583,427		7.10		673,654		4.18
Total portfolio	$	21,615,968			$	21,359,026

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4. Loans Held for Sale

We had no loans held for sale at September 30, 2023 and $29 million in loans held for sale at December 31, 2022. The balance at December 31, 2022 was comprised of our Credit Card loan portfolio. At September 30, 2022, when the loans were transferred to held for sale, we reversed $2.4 million through the provisions for credit losses for the allowance related to these loans. At September 30, 2022, we wrote down this loan portfolio to its estimated fair value through a charge-off to the allowance for credit losses of $1.5 million. In May 2023, we sold our Credit Card loan portfolio to a third party. This transaction qualified for sale treatment and removed the balance of the loans from our balance sheet on the settlement date. We recorded a loss of $4 million related to the sale in the second quarter of 2023.

5. Allowance for Credit Losses

Our provision for credit losses represents the periodic expense of maintaining an allowance sufficient to absorb lifetime expected credit losses in the held for investment loan portfolios. The evaluation of the allowance for credit losses is inherently subjective, as it requires material estimates that may be susceptible to significant changes. We believe the allowance for credit losses is appropriate to cover lifetime losses expected to be incurred in the loan portfolios. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies — Allowance for Credit Losses — Allowance for Private Education Loan Losses, — Allowance for FFELP Loan Losses” in our 2022 Form 10-K for a more detailed discussion.

18 SLM CORPORATION

5. Allowance for Credit Losses (Continued)

Allowance for Credit Losses Metrics

Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	FFELP Loans			Private Education Loans			Total
Allowance for Credit Losses
Beginning balance	$	4,422		$	1,360,294		$	1,364,716
Transfer from unfunded commitment liability(1)	—			101,687			101,687
Provisions:
Provision for current period	666			44,423			45,089
Total provisions(2)	666			44,423			45,089
Net charge-offs:
Charge-offs	(272)			(104,865)			(105,137)
Recoveries	—			9,693			9,693
Net charge-offs	(272)			(95,172)			(95,444)
Ending Balance	$	4,816		$	1,411,232		$	1,416,048
Allowance(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	4,816		$	1,411,232		$	1,416,048
Loans(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	554,309		$	21,680,867		$	22,235,176
Accrued interest to be capitalized(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	—		$	1,283,388		$	1,283,388
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(4)	0.25		%	2.53		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance and accrued interest to be capitalized(5)	0.87		%	6.15		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment and accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(4)(5)	1.15		%	8.84		%
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)	4.43			3.71
Ending total loans, gross	$	554,309		$	21,680,867
Average loans in repayment(4)	$	428,028		$	15,023,993
Ending loans in repayment(4)	$	418,022		$	15,505,145
Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(6)	$	—		$	464,807

(1) See Note 6, “Unfunded Loan Commitments,” for a summary of the activity in the allowance for and balance of unfunded loan commitments, respectively.

(2) Below is a reconciliation of the provisions for credit losses reported in the consolidated statements of income. When a new loan commitment is made, we record the CECL allowance as a liability for unfunded loan commitments by recording a provision for credit losses. When the loan is funded, we transfer that liability to the allowance for credit losses.

Consolidated Statements of Income Provisions for Credit Losses Reconciliation
Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)
Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses:
Provisions for loan losses	$	44,423
Provisions for unfunded loan commitments	152,934
Total Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses	197,357
Other impacts to the provisions for credit losses:
FFELP Loans	666
Total	666
Provisions for credit losses reported in consolidated statements of income	$	198,023

(3) For the three months ended September 30, 2023, there were no allowance for credit losses, loans, or accrued interest to be capitalized balances that were individually evaluated for impairment.

(4) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

(5) Accrued interest to be capitalized on Private Education Loans only.

(6) Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment includes interest on loans that are in repayment but have not yet entered into full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, does not include the interest on those loans while they are in forbearance).

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5. Allowance for Credit Losses (Continued)

Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	FFELP  Loans			Private  Education Loans			Credit Cards			Total
Allowance for Credit Losses
Beginning balance	$	3,929		$	1,074,744		$	2,393		$	1,081,066
Transfer from unfunded commitment liability(1)	—			168,377			—			168,377
Provisions:
Provision for current period	29			95,482			2,039			97,550
Loan sale reduction to provision	—			(50,226)			—			(50,226)
Loans transferred from held-for-sale	—			—			(2,372)			(2,372)
Total provisions(2)	29			45,256			(333)			44,952
Net charge-offs:
Charge-offs	(147)			(109,350)			(2,062)			(111,559)
Recoveries	—			11,400			2			11,402
Net charge-offs	(147)			(97,950)			(2,060)			(100,157)
Ending Balance	$	3,811		$	1,190,427		$	—		$	1,194,238
Allowance(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	3,811		$	1,190,427		$	—		$	1,194,238
Loans(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	643,614		$	20,104,463		$	—		$	20,748,077
Accrued interest to be capitalized(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	—		$	1,056,983		$	—		$	1,056,983
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(4)	0.11		%	2.67		%	—		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance and accrued interest to be capitalized(5)	0.59		%	5.63		%	—		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment and accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(4)(5)	0.78		%	7.98		%	—		%
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)	6.48			3.04			—
Ending total loans, gross	$	643,614		$	20,104,463		$	—
Average loans in repayment(4)	$	518,226		$	14,674,437		$	—
Ending loans in repayment(4)	$	489,920		$	14,546,556		$	—
Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(6)	$	—		$	371,388		$	—

(1) See Note 6, “Unfunded Loan Commitments,” for a summary of the activity in the allowance for and balance of unfunded loan commitments, respectively.

(2) Below is a reconciliation of the provisions for credit losses reported in the consolidated statements of income. When a new loan commitment is made, we record the CECL allowance as a liability for unfunded loan commitments by recording a provision for credit losses. When the loan is funded, we transfer that liability to the allowance for credit losses.

Consolidated Statements of Income Provisions for Credit Losses Reconciliation
Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)
Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses:
Provisions for loan losses	$	45,256
Provisions for unfunded loan commitments	162,646
Total Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses	207,902
Other impacts to the provisions for credit losses:
FFELP Loans	29
Credit Cards	(333)
Total	(304)
Provisions for credit losses reported in consolidated statements of income	$	207,598

(3) For the three months ended September 30, 2022, there were no allowance for credit losses, loans, or accrued interest to be capitalized balances that were individually evaluated for impairment.

(4) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

(5) Accrued interest to be capitalized on Private Education Loans only.

(6) Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment includes interest on loans that are in repayment but have not yet entered into full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, does not include the interest on those loans while they are in forbearance).

20 SLM CORPORATION

5. Allowance for Credit Losses (Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	FFELP Loans			Private Education Loans			Total
Allowance for Credit Losses
Beginning balance	$	3,444		$	1,353,631		$	1,357,075
Transfer from unfunded commitment liability(1)	—			278,388			278,388
Provisions:
Provision for current period	2,225			196,859			199,084
Loan sale reduction to provision	—			(136,531)			(136,531)
Total provisions(2)	2,225			60,328			62,553
Net charge-offs:
Charge-offs	(853)			(314,500)			(315,353)
Recoveries	—			33,385			33,385
Net charge-offs	(853)			(281,115)			(281,968)
Ending Balance	$	4,816		$	1,411,232		$	1,416,048
Allowance(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	4,816		$	1,411,232		$	1,416,048
Loans(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	554,309		$	21,680,867		$	22,235,176
Accrued interest to be capitalized(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	—		$	1,283,388		$	1,283,388
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(4)	0.26		%	2.44		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance and accrued interest to be capitalized(5)	0.87		%	6.15		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment and accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(4)(5)	1.15		%	8.84		%
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)	4.23			3.77
Ending total loans, gross	$	554,309		$	21,680,867
Average loans in repayment(4)	$	440,716		$	15,358,596
Ending loans in repayment(4)	$	418,022		$	15,505,145
Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(6)	$	—		$	464,807

(1) See Note 6, “Unfunded Loan Commitments,” for a summary of the activity in the allowance for and balance of unfunded loan commitments, respectively.

(2) Below is a reconciliation of the provisions for credit losses reported in the consolidated statements of income. When a new loan commitment is made, we record the CECL allowance as a liability for unfunded loan commitments by recording a provision for credit losses. When the loan is funded, we transfer that liability to the allowance for credit losses.

Consolidated Statements of Income Provisions for Credit Losses Reconciliation
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)
Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses:
Provisions for loan losses	$	60,328
Provisions for unfunded loan commitments	267,311
Total Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses	327,639
Other impacts to the provisions for credit losses:
FFELP Loans	2,225
Total	2,225
Provisions for credit losses reported in consolidated statements of income	$	329,864

(3) For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, there were no allowance for credit losses, loans, or accrued interest to be capitalized balances that were individually evaluated for impairment.

(4) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

(5) Accrued interest to be capitalized on Private Education Loans only.

(6) Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment includes interest on loans that are in repayment but have not yet entered into full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, does not include the interest on those loans while they are in forbearance).

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5. Allowance for Credit Losses (Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	FFELP  Loans			Private  Education Loans			Credit Cards			Total
Allowance for Credit Losses
Beginning balance	$	4,077		$	1,158,977		$	2,281		$	1,165,335
Transfer from unfunded commitment liability(1)	—			303,591			—			303,591
Provisions:
Provision for current period	110			168,473			2,635			171,218
Loan sale reduction to provision	—			(171,325)			—			(171,325)
Loans transferred from held-for-sale	—			—			(2,372)			(2,372)
Total provisions(2)	110			(2,852)			263			(2,479)
Net charge-offs:
Charge-offs	(376)			(299,699)			(2,549)			(302,624)
Recoveries	—			30,410			5			30,415
Net charge-offs	(376)			(269,289)			(2,544)			(272,209)
Ending Balance	$	3,811		$	1,190,427		$	—		$	1,194,238
Allowance(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	3,811		$	1,190,427		$	—		$	1,194,238
Loans(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	643,614		$	20,104,463		$	—		$	20,748,077
Accrued interest to be capitalized(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	—		$	1,056,983		$	—		$	1,056,983
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(4)	0.09		%	2.37		%	—		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance and accrued interest to be capitalized(5)	0.59		%	5.63		%	—		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment and accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(4)(5)	0.78		%	7.98		%	—		%
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)	7.60			3.32			—
Ending total loans, gross	$	643,614		$	20,104,463		$	—
Average loans in repayment(4)	$	532,275		$	15,173,465		$	—
Ending loans in repayment(4)	$	489,920		$	14,546,556		$	—
Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(6)	$	—		$	371,388		$	—

(1) See Note 6, “Unfunded Loan Commitments,” for a summary of the activity in the allowance for and balance of unfunded loan commitments, respectively.

(2) Below is a reconciliation of the provisions for credit losses reported in the consolidated statements of income. When a new loan commitment is made, we record the CECL allowance as a liability for unfunded loan commitments by recording a provision for credit losses. When the loan is funded, we transfer that liability to the allowance for credit losses.

Consolidated Statements of Income Provisions for Credit Losses Reconciliation
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)
Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses:
Provisions for loan losses	$	(2,852)
Provisions for unfunded loan commitments	338,672
Total Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses	335,820
Other impacts to the provisions for credit losses:
FFELP Loans	110
Credit Cards	263
Total	373
Provisions for credit losses reported in consolidated statements of income	$	336,193

(3) For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, there were no allowance for credit losses, loans, or accrued interest to be capitalized balances that were individually evaluated for impairment.

(4) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

(5) Accrued interest to be capitalized on Private Education Loans only.

(6) Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment includes interest on loans that are in repayment but have not yet entered into full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, does not include the interest on those loans while they are in forbearance).

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5. Allowance for Credit Losses (Continued)

Allowance for Credit Losses

In the fourth quarter of 2022, we changed our loss model to include forecasts of college graduate unemployment, home price index, and median family income in determining the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses. Prior to this change, we used forecasts of college graduate unemployment and the Consumer Price Index in our loss forecasting models. We obtain forecasts for these inputs from Moody’s Analytics. Moody’s Analytics provides a range of forecasts for each of these inputs with various likelihoods of occurring. We determine which forecasts we will include in our estimation of the allowance for credit losses and the associated weightings for each of these inputs. At September 30, 2022, December 31, 2022, and September 30, 2023, we used the Base (50th percentile likelihood of occurring)/S1 (stronger near-term growth scenario with 10 percent likelihood of occurring)/S3 (downside scenario with 10 percent likelihood of occurring) scenarios and weighted them 40 percent, 30 percent, and 30 percent, respectively. Management reviews both the scenarios and their respective weightings each quarter in determining the allowance for credit losses.

In the second quarter of 2023, we changed how we collect on defaulted loans. Previously, we used a mix of in-house collectors and sales to third parties. We will continue to sell a segment of defaulted loans immediately after charge-off but will no longer sell retained defaulted loans (that have been subject to internal collection attempts for six months) to third parties and instead will continue our collection efforts using in-house collectors and collection agencies. This improved our estimate of recovery rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. When we estimate the timing and amount of future recoveries on charged-off loans, we no longer include expectations of future sales on retained defaulted loans. We continue to monitor how we collect on defaulted loans and may modify the approach from time to time based on performance, industry conventions, and/or regulatory feedback.

Provisions for credit losses in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 decreased by $6 million compared with the year-ago period. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the provision for credit losses was primarily affected by new loan commitments, net of expired commitments, slower prepayment rates, management overlays, and changes in economic outlook, which were offset by $137 million in negative provisions recorded as a result of the $2.10 billion Private Education Loan sales during the first nine months of 2023 and an increase in recovery rates (as a result of the change in our defaulted loan recovery program noted above). In the year-ago period, the provision for credit losses was primarily affected by new loan commitments made during the period, slower than expected prepayment rates, and additional management overlays, which were partially offset by negative provisions recorded related to $3.29 billion in Private Education Loans sold in the first nine months of 2022.

As part of concluding on the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses, we review key allowance and loan metrics. The most significant of these metrics considered are the allowance coverage of net charge-offs ratio; the allowance as a percentage of ending total loans and accrued interest to be capitalized and of ending loans in repayment and accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment; and delinquency and forbearance percentages.

Loan Modifications to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty

The allowance for credit losses incorporates an estimate of lifetime expected credit losses and is recorded on each asset upon asset origination or acquisition. The starting point for the estimate of the allowance for credit losses is historical information, which includes losses from modifications of receivables whose borrowers are experiencing financial difficulty. We use a discounted cash flow model to determine the allowance for credit losses. An assessment of whether a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty is made on the date of a modification.

The effect of most modifications of loans made to borrowers who are experiencing financial difficulty is already included in the allowance for credit losses because of the measurement methodologies used to estimate the allowance. The forecast of expected future cash flows is updated as the loan modifications occur.

We adjust the terms of loans for certain borrowers when we believe such changes will help our customers manage their student loan obligations and achieve better student outcomes and increase the collectability of the loans. These changes generally take the form of a temporary forbearance of payments, a temporary interest rate reduction, a temporary interest rate reduction with a permanent extension of the loan term, and/or a short-term extended repayment alternative.

When we give a borrower facing financial difficulty an interest rate reduction, we currently temporarily reduce the contractual interest rate on a loan to 4.0 percent for a two-year period and, in the vast majority of cases, permanently extend the final maturity date of the loan. The combination of these two loan term changes helps reduce the monthly payment due from the borrower and increases the likelihood the borrower will remain current during the interest rate modification period as well as when the loan returns to its original contractual interest rate.

Within the Private Education Loan portfolio, we deem loans greater than 90 days past due as nonperforming. FFELP Loans are at least 97 percent guaranteed as to their principal and accrued interest by the federal government in the event

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5. Allowance for Credit Losses (Continued)

of default and, therefore, we do not deem FFELP Loans as nonperforming from a credit risk perspective at any point in their life cycle prior to claim payment and continue to accrue interest on those loans through the date of claim.

For additional information, see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies —Allowance for Credit Losses,” and Note 7, “Allowance for Credit Losses” in our 2022 Form 10-K.

Under our current forbearance practices, temporary forbearance of payments is generally granted in one-to-two month increments, for up to 12 months over the life of the loan, with 12 months of positive payment performance by a borrower required between grants (meaning the borrower must make payment in a cumulative amount equivalent to 12 monthly required payments under the loan). See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 5, “Loans Held for Investment — Certain Collection Tools - Private Education Loans” in our 2022 Form 10-K. If the loan has been previously restructured, we consider the cumulative effect of past restructurings made within the 12-month period before the current restructuring when determining whether a delay in payment resulting from the current restructuring is insignificant. Due to our current forbearance practices, including the limitations on forbearances offered to borrowers, we do not believe the granting of forbearances will exceed the significance threshold and, therefore, we do not consider the forbearances as loan modifications.

The limitations on granting of forbearances described above apply to hardship forbearances. We offer other administrative forbearances (e.g., death and disability, bankruptcy, military service, disaster forbearance, and in school assistance) that are either required by law (such as by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act) or are considered separate from our active loss mitigation programs and therefore are not considered to be loan modifications requiring disclosure. In addition, we may offer on a limited basis term extensions or rate reductions or a combination of both to borrowers to reduce consolidation activities. For purposes of this disclosure, we do not consider them modifications of loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty and they therefore are not included in the tables below.

The following tables show the amortized cost basis at the end of the respective reporting periods of the loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty that were modified during the period, disaggregated by class of financing receivable and type of modification. When we approve a Private Education Loan at the beginning of an academic year, we do not always disburse the full amount of the loan at the time of approval, but instead have a commitment to fund a portion of the loan at a later date (usually at the start of the second semester or subsequent trimesters). We consider borrowers to be in financial difficulty after they have exited school and have difficulty making their scheduled principal and interest payments.

	Loan Modifications Made to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty
Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	Interest Rate Reduction				Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type:	Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable		Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable
Private Education Loans	$	16,620	0.07	%	$	90,193	0.39	%
Total	$	16,620	0.07	%	$	90,193	0.39	%

	Loan Modifications Made to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty
Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	Interest Rate Reduction				Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type:	Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable		Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable
Private Education Loans	$	9,750	0.05	%	$	79,765	0.40	%
Total	$	9,750	0.05	%	$	79,765	0.40	%

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5. Allowance for Credit Losses (Continued)

	Loan Modifications Made to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	Interest Rate Reduction				Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type:	Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable		Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable
Private Education Loans	$	39,263	0.17	%	$	254,639	1.10	%
Total	$	39,263	0.17	%	$	254,639	1.10	%

	Loan Modifications Made to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	Interest Rate Reduction				Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type:	Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable		Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable
Private Education Loans	$	25,065	0.12	%	$	237,588	1.18	%
Total	$	25,065	0.12	%	$	237,588	1.18	%

The following tables describe the financial effect of the modifications made to loans whose borrowers are experiencing financial difficulty:

Three Months Ended September 30, 2023
Interest Rate Reduction		Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type	Financial Effect	Loan Type	Financial Effect
Private Education Loans	Reduced average contractual rate from 13.57% to 4.00%	Private Education Loans	Added a weighted average 10.22 years to the life of loans Reduced average contractual rate from 13.12% to 4.00%

Three Months Ended September 30, 2022
Interest Rate Reduction		Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type	Financial Effect	Loan Type	Financial Effect
Private Education Loans	Reduced average contractual rate from 11.31% to 4.00%	Private Education Loans	Added a weighted average 10.24 years to the life of loans Reduced average contractual rate from 10.87% to 4.00%

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5. Allowance for Credit Losses (Continued)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
Interest Rate Reduction		Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type	Financial Effect	Loan Type	Financial Effect
Private Education Loans	Reduced average contractual rate from 13.29% to 4.00%	Private Education Loans	Added a weighted average 10.24 years to the life of loans Reduced average contractual rate from 12.84% to 4.00%

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022
Interest Rate Reduction		Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type	Financial Effect	Loan Type	Financial Effect
Private Education Loans	Reduced average contractual rate from 10.76% to 4.00%	Private Education Loans	Added a weighted average 10.38 years to the life of loans Reduced average contractual rate from 10.17% to 4.00%

Private Education Loans are charged off at the end of the month in which they reach 120 days delinquent or otherwise when the loans are classified as a loss by us or our regulator. Therefore, the amortized cost basis of the loan is reduced by the uncollectible amount and the allowance for credit losses is adjusted by the same amount. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies — Allowance for Credit Losses — Allowance for Private Education Loan Losses, and — Allowance for FFELP Loan Losses” in our 2022 Form 10-K for a more detailed discussion.

For the current period presented, the following table provides loan modifications for which a payment default occurred in the relevant period presented and within 12 months of the loan receiving a loan modification. Additionally, for the current period presented, the table summarizes charge-offs occurring in the relevant period presented and within 12 months of the loan receiving a loan modification. The charge-offs and payment defaults for the year-ago period are presented for loans receiving a loan modification during the reporting period rather than within 12 months of the loan receiving a loan modification, as the effective date of adoption for the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2022-02, Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures, was January 1, 2022. We define payment default as 60 days or more past due for purposes of this disclosure.

	Three Months Ended September 30, 2023						Three Months Ended September 30, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Modified Loans(1)(2)		Payment Default(4)		Charge-Offs(5)		Modified Loans(1)(2)		Payment Default(4)		Charge-Offs(5)
Loan Type:
Private Education Loans	$	14,546	$	14,129	$	4,534	$	9,467	$	9,289	$	1,801
Total	$	14,546	$	14,129	$	4,534	$	9,467	$	9,289	$	1,801

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5. Allowance for Credit Losses (Continued)

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023						Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Modified Loans(1)(3)		Payment Default(4)		Charge-Offs(5)		Modified Loans(1)(3)		Payment Default(4)		Charge-Offs(5)
Loan Type:
Private Education Loans	$	26,449	$	27,672	$	6,428	$	12,660	$	12,463	$	1,861
Total	$	26,449	$	27,672	$	6,428	$	12,660	$	12,463	$	1,861

(1) Represents period-end amortized cost basis of loans that have been modified and for which a payment default occurred in the relevant period presented and within 12 months of receiving a modification (or within the reporting period, for the loans shown in in the year-ago period, as the case may be).

(2) For the three months ended September 30, 2023, the modified loans include $12.4 million of interest rate reduction and term extension loan modifications and $2.1 million of interest rate reduction only loan modifications. For the three months ended September 30, 2022, the modified loans include $8.5 million of interest rate reduction and term extension loan modifications and $1.0 million of interest rate reduction only loan modifications.

(3) For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the modified loans include $23.0 million of interest rate reduction and term extension loan modifications and $3.4 million of interest rate reduction only loan modifications. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the modified loans include $11.4 million of interest rate reduction and term extension loan modifications and $1.2 million of interest rate reduction only loan modifications.

(4) Represents the unpaid principal balance at the time of payment default.

(5) Represents the unpaid principal balance at the time of charge off.

We closely monitor performance of the loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty that are modified to understand the effectiveness of the modification efforts. The following tables depict the performance of loans that have been modified during the respective reporting periods (first nine months of 2023 and full year 2022, respectively).

	Payment Status (Amortized Cost Basis)
At September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	Deferment(1)		Current(2)(3)		30-59 Days Past Due(2)(3)		60-89 Days Past Due(2)(3)		90 Days or Greater  Past Due(2)(3)		Total
Loan Type:
Private Education Loans	$	5,140	$	266,090	$	10,137	$	5,565	$	6,970	$	293,902
Total	$	5,140	$	266,090	$	10,137	$	5,565	$	6,970	$	293,902

	Payment Status (Amortized Cost Basis)
At December 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	Deferment(1)		Current(2)(3)		30-59 Days Past Due(2)(3)		60-89 Days Past Due(2)(3)		90 Days or Greater  Past Due(2)(3)		Total
Loan Type:
Private Education Loans	$	7,698	$	289,134	$	13,859	$	8,809	$	6,616	$	326,116
Total	$	7,698	$	289,134	$	13,859	$	8,809	$	6,616	$	326,116

(1) Deferment includes customers who have returned to school or are engaged in other permitted educational activities and are not yet required to make full principal and interest payments on the loans (e.g., residency periods for medical students or a grace period for bar exam preparation). Deferment also includes loans that have entered a forbearance after the loan modification was granted.

(2) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making full principal and interest payments after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

(3) The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.

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5. Allowance for Credit Losses (Continued)

Private Education Loans Held for Investment - Key Credit Quality Indicators

FFELP Loans are at least 97 percent guaranteed as to their principal and accrued interest in the event of default; therefore, there are no key credit quality indicators associated with FFELP Loans.

For Private Education Loans, the key credit quality indicators are FICO scores, the existence of a cosigner, the loan status, and loan seasoning. The FICO scores are assessed at original approval and periodically refreshed/updated through the loan’s term. The following tables highlight the gross principal balance of our Private Education Loan portfolio (held for investment), by year of origination approval, stratified by key credit quality indicators.

As of September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	Private Education Loans Held for Investment - Credit Quality Indicators
Year of Origination Approval	2023(1)		2022(1)		2021(1)		2020(1)		2019(1)		2018 and Prior(1)		Total(1)		% of Balance
Cosigners:
With cosigner	$	3,262,857	$	4,710,256	$	2,894,829	$	1,686,843	$	1,480,270	$	4,860,436	$	18,895,491	87	%
Without cosigner	467,628		711,282		468,874		304,590		268,797		564,205		2,785,376		13
Total	$	3,730,485	$	5,421,538	$	3,363,703	$	1,991,433	$	1,749,067	$	5,424,641	$	21,680,867	100	%
FICO at Origination Approval(2):
Less than 670	$	278,407	$	418,966	$	236,903	$	127,660	$	146,011	$	481,014	$	1,688,961	8	%
670-699	530,255		752,093		455,895		278,207		275,056		929,262		3,220,768		15
700-749	1,150,877		1,690,871		1,067,755		645,549		584,322		1,830,206		6,969,580		32
Greater than or equal to 750	1,770,946		2,559,608		1,603,150		940,017		743,678		2,184,159		9,801,558		45
Total	$	3,730,485	$	5,421,538	$	3,363,703	$	1,991,433	$	1,749,067	$	5,424,641	$	21,680,867	100	%
FICO Refreshed(2)(3):
Less than 670	$	353,491	$	605,817	$	387,375	$	218,261	$	214,908	$	807,495	$	2,587,347	12	%
670-699	528,071		733,990		422,792		211,964		187,283		607,515		2,691,615		12
700-749	1,144,110		1,602,766		980,859		553,576		486,058		1,469,715		6,237,084		29
Greater than or equal to 750	1,704,813		2,478,965		1,572,677		1,007,632		860,818		2,539,916		10,164,821		47
Total	$	3,730,485	$	5,421,538	$	3,363,703	$	1,991,433	$	1,749,067	$	5,424,641	$	21,680,867	100	%
Seasoning(4):
1-12 payments	$	2,016,589	$	2,187,876	$	414,530	$	232,959	$	201,057	$	379,107	$	5,432,118	25	%
13-24 payments	—		1,114,686		1,380,064		183,885		186,471		459,239		3,324,345		15
25-36 payments	—		—		643,381		753,256		120,744		487,209		2,004,590		9
37-48 payments	—		—		—		410,918		696,040		471,110		1,578,068		7
More than 48 payments	—		—		—		40		263,792		3,116,035		3,379,867		16
Not yet in repayment	1,713,896		2,118,976		925,728		410,375		280,963		511,941		5,961,879		28
Total	$	3,730,485	$	5,421,538	$	3,363,703	$	1,991,433	$	1,749,067	$	5,424,641	$	21,680,867	100	%
2023 Current period(5) gross charge-offs	$	(614)	$	(17,832)	$	(52,861)	$	(38,251)	$	(39,710)	$	(165,232)	$	(314,500)
2023 Current period(5) recoveries	76		1,278		4,802		3,522		3,923		19,784		33,385
2023 Current period(5) net charge-offs	$	(538)	$	(16,554)	$	(48,059)	$	(34,729)	$	(35,787)	$	(145,448)	$	(281,115)
Total accrued interest by origination vintage	$	94,292	$	407,226	$	328,076	$	186,063	$	150,655	$	262,913	$	1,429,225
(1)Balance represents gross Private Education Loans held for investment. (2)Represents the higher credit score of the cosigner or the borrower. (3)Represents the FICO score updated as of the third-quarter 2023. (4)Number of months in active repayment (whether interest only payment, fixed payment, or full principal and interest payment status) for which a scheduled payment was due. (5)Current period refers to period from January 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023.

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5. Allowance for Credit Losses (Continued)

As of December 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	Private Education Loans Held for Investment - Credit Quality Indicators
Year of Origination Approval	2022(1)		2021(1)		2020(1)		2019(1)		2018(1)		2017 and Prior(1)		Total(1)		% of Balance
Cosigners:
With cosigner	$	3,656,111	$	3,941,921	$	2,208,033	$	1,853,619	$	1,402,828	$	4,626,491	$	17,689,003	87	%
Without cosigner	620,422		605,238		376,589		319,041		213,014		480,381		2,614,685		13
Total	$	4,276,533	$	4,547,159	$	2,584,622	$	2,172,660	$	1,615,842	$	5,106,872	$	20,303,688	100	%
FICO at Origination Approval(2):
Less than 670	$	326,991	$	307,646	$	158,606	$	177,098	$	143,674	$	439,587	$	1,553,602	8	%
670-699	593,216		611,649		356,541		339,685		259,142		878,426		3,038,659		15
700-749	1,336,765		1,440,510		834,819		719,777		537,680		1,722,068		6,591,619		32
Greater than or equal to 750	2,019,561		2,187,354		1,234,656		936,100		675,346		2,066,791		9,119,808		45
Total	$	4,276,533	$	4,547,159	$	2,584,622	$	2,172,660	$	1,615,842	$	5,106,872	$	20,303,688	100	%
FICO Refreshed(2)(3):
Less than 670	$	443,868	$	461,589	$	242,310	$	237,105	$	204,894	$	773,324	$	2,363,090	12	%
670-699	594,118		579,784		284,244		240,999		173,754		564,344		2,437,243		12
700-749	1,322,558		1,378,910		748,368		628,060		449,701		1,388,090		5,915,687		29
Greater than or equal to 750	1,915,989		2,126,876		1,309,700		1,066,496		787,493		2,381,114		9,587,668		47
Total	$	4,276,533	$	4,547,159	$	2,584,622	$	2,172,660	$	1,615,842	$	5,106,872	$	20,303,688	100	%
Seasoning(4):
1-12 payments	$	2,448,884	$	636,073	$	384,334	$	330,316	$	235,878	$	424,636	$	4,460,121	22	%
13-24 payments	—		2,477,764		255,510		195,753		166,045		455,782		3,550,854		18
25-36 payments	—		—		1,366,398		257,534		126,223		489,157		2,239,312		11
37-48 payments	—		—		127		1,008,418		224,805		451,102		1,684,452		8
More than 48 payments	—		—		—		—		643,611		2,830,285		3,473,896		17
Not yet in repayment	1,827,649		1,433,322		578,253		380,639		219,280		455,910		4,895,053		24
Total	$	4,276,533	$	4,547,159	$	2,584,622	$	2,172,660	$	1,615,842	$	5,106,872	$	20,303,688	100	%
2022 Current period(5) gross charge-offs	$	(2,224)	$	(25,698)	$	(48,271)	$	(62,071)	$	(57,505)	$	(231,647)	$	(427,416)
2022 Current period(5) recoveries	124		1,841		4,170		5,556		5,407		24,639		41,737
2022 Current period(5) net charge-offs	$	(2,100)	$	(23,857)	$	(44,101)	$	(56,515)	$	(52,098)	$	(207,008)	$	(385,679)
Total accrued interest by origination vintage	$	142,915	$	315,308	$	207,858	$	184,832	$	116,211	$	210,438	$	1,177,562

(1)Balance represents gross Private Education Loans held for investment.

(2)Represents the higher credit score of the cosigner or the borrower.

(3)Represents the FICO score updated as of the fourth-quarter 2022.

(4)Number of months in active repayment (whether interest only payment, fixed payment, or full principal and interest payment status) for which a scheduled payment was due.

(5)Current period refers to January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022.

SLM CORPORATION 29

5. Allowance for Credit Losses (Continued)

Delinquencies - Private Education Loans Held for Investment

The following tables provide information regarding the loan status of our Private Education Loans held for investment, by year of origination approval. Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the following tables, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

	Private Education Loans Held for Investment - Delinquencies by Origination Vintage
As of September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	2023			2022			2021			2020			2019			2018 and Prior			Total
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)	$	1,713,896		$	2,118,976		$	925,728		$	410,375		$	280,963		$	511,941		$	5,961,879
Loans in forbearance(2)	4,584			28,747			29,129			21,854			24,555			104,974			213,843
Loans in repayment:
Loans current	2,005,363			3,218,301			2,327,629			1,500,801			1,382,249			4,504,119			14,938,462
Loans delinquent 30-59 days(3)	4,272			32,282			41,945			28,901			30,468			145,753			283,621
Loans delinquent 60-89 days(3)	1,788			15,013			22,612			16,566			16,311			81,159			153,449
Loans 90 days or greater past due(3)	582			8,219			16,660			12,936			14,521			76,695			129,613
Total Private Education Loans in repayment	2,012,005			3,273,815			2,408,846			1,559,204			1,443,549			4,807,726			15,505,145
Total Private Education Loans, gross	3,730,485			5,421,538			3,363,703			1,991,433			1,749,067			5,424,641			21,680,867
Private Education Loans deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)	26,268			21,367			11,090			6,555			3,993			9,400			78,673
Total Private Education Loans	3,756,753			5,442,905			3,374,793			1,997,988			1,753,060			5,434,041			21,759,540
Private Education Loans allowance for losses	(220,113)			(361,902)			(227,021)			(134,487)			(111,946)			(355,763)			(1,411,232)
Private Education Loans, net	$	3,536,640		$	5,081,003		$	3,147,772		$	1,863,501		$	1,641,114		$	5,078,278		$	20,348,308
Percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment	53.9		%	60.4		%	71.6		%	78.3		%	82.5		%	88.6		%	71.5		%
Delinquent Private Education Loans in repayment as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment	0.3		%	1.7		%	3.4		%	3.7		%	4.2		%	6.3		%	3.7		%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance	0.2		%	0.9		%	1.2		%	1.4		%	1.7		%	2.1		%	1.4		%

(1)Deferment includes customers who have returned to school or are engaged in other permitted educational activities and are not yet required to make payments on the loans (e.g., residency periods for medical students or a grace period for bar exam preparation).

(2)Loans for customers who have requested extension of grace period generally during employment transition or who have temporarily ceased making full payments due to hardship or other factors, consistent with established loan program servicing policies and procedures.

(3)The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.

30 SLM CORPORATION

5. Allowance for Credit Losses (Continued)

	Private Education Loans Held for Investment - Delinquencies by Origination Vintage
As of December 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	2022			2021			2020			2019			2018			2017 and Prior			Total
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)	$	1,827,649		$	1,433,322		$	578,253		$	380,639		$	219,280		$	455,910		$	4,895,053
Loans in forbearance(2)	16,046			64,360			38,613			37,802			30,583			91,681			279,085
Loans in repayment:
Loans current	2,411,441			2,991,839			1,907,574			1,683,986			1,301,809			4,262,698			14,559,347
Loans delinquent 30-59 days(3)	14,164			30,740			30,877			35,213			31,366			144,948			287,308
Loans delinquent 60-89 days(3)	5,523			15,056			14,433			18,201			16,697			77,595			147,505
Loans 90 days or greater past due(3)	1,710			11,842			14,872			16,819			16,107			74,040			135,390
Total Private Education Loans in repayment	2,432,838			3,049,477			1,967,756			1,754,219			1,365,979			4,559,281			15,129,550
Total Private Education Loans, gross	4,276,533			4,547,159			2,584,622			2,172,660			1,615,842			5,106,872			20,303,688
Private Education Loans deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)	26,714			15,933			9,062			5,496			3,575			8,876			69,656
Total Private Education Loans	4,303,247			4,563,092			2,593,684			2,178,156			1,619,417			5,115,748			20,373,344
Private Education Loans allowance for losses	(304,943)			(323,506)			(181,915)			(141,424)			(101,023)			(300,820)			(1,353,631)
Private Education Loans, net	$	3,998,304		$	4,239,586		$	2,411,769		$	2,036,732		$	1,518,394		$	4,814,928		$	19,019,713
Percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment	56.9		%	67.1		%	76.1		%	80.7		%	84.5		%	89.3		%	74.5		%
Delinquent Private Education Loans in repayment as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment	0.9		%	1.9		%	3.1		%	4.0		%	4.7		%	6.5		%	3.8		%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance	0.7		%	2.1		%	1.9		%	2.1		%	2.2		%	2.0		%	1.8		%

(1)Deferment includes customers who have returned to school or are engaged in other permitted educational activities and are not yet required to make payments on the loans (e.g., residency periods for medical students or a grace period for bar exam preparation).

(2)Loans for customers who have requested extension of grace period generally during employment transition or who have temporarily ceased making full payments due to hardship or other factors, consistent with established loan program servicing policies and procedures.

(3)The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.

SLM CORPORATION 31

5. Allowance for Credit Losses (Continued)

 Accrued Interest Receivable

The following table provides information regarding accrued interest receivable on our Private Education Loans. The table also discloses the amount of accrued interest on loans 90 days or greater past due as compared to our allowance for uncollectible interest on loans making full interest payments. The majority of the total accrued interest receivable represents accrued interest on deferred loans where no payments are due while the borrower is in school and fixed-pay loans where the borrower makes a $25 monthly payment that is smaller than the interest accruing on the loan in that month. The accrued interest on these loans will be capitalized to the balance of the loans when the borrower exits the grace period after separation from school, and the current expected credit losses on accrued interest that will be capitalized is included in our allowance for credit losses.

	Private Education Loans
	Accrued Interest Receivable
(Dollars in thousands)	Total Interest Receivable		90 Days or Greater Past Due		Allowance for Uncollectible Interest(1)(2)
September 30, 2023	$	1,429,225	$	6,756	$	8,516
December 31, 2022	$	1,177,562	$	6,609	$	8,121

(1)The allowance for uncollectible interest at September 30, 2023 represents the expected losses related to the portion of accrued interest receivable on those loans that are in repayment ($146 million of accrued interest receivable) that is not expected to be capitalized. The accrued interest receivable that is expected to be capitalized ($1.3 billion) is reserved in the allowance for credit losses.

(2)The allowance for uncollectible interest at December 31, 2022 represents the expected losses related to the portion of accrued interest receivable on those loans in repayment ($240 million of accrued interest receivable) that was not expected to be capitalized. The accrued interest receivable that was expected to be capitalized ($937 million) was reserved in the allowance for credit losses.

32 SLM CORPORATION

6. Unfunded Loan Commitments

When we approve a Private Education Loan at the beginning of an academic year, that approval may cover the borrowing for the entire academic year. As such, we do not always disburse the full amount of the loan at the time of such approval, but instead have a commitment to fund a portion of the loan at a later date (usually at the start of the second semester or subsequent trimesters). We estimate expected credit losses over the contractual period in which we are exposed to credit risk via a contractual obligation to extend credit, unless that obligation is unconditionally cancellable by us. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies - Allowance for Credit Losses, — Off-Balance Sheet Exposure for Contractual Loan Commitments” in our 2022 Form 10-K for additional information.

At September 30, 2023, we had $2.4 billion of outstanding contractual loan commitments which we expect to fund during the remainder of the 2023/2024 academic year. The tables below summarize the activity in the allowance recorded to cover lifetime expected credit losses on the unfunded commitments, which is recorded in “Other Liabilities” on the consolidated balance sheets, as well as the activity in the unfunded commitments balance.

	2023				2022
Three Months Ended September 30, (dollars in thousands)	Allowance		Unfunded Commitments		Allowance		Unfunded Commitments
Beginning Balance	$	62,600	$	1,562,856	$	113,525	$	1,413,840
Provision/New commitments - net(1)	115,605		3,258,234		192,559		3,148,434
Other provision items	37,329		—		(29,913)		—
Transfer - funded loans(2)	(101,687)		(2,451,203)		(168,377)		(2,345,348)
Ending Balance	$	113,847	$	2,369,887	$	107,794	$	2,216,926
	2023				2022
Nine Months Ended September 30, (dollars in thousands)	Allowance		Unfunded Commitments		Allowance		Unfunded Commitments
Beginning Balance	$	124,924	$	1,995,808	$	72,713	$	1,776,976
Provision/New commitments - net(1)	220,303		5,912,418		339,705		5,584,129
Other provision items	47,008		—		(1,033)		—
Transfer - funded loans(2)	(278,388)		(5,538,339)		(303,591)		(5,144,179)
Ending Balance	$	113,847	$	2,369,887	$	107,794	$	2,216,926

(1)     Net of expirations of commitments unused.

(2)     When a loan commitment is funded, its related liability for credit losses (which originally was recorded as a provision for unfunded commitments) is transferred to the allowance for credit losses.

The unfunded commitments disclosed above represent the total amount of outstanding unfunded commitments at each period end. However, historically not all of these commitments are funded prior to the expiration of the commitments. We estimate the amount of commitments expected to be funded in calculating the reserve for unfunded commitments. The amount we expect to fund and use in our calculation of the reserve for unfunded commitments will change period to period based upon the loan characteristics of the underlying commitments.

SLM CORPORATION 33

7. Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets

Goodwill

We recorded as goodwill the excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of identifiable assets and liabilities acquired as part of the acquisition of the assets primarily used or held for use of Epic Research Education Services, LLC, which does business as Nitro College (“Nitro”), in the first quarter of 2022 and the acquisition of the key assets of Scholly in the third quarter of 2023. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested periodically for impairment. We test goodwill for impairment annually in the fourth quarter of the year, or more frequently if we believe that indicators of impairment exist. At September 30, 2023, we had $56 million in total goodwill. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies — Business Combination,” for additional details on our acquisition of Scholly and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies — Business Combination” in our 2022 Form 10-K for additional details on our acquisition of Nitro.

Acquired Intangible Assets

Our intangible assets include acquired tradename and trademarks, customer relationships, developed technology, and partner relationships. We review our long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable.

Acquired intangible assets include the following:

		September 30, 2023						December 31, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Weighted Average Useful Life (in years)(1)	Cost Basis		Accumulated Amortization		Net		Cost Basis		Accumulated Amortization		Net
Tradename and trademarks(2)	9.5	$	74,510	$	(11,093)	$	63,417	$	68,470	$	(5,706)	$	62,764
Customer relationships(2)	4.6	8,920		(3,268)		5,652		5,670		(1,723)		3,947
Developed technology(2)	3.5	2,590		(720)		1,870		1,260		(350)		910
Partner relationships	2.5	730		(49)		681		—		—		—
Total acquired intangible assets		$	86,750	$	(15,130)	$	71,620	$	75,400	$	(7,779)	$	67,621

(1)     The weighted average useful life of acquired intangible assets is at acquisition; 9.5 years is the weighted average useful life of the acquired intangible assets related to the Nitro acquisition and 3.9 years is related to the Scholly acquisition.

(2) Tradename and trademarks, customer relationships, and developed technology at September 30, 2023 include $6 million, $3 million, and $1 million, respectively related to the Scholly acquisition.

We recorded amortization of acquired intangible assets totaling approximately $3 million and $7 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, and approximately $2 million and $5 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively. We will continue to amortize our intangible assets with definite useful lives over their remaining estimated useful lives. We estimate amortization expense associated with these intangible assets will be approximately $10 million, $12 million, $11 million, $10 million, and $8 million in 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively.

34 SLM CORPORATION

8. Deposits

The following table summarizes total deposits at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

	September 30,		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023		2022
Deposits - interest-bearing	$	21,550,108	$	21,446,647
Deposits - non-interest-bearing	637		1,424
Total deposits	$	21,550,745	$	21,448,071

Our total deposits of $21.6 billion were comprised of $10.4 billion in brokered deposits and $11.2 billion in retail and other deposits at September 30, 2023, compared to total deposits of $21.4 billion, which were comprised of $9.9 billion in brokered deposits and $11.5 billion in retail and other deposits, at December 31, 2022.

Interest-bearing deposits as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 consisted of retail and brokered non-maturity savings deposits, retail and brokered non-maturity money market deposits (“MMDAs”), and retail and brokered certificates of deposit (“CDs”). Interest-bearing deposits also include deposits from Educational 529 and Health Savings plans that diversify our funding sources and that we consider to be core. These and other large omnibus accounts, aggregating the deposits of many individual depositors, represented $7.5 billion and $8.0 billion of our deposit total as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

Some of our deposit products are serviced by third-party providers. Placement fees associated with the brokered CDs are amortized into interest expense using the effective interest rate method. We recognized placement fee expense of $3 million and $3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and placement fee expense of $9 million and $10 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Fees paid to third-party brokers related to brokered CDs were $4 million and $4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and fees paid to third-party brokers related to brokered CDs were $7 million and $8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Interest bearing deposits at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 are summarized as follows:

 

	September 30, 2023				December 31, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Amount		Qtr.-End Weighted Average Stated Rate(1)		Amount		Year-End Weighted Average Stated Rate(1)
Money market	$	10,241,232	4.75	%	$	10,977,242	3.75	%
Savings	930,590		4.35		982,586		3.15
Certificates of deposit	10,378,286		3.58		9,486,819		2.57
Deposits - interest bearing	$	21,550,108			$	21,446,647

    (1) Includes the effect of interest rate swaps in effective hedge relationships.

SLM CORPORATION 35

8. Deposits (Continued)

Certificates of deposit remaining maturities are summarized as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)	September 30, 2023		December 31, 2022
One year or less	$	3,436,186	$	3,224,573
After one year to two years	4,079,381		2,954,257
After two years to three years	2,359,064		1,904,919
After three years to four years	248,301		1,031,881
After four years to five years	255,354		324,375
After five years	—		46,814
Total	$	10,378,286	$	9,486,819

As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were $494 million and $615 million, respectively, of deposits exceeding Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance limits. Accrued interest on deposits was $73 million and $59 million at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The omnibus accounts are structured in such a way that entitles the individual depositor pass-through deposit insurance (subject to FDIC rules and limitations), and the majority of these deposits have contractual minimum balances and maturity terms.

36 SLM CORPORATION

9. Borrowings

Outstanding borrowings consist of unsecured debt and secured borrowings issued through our term asset-backed securitization (“ABS”) program and our Private Education Loan multi-lender secured borrowing facility (the “Secured Borrowing Facility”). For additional information regarding our borrowings, see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 12, “Borrowings” in our 2022 Form 10-K. The following table summarizes our borrowings at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

	September 30, 2023						December 31, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Short-Term		Long-Term		Total		Short-Term		Long-Term		Total
Unsecured borrowings:
Unsecured debt (fixed-rate)	$	—	$	991,396	$	991,396	$	—	$	988,986	$	988,986
Total unsecured borrowings	—		991,396		991,396		—		988,986		988,986
Secured borrowings:
Private Education Loan term securitizations:
Fixed-rate	—		3,807,493		3,807,493		—		3,462,363		3,462,363
Variable-rate	—		716,643		716,643		—		783,765		783,765
Total Private Education Loan term securitizations	—		4,524,136		4,524,136		—		4,246,128		4,246,128
Secured Borrowing Facility	—		—		—		—		—		—
Total secured borrowings	—		4,524,136		4,524,136		—		4,246,128		4,246,128
Total	$	—	$	5,515,532	$	5,515,532	$	—	$	5,235,114	$	5,235,114

Short-term Borrowings

On May 16, 2023, we amended our Secured Borrowing Facility to extend the maturity of the facility. The amount that can be borrowed under the facility is $2 billion. We hold 100 percent of the residual interest in the Secured Borrowing Facility trust. Under the Secured Borrowing Facility, we incur financing costs on unused borrowing capacity and on outstanding advances. The amended Secured Borrowing Facility extended the revolving period, during which we may borrow, repay, and reborrow funds, until May 15, 2024. The scheduled amortization period, during which amounts outstanding under the Secured Borrowing Facility must be repaid, ends on May 15, 2025 (or earlier, if certain material adverse events occur). At both September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, there were no secured borrowings outstanding under the Secured Borrowing Facility.

SLM CORPORATION 37

9. Borrowings (Continued)

Long-term Borrowings

Secured Financings

2023 Transactions

On March 15, 2023, we executed our $579 million SMB Private Education Loan Trust 2023-A term ABS transaction, which was accounted for as a secured financing. We sold $579 million of notes to third parties and retained a 100 percent interest in the residual certificates issued in the securitization, raising approximately $572 million of gross proceeds. The Class A and Class B notes had a weighted average life of 5.06 years and priced at a weighted average SOFR equivalent cost of SOFR plus 1.53 percent. On September 30, 2023, $609 million of our Private Education Loans, including $563 million of principal and $46 million in capitalized interest, were encumbered because of this transaction.

On August 16, 2023, we executed our $568 million SMB Private Education Loan Trust 2023-C term ABS transaction, which was accounted for as a secured financing. We sold $568 million of notes to third parties and retained a 100 percent interest in the residual certificates issued in the securitization, raising approximately $568 million of gross proceeds. The Class A and Class B notes had a weighted average life of 4.93 years and priced at a weighted average SOFR equivalent cost of SOFR plus 1.69 percent. On September 30, 2023, $637 million of our Private Education Loans, including $590 million of principal and $47 million in capitalized interest, were encumbered because of this transaction.

Secured Financings at Issuance

The following table summarizes our secured financings issued in the year ended December 31, 2022 and in the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

Issue	Date Issued	Total Issued		Weighted Average Cost of Funds(1)	Weighted Average Life  (in years)
(Dollars in thousands)
Private Education Loans:
2022-C	August 2022	$	575,000	SOFR plus 1.76%	4.69
Total notes issued in 2022		$	575,000
Total loan and accrued interest amount securitized at inception in 2022(2)		$	674,387
2023-A	March 2023	$	579,000	SOFR plus 1.53%	5.06
2023-C	August 2023	568,000		SOFR plus 1.69%	4.93
Total notes issued in 2023		$	1,147,000
Total loan and accrued interest amount securitized at inception in 2023(3)		$	1,292,507

(1) Represents SOFR equivalent cost of funds for floating and fixed-rate bonds, excluding issuance costs.

(2) At September 30, 2023, $565 million of our Private Education Loans, including $527 million of principal and $38 million in capitalized interest, were encumbered related to these transactions.

(3) At September 30, 2023, $1.24 billion of our Private Education Loans, including $1.15 billion of principal and $94 million in capitalized interest, were encumbered related to these transactions.

38 SLM CORPORATION

9. Borrowings (Continued)

Consolidated Funding Vehicles

We consolidate our financing entities that are VIEs as a result of our being the entities’ primary beneficiary. As a result, these financing VIEs are accounted for as secured borrowings.

As of September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	Debt Outstanding						Carrying Amount of Assets Securing Debt Outstanding
	Short-Term		Long-Term		Total		Loans		Restricted Cash		Other Assets(1)		Total
Secured borrowings:
Private Education Loan term securitizations	$	—	$	4,524,136	$	4,524,136	$	5,776,779	$	174,757	$	358,220	$	6,309,756
Secured Borrowing Facility	—		—		—		—		—		1,767		1,767
Total	$	—	$	4,524,136	$	4,524,136	$	5,776,779	$	174,757	$	359,987	$	6,311,523

As of December 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	Debt Outstanding						Carrying Amount of Assets Securing Debt Outstanding
	Short-Term		Long-Term		Total		Loans		Restricted Cash		Other Assets(1)		Total
Secured borrowings:
Private Education Loan term securitizations	$	—	$	4,246,128	$	4,246,128	$	5,433,602	$	156,719	$	286,093	$	5,876,414
Secured Borrowing Facility	—		—		—		—		—		1,066		1,066
Total	$	—	$	4,246,128	$	4,246,128	$	5,433,602	$	156,719	$	287,159	$	5,877,480

(1) Other assets primarily represent accrued interest receivable.

Unconsolidated VIEs

Private Education Loan Securitizations

Unconsolidated VIEs include variable interests that we hold in certain securitization trusts created by the sale of our Private Education Loans to unaffiliated third parties. We remained the servicer of these loans pursuant to applicable servicing agreements executed in connection with the sales, and we are also the administrator of these trusts. Additionally, we own five percent of the securities issued by the trusts to meet risk retention requirements. We were not required to consolidate these entities because the fees we receive as the servicer/administrator are commensurate with our responsibility, so the fees are not considered a variable interest. Additionally, the five percent vertical interest we maintain does not absorb more than an insignificant amount of the VIE’s expected losses, nor do we receive more than an insignificant amount of the VIE’s expected residual returns.

2023-B Transaction

On May 24, 2023, we closed an SMB Private Education Loan Trust 2023-B term ABS transaction (the “2023-B Transaction”), in which an unaffiliated third party sold to the trust approximately $2 billion of Private Education Loans that the third-party seller previously purchased from us on May 3, 2023. Sallie Mae Bank sponsored the 2023-B Transaction, is the servicer and administrator, and was the seller of an additional $105 million of Private Education Loans into the trust. The sale of such additional loans qualified for sale treatment and removed these loans from our balance sheet on the settlement date of the 2023-B Transaction and we recorded a $5 million gain on sale associated with this transaction. In connection with the 2023-B Transaction settlement, we retained a five percent vertical risk retention interest (i.e., five percent of each class issued in the securitization). We classified those vertical risk retention interests related to the 2023-B Transaction as available-for-sale investments, except for the interest in the residual class, which we classified as a trading investment recorded at fair value with changes recorded through earnings.

SLM CORPORATION 39

9. Borrowings (Continued)

The table below provides a summary of our exposure related to our unconsolidated VIEs.

	September 30, 2023						December 31, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Debt Interests(1)		Equity Interests(2)		Total Exposure		Debt Interests(1)		Equity Interests(2)		Total Exposure
Private Education Loan term securitizations	$	389,006	$	52,561	$	441,567	$	329,188	$	50,786	$	379,974

(1) Vertical risk retention interest classified as available-for-sale investment.

(2) Vertical risk retention interest classified as trading investment.

Other Borrowing Sources

We maintain discretionary uncommitted Federal Funds lines of credit with various correspondent banks, which totaled $125 million at September 30, 2023. The interest rate we are charged on these lines of credit is priced at Fed Funds plus a spread at the time of borrowing and is payable daily. We did not utilize these lines of credit in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 or in the year ended December 31, 2022.

We established an account at the FRB to meet eligibility requirements for access to the Primary Credit borrowing facility at the FRB’s Discount Window (the “Window”). The Primary Credit borrowing facility is a lending program available to depository institutions that are in generally sound financial condition. All borrowings at the Window must be fully collateralized. We can pledge asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, as well as FFELP Loans and Private Education Loans, to the FRB as collateral for borrowings at the Window. Generally, collateral value is assigned based on the estimated fair value of the pledged assets. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the value of our pledged collateral at the FRB totaled $1.6 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively. The interest rate charged to us is the discount rate set by the FRB. We did not utilize this facility in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 or in the year ended December 31, 2022.

40 SLM CORPORATION

10. Derivative Financial Instruments

Risk Management Strategy

We maintain an overall interest rate risk management strategy that incorporates the use of derivative instruments to reduce the economic effect of interest rate changes. Our goal is to manage interest rate sensitivity by modifying the repricing frequency and underlying index characteristics of certain balance sheet assets or liabilities so any adverse impacts related to movements in interest rates are managed within low to moderate limits. As a result of interest rate fluctuations, hedged balance sheet positions will appreciate or depreciate in market value or create variability in cash flows. Income or loss on the derivative instruments linked to the hedged item will generally offset the effect of this unrealized appreciation or depreciation or volatility in cash flows for the period the item is being hedged. We view this strategy as a prudent management of interest rate risk. Please refer to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 13, “Derivative Financial Instruments” in our 2022 Form 10-K for a full discussion of our risk management strategy.

Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) requires all standardized derivatives, including most interest rate swaps, to be submitted for clearing to central counterparties to reduce counterparty risk. Two of the central counterparties we use are the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME”) and the London Clearing House (“LCH”). All variation margin payments on derivatives cleared through the CME and LCH are accounted for as legal settlement. As of September 30, 2023, $1.8 billion notional of our derivative contracts were cleared on the CME and $0.1 billion were cleared on the LCH. The derivative contracts cleared through the CME and LCH represent 91.7 percent and 8.3 percent, respectively, of our total notional derivative contracts of $1.9 billion at September 30, 2023.

For derivatives cleared through the CME and LCH, the net gain (loss) position includes the variation margin amounts as settlement of the derivative and not collateral against the fair value of the derivative. The amount of variation margin included as settlement as of September 30, 2023 was $(50) million and $(6) million for the CME and LCH, respectively. Changes in fair value for derivatives not designated as hedging instruments are presented as realized gains (losses).

Our exposure is limited to the value of the derivative contracts in a gain position less any collateral held and plus any collateral posted. When there is a net negative exposure, we consider our exposure to the counterparty to be zero. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we had a net positive exposure (derivative gain/loss positions to us, less collateral held by us and plus collateral posted with counterparties) related to derivatives of $11 million and $12 million, respectively.

SLM CORPORATION 41

10. Derivative Financial Instruments (Continued)

Summary of Derivative Financial Statement Impact

The following tables summarize the fair values and notional amounts of all derivative instruments at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, and their impact on earnings and other comprehensive income for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022. Please refer to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 13, “Derivative Financial Instruments” in our 2022 Form 10-K for a full discussion of cash flow hedges, fair value hedges, and trading activities.

Impact of Derivatives on the Consolidated Balance Sheets
		Cash Flow Hedges				Fair Value Hedges				Trading				Total
		September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2023		2022		2023		2022		2023		2022		2023		2022
Fair Values(1)	Hedged Risk Exposure
Derivative Assets:(2)
Interest rate swaps	Interest rate	$	—	$	972	$	17	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	17	$	972
Derivative Liabilities:(2)
Interest rate swaps	Interest rate	(268)		—		—		(567)		—		—		(268)		(567)
Total net derivatives		$	(268)	$	972	$	17	$	(567)	$	—	$	—	$	(251)	$	405

(1)    Fair values reported include variation margin as legal settlement of the derivative contract. Assets and liabilities are presented without consideration of master netting agreements. Derivatives are carried on the balance sheet based on net position by counterparty under master netting agreements and classified in other assets or other liabilities depending on whether in a net positive or negative position.

(2)    The following table reconciles gross positions with the impact of master netting agreements to the balance sheet classification:

	Other Assets				Other Liabilities
	September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Gross position(1)	$	17	$	972	$	(268)	$	(567)
Impact of master netting agreement	(17)		(567)		17		567
Derivative values with impact of master netting agreements (as carried on balance sheet)	—		405		(251)		—
Cash collateral pledged(2)	11,087		11,162		—		—
Net position	$	11,087	$	11,567	$	(251)	$	—

(1)Gross position amounts include accrued interest and variation margin as legal settlement of the derivative contract.

(2)Cash collateral pledged excludes amounts that represent legal settlement of the derivative contracts.

Notional Values
	Cash Flow				Fair Value				Trading				Total
(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
	2023		2022		2023		2022		2023		2022		2023		2022
Interest rate swaps	$	1,229,011	$	1,314,660	$	702,309	$	1,528,186	$	—	$	—	$	1,931,320	$	2,842,846
Net total notional	$	1,229,011	$	1,314,660	$	702,309	$	1,528,186	$	—	$	—	$	1,931,320	$	2,842,846

42 SLM CORPORATION

10. Derivative Financial Instruments (Continued)

As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the following amounts were recorded on the consolidated balance sheet related to cumulative basis adjustments for fair value hedges:

(Dollars in thousands)	Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets/(Liabilities)				Cumulative Amount of Fair Value Hedging Adjustment Included in the Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets/(Liabilities)
Line Item in the Balance Sheet in Which the Hedged Item is Included:	September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Deposits	$	(681,292)	$	(1,494,087)	$	20,755	$	31,259

Impact of Derivatives on the Consolidated Statements of Income
	Three Months Ended   September 30,				Nine Months Ended   September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Fair Value Hedges
Interest rate swaps:
Interest recognized on derivatives	$	(6,701)	$	(1,783)	$	(19,086)	$	24,418
Hedged items recorded in interest expense	(4,346)		14,143		(10,504)		86,899
Derivatives recorded in interest expense	4,265		(14,425)		10,596		(86,896)
Total	$	(6,782)	$	(2,065)	$	(18,994)	$	24,421
Cash Flow Hedges
Interest rate swaps:
Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into interest expense	$	12,813	$	2,771	$	34,917	$	(4,033)
Total	$	12,813	$	2,771	$	34,917	$	(4,033)
Trading
Interest rate swaps:
Change in fair value of future interest payments recorded in earnings	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	(248)
Total	—		—		—		(248)
Total	$	6,031	$	706	$	15,923	$	20,140

SLM CORPORATION 43

10. Derivative Financial Instruments (Continued)

Impact of Derivatives on the Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)	$	7,046	$	32,594	$	21,726	$	94,215
Less: amount of gain (loss) reclassified in interest expense	12,813		2,771		34,917		(4,033)
Total change in other comprehensive income (loss) for unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives, before income tax (expense) benefit	$	(5,767)	$	29,823	$	(13,191)	$	98,248

Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income related to derivatives will be reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on our variable-rate deposits. During the next 12 months, we estimate that $46 million will be reclassified as a decrease to interest expense.

Cash Collateral

As of September 30, 2023, cash collateral held and pledged excludes amounts that represent legal settlement of the derivative contracts held with the CME and LCH. There was no cash collateral held by us related to derivative exposure between us and our derivatives counterparties at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Collateral held is recorded in “Other Liabilities” on the consolidated balance sheets. Cash collateral pledged by us related to derivative exposure between us and our derivatives counterparties was $11 million and $11 million at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Collateral pledged is recorded in “Other interest-earning assets” on the consolidated balance sheets.

44 SLM CORPORATION

11. Stockholders’ Equity

The following table summarizes our common share repurchases and issuances.

 

	Three Months Ended   September 30,				Nine Months Ended   September 30,
(Shares and per share amounts in actuals)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Common stock repurchased under repurchase programs(1)	—		1,191,544		16,389,696		30,721,944
Average purchase price per share(2)	$	—	$	14.14	$	15.71	$	18.00
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans(3)	10,687		448		1,088,330		1,131,351
Average purchase price per share	$	16.14	$	13.99	$	15.45	$	18.36
Common shares issued(4)	200,886		4,682		3,073,639		3,093,392

(1) Common shares purchased under our share repurchase programs. We have utilized all capacity under our 2021 Share Repurchase Program. There was $326 million of capacity remaining under the 2022 Share Repurchase Program at September 30, 2023.

(2) Average purchase price per share includes purchase commission costs and excise taxes.

(3) Comprised of shares withheld from stock option exercises and vesting of restricted stock for employees’ tax withholding obligations and shares tendered by employees to satisfy option exercise costs.

(4)  Common shares issued under our various compensation and benefit plans.

The closing price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on September 29, 2023 was $13.62.

Common Stock Dividends

In both September 2023 and September 2022, we paid a common stock dividend of $0.11 per common share.

Share Repurchases

On January 27, 2021, we announced a share repurchase program (the “2021 Share Repurchase Program”), which was effective upon announcement and expired on January 26, 2023, and originally permitted us to repurchase shares of our common stock from time to time up to an aggregate repurchase price not to exceed $1.25 billion.

In October 2021, our Board of Directors approved a $250 million increase in the amount of common stock that may be repurchased under our 2021 Share Repurchase Program. This was in addition to the original $1.25 billion of authorization announced on January 27, 2021, for a total 2021 Share Repurchase Program authorization of $1.5 billion. Under the 2021 Share Repurchase Program, we repurchased 2.0 million shares of common stock for $38 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2022. We have utilized all capacity under the 2021 Share Repurchase Program.

On January 26, 2022, we announced a new share repurchase program (the “2022 Share Repurchase Program”), which was effective upon announcement and expires on January 25, 2024, and permits us to repurchase shares of our common stock from time to time up to an aggregate repurchase price not to exceed $1.25 billion. Under the 2022 Share Repurchase Program, we did not repurchase shares of common stock in the three months ended September 30, 2023, and we repurchased 16.4 million shares of common stock for $257 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2023. Under the 2022 Share Repurchase Program, we also repurchased 1.2 million shares of common stock for $17 million in the three months ended September 30, 2022, and 28.7 million shares of common stock for $515 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2022. We had $326 million of capacity remaining under the 2022 Share Repurchase Program at September 30, 2023.

So long as there is unexpired capacity under a given repurchase program, repurchases under the programs may occur from time to time and through a variety of methods, including tender offers, open market repurchases, repurchases effected through Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, negotiated block purchases, accelerated share repurchase programs, or other similar transactions. The timing and volume of any repurchases under the 2022 Share Repurchase Program will be subject to market conditions, and there can be no guarantee that the Company will repurchase up to the limit of the program or at all.

SLM CORPORATION 45

11. Stockholders’ Equity (Continued)

Share Repurchases under Rule 10b5-1 trading plans

During the three months ended September 30, 2023, we did not repurchase shares of our common stock under any share repurchase program. During the three months ended September 30, 2022, we repurchased 1.2 million shares of our common stock at a total cost of $17 million, and during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, we repurchased 16.4 million and 30.7 million shares, respectively, of our common stock at a total cost of $257 million and $553 million, respectively, under Rule 10b5-1 trading plans authorized under our share repurchase programs.

46 SLM CORPORATION

12. Earnings per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share (“EPS”) are calculated using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted EPS calculations follows.

	Three Months Ended   September 30,				Nine Months Ended   September 30,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Numerator:
Net income	$	29,365	$	75,172	$	412,948	$	546,057
Preferred stock dividends	4,642		2,531		12,979		5,563
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	$	24,723	$	72,641	$	399,969	$	540,494
Denominator:
Weighted average shares used to compute basic EPS	226,120		251,266		234,170		263,098
Effect of dilutive securities:
Dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance stock units, and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) (1)(2)	2,680		2,450		2,423		2,967
Weighted average shares used to compute diluted EPS	228,800		253,716		236,593		266,065
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.11	$	0.29	$	1.71	$	2.05
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.11	$	0.29	$	1.69	$	2.03

(1)     Includes the potential dilutive effect of additional common shares that are issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance stock units, and the outstanding commitment to issue shares under the ESPP, determined by the treasury stock method.

(2)      For the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, securities covering approximately 1 million shares and 1 million shares, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, securities covering approximately 1 million and 1 million shares, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because they were anti-dilutive.

SLM CORPORATION 47

13. Fair Value Measurements

We use estimates of fair value in applying various accounting standards for our consolidated financial statements.

We categorize our fair value estimates based on a hierarchical framework associated with three levels of price transparency utilized in measuring financial instruments at fair value. For additional information regarding our policies for determining fair value and the hierarchical framework, see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies - Fair Value Measurement” in our 2022 Form 10-K.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, there were no significant transfers of financial instruments between levels or changes in our methodology or assumptions used to value our financial instruments.

The following table summarizes the valuation of our financial instruments that are marked-to-fair value on a recurring basis.

	Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis
	September 30, 2023								December 31, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:
Trading investments	$	—	$	—	$	52,561	$	52,561	$	—	$	—	$	55,903	$	55,903
Available-for-sale investments	—		2,315,978		—		2,315,978		—		2,342,089		—		2,342,089
Derivative instruments	—		17		—		17		—		972		—		972
Total	$	—	$	2,315,995	$	52,561	$	2,368,556	$	—	$	2,343,061	$	55,903	$	2,398,964
Liabilities:
Derivative instruments	$	—	$	(268)	$	—	$	(268)	$	—	$	(567)	$	—	$	(567)
Total	$	—	$	(268)	$	—	$	(268)	$	—	$	(567)	$	—	$	(567)

48 SLM CORPORATION

13. Fair Value Measurements (Continued)

The following table summarizes the fair values of our financial assets and liabilities, including derivative financial instruments.

	September 30, 2023						December 31, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Fair Value		Carrying Value		Difference		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Difference
Earning assets:
Loans held for investment, net:
Private Education Loans	$	22,370,679	$	20,348,308	$	2,022,371	$	21,062,548	$	19,019,713	$	2,042,835
FFELP Loans	559,852		550,873		8,979		618,186		607,155		11,031
Loans held for sale	—		—		—		29,448		29,448		—
Cash and cash equivalents	3,548,225		3,548,225		—		4,616,117		4,616,117		—
Trading investments	52,561		52,561		—		55,903		55,903		—
Available-for-sale investments	2,315,978		2,315,978		—		2,342,089		2,342,089		—
Accrued interest receivable	1,498,156		1,457,323		40,833		1,237,074		1,202,059		35,015
Tax indemnification receivable	2,945		2,945		—		2,816		2,816		—
Derivative instruments	17		17		—		972		972		—
Total earning assets	$	30,348,413	$	28,276,230	$	2,072,183	$	29,965,153	$	27,876,272	$	2,088,881
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Money-market and savings accounts	$	11,060,884	$	11,171,822	$	110,938	$	11,854,849	$	11,959,828	$	104,979
Certificates of deposit	10,201,927		10,378,286		176,359		9,175,339		9,486,819		311,480
Long-term borrowings	5,133,657		5,515,532		381,875		4,813,233		5,235,114		421,881
Accrued interest payable	99,415		99,415		—		71,586		71,586		—
Derivative instruments	268		268		—		567		567		—
Total interest-bearing liabilities	$	26,496,151	$	27,165,323	$	669,172	$	25,915,574	$	26,753,914	$	838,340
Excess of net asset fair value over carrying value					$	2,741,355					$	2,927,221

Please refer to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 17, “Fair Value Measurements” in our 2022 Form 10-K for a full discussion of the methods and assumptions used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments.

SLM CORPORATION 49

14. Regulatory Capital

Sallie Mae Bank (the “Bank”) is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the FDIC and the Utah Department of Financial Institutions. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial position. Under the FDIC’s regulations implementing the Basel III capital framework (“U.S. Basel III”) and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Bank must meet specific capital standards that involve quantitative measures of its assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Bank’s capital amounts and its classification under the prompt corrective action framework are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components of capital, risk weightings, and other factors.

The Bank is subject to the following minimum capital ratios under U.S. Basel III: a Common Equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4.5 percent, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0 percent, a Total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0 percent, and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4.0 percent. In addition, the Bank is subject to a Common Equity Tier 1 capital conservation buffer of greater than 2.5 percent. Failure to maintain the buffer will result in restrictions on the Bank’s ability to make capital distributions, including the payment of dividends, and to pay discretionary bonuses to executive officers. Including the buffer, the Bank is required to maintain the following capital ratios under U.S. Basel III in order to avoid such restrictions: a Common Equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of greater than 7.0 percent, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of greater than 8.5 percent, and a Total risk-based capital ratio of greater than 10.5 percent.

To qualify as “well capitalized” under the prompt corrective action framework for insured depository institutions, the Bank must maintain a Common Equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 6.5 percent, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 8.0 percent, a Total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10.0 percent, and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of at least 5.0 percent.

Under regulations issued by the FDIC and other federal banking agencies, banking organizations that adopted CECL during the 2020 calendar year, including the Bank, could elect to delay for two years, and then phase in over the following three years, the effects on regulatory capital of CECL relative to the incurred loss methodology. The Bank elected to use this option. Therefore, the regulatory capital impact of the Bank’s transition adjustments recorded on January 1, 2020 from the adoption of CECL, and 25 percent of the ongoing impact of CECL on the Bank’s allowance for credit losses, retained earnings, and average total consolidated assets, each as reported for regulatory capital purposes (collectively, the “adjusted transition amounts”), were deferred for the two-year period ending January 1, 2022. On January 1, 2022, 25 percent of the adjusted transition amounts was phased in for regulatory capital purposes. On January 1, 2023, an additional 25 percent of the adjusted transition amounts was phased in for regulatory capital purposes. On January 1 of 2024 and 2025, the adjusted transition amounts will continue to be phased in for regulatory capital purposes at a rate of 25 percent per year, with the phased-in amounts included in regulatory capital at the beginning of each year. The Bank’s January 1, 2020 CECL transition amounts increased our allowance for credit losses by $1.1 billion, increased the liability representing our off-balance sheet exposure for unfunded commitments by $116 million, and increased our deferred tax asset by $306 million, resulting in a cumulative effect adjustment that reduced retained earnings by $953 million. This transition adjustment was inclusive of qualitative adjustments incorporated into our CECL allowance as necessary, to address any limitations in the models used.

At September 30, 2023, the adjusted transition amounts that were deferred and are being phased in for regulatory capital purposes are as follows:

	Adjusted Transition Amounts		Phase-In Amounts for the Year Ended		Phase-In Amounts for the Nine Months Ended		Remaining Adjusted Transition Amounts to be Phased-In
(Dollars in thousands)	December 31, 2021		December 31, 2022		September 30, 2023		September 30, 2023
Retained earnings	$	836,351	$	(209,088)	$	(209,088)	$	418,175
Allowance for credit losses	1,038,145		(259,536)		(259,536)		519,073
Liability for unfunded commitments	104,377		(26,094)		(26,094)		52,189
Deferred tax asset	306,171		(76,542)		(76,542)		153,087

50 SLM CORPORATION

14. Regulatory Capital (Continued)

The Bank’s required and actual regulatory capital amounts and ratios under U.S. Basel III are shown in the following table. The following capital amounts and ratios are based upon the Bank’s average assets and risk-weighted assets, as indicated. The Bank has elected to exclude accumulated other comprehensive income related to both available-for-sale investments and swap valuations from Common Equity Tier 1 Capital. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the unrealized loss on available-for-sale investments included in other comprehensive income totaled $158 million and $160 million, net of tax of $51 million and $52 million, respectively. The capital ratios would remain above the well capitalized thresholds if the unrealized loss became fully recognized into capital.

(Dollars in thousands)	Actual				U.S. Basel III Minimum Requirements Plus Buffer(1)(2)
	Amount		Ratio		Amount			Ratio
As of September 30, 2023(3):
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	2,935,903	11.7	%	$	1,763,562	>	7.0	%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	2,935,903	11.7	%	$	2,141,468	>	8.5	%
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	3,258,771	12.9	%	$	2,645,343	>	10.5	%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)	$	2,935,903	10.1	%	$	1,166,116	>	4.0	%
As of December 31, 2022(3):
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	3,040,662	12.9	%	$	1,645,807	>	7.0	%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	3,040,662	12.9	%	$	1,998,480	>	8.5	%
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	3,338,645	14.2	%	$	2,468,711	>	10.5	%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)	$	3,040,662	10.3	%	$	1,185,280	>	4.0	%

(1)    Reflects the U.S. Basel III minimum required ratio plus the applicable capital conservation buffer.

(2)    The Bank’s regulatory capital ratios also exceeded all applicable standards for the Bank to qualify as “well capitalized” under the prompt corrective action framework.

(3)    For both September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the actual amounts and the actual ratios include the adjusted transition amounts discussed above that were phased in at the beginning of 2022 and 2023.

Bank Dividends

The Bank is chartered under the laws of the State of Utah and its deposits are insured by the FDIC. The Bank’s ability to pay dividends is subject to the laws of Utah and the regulations of the FDIC. Generally, under Utah’s industrial bank laws and regulations as well as FDIC regulations, the Bank may pay dividends from its net profits without regulatory approval if, following the payment of the dividend, the Bank’s capital and surplus would not be impaired. The Bank declared $100 million and $400 million in dividends to the Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, and $241 million and $642 million in dividends to the Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, with the proceeds primarily used to fund share repurchase programs and stock dividends. In the future, we expect that the Bank will pay dividends to the Company as may be necessary to enable the Company to pay any declared dividends on its Series B Preferred Stock and common stock and to consummate any common share repurchases by the Company under its share repurchase programs.

SLM CORPORATION 51

15. Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees

Commitments

When we approve a Private Education Loan at the beginning of an academic year, that approval may cover the borrowing for the entire academic year. As such, we do not always disburse the full amount of the loan at the time of such approval, but instead have a commitment to fund a portion of the loan at a later date (usually at the start of the second semester or subsequent trimesters). We estimate expected credit losses over the contractual period that we are exposed to credit risk via a contractual obligation to extend credit, unless that obligation is unconditionally cancellable by us. At September 30, 2023, we had $2.4 billion of outstanding contractual loan commitments which we expect to fund during the remainder of the 2023/2024 academic year. At September 30, 2023, we had a $114 million reserve recorded in “Other Liabilities” to cover expected losses that may occur during the one-year loss emergence period on these unfunded commitments. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies - Allowance for Credit Losses — Off-Balance Sheet Exposure for Contractual Loan Commitments” in our 2022 Form 10-K and Note 6, “Unfunded Loan Commitments” in this Form 10-Q for additional information.

Regulatory Matters

For additional information regarding our regulatory matters, see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 21, “Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees” in our 2022 Form 10-K.

Contingencies

In the ordinary course of business, we and our subsidiaries are routinely defendants in or parties to pending and threatened legal actions and proceedings, including actions brought on behalf of various classes of claimants. These actions and proceedings may be based on alleged violations of consumer protection, securities, employment, and other laws. In certain of these actions and proceedings, claims for substantial monetary damage may be asserted against us and our subsidiaries.

It is common for the Company, our subsidiaries, and affiliates to receive information and document requests and investigative demands from state attorneys general, legislative committees, and administrative agencies. These requests may be for informational or regulatory purposes and may relate to our business practices, the industries in which we operate, or other companies with whom we conduct business. Our practice has been and continues to be to cooperate with these bodies and be responsive to any such requests.

We are required to establish reserves for litigation and regulatory matters where those matters present loss contingencies that are both probable and estimable. When loss contingencies are not both probable and estimable, we do not establish reserves.

Based on current knowledge, management does not believe there are loss contingencies, if any, arising from pending investigations, litigation, or regulatory matters for which reserves should be established.

16. Subsequent Event

Fourth-Quarter 2023 Loan Sales

On October 13, 2023, we sold approximately $1 billion of our Private Education Loans, including approximately $921 million in principal and approximately $78 million in capitalized interest to an unaffiliated third party. The gain on sale of loans sold expressed as a percentage was in the low to mid single-digits and will be recognized in the fourth-quarter 2023 consolidated statements of income. The transaction qualified for sale treatment and removed the balance of the loans from our balance sheet on the settlement date. We will continue to service these loans pursuant to the terms of the applicable transaction documents.

52 SLM CORPORATION

Item 2.     Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following information should be read in connection with SLM Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 23, 2023) (the “2022 Form 10-K”), and subsequent reports filed with the SEC. Definitions for capitalized terms used in this report not defined herein can be found in the 2022 Form 10-K.

References in this Form 10-Q to “we,” “us,” “our,” “Sallie Mae,” “SLM,” and the “Company” refer to SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries, except as otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires.

This report contains “forward-looking” statements and information based on management’s current expectations as of the date of this report. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs, opinions, or expectations and statements that assume or are dependent upon future events, are forward-looking statements. This includes, but is not limited to: statements regarding future developments surrounding COVID-19 or any other pandemic, including, without limitation, statements regarding the potential impact of COVID-19 or any other pandemic on the Company’s business, results of operations, financial condition, and/or cash flows; our expectation and ability to pay a quarterly cash dividend on our common stock in the future, subject to the determination by our Board of Directors, and based on an evaluation of our earnings, financial condition and requirements, business conditions, capital allocation determinations, and other factors, risks, and uncertainties; the Company’s 2023 guidance; the Company’s three-year horizon outlook; the Company’s expectation and ability to execute loan sales and share repurchases; the Company’s projections regarding originations, net charge-offs, non-interest expenses, earnings, balance sheet position, and other metrics; any estimates related to accounting standard changes; and any estimates related to the impact of credit administration practices changes, including the results of simulations or other behavioral observations. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those reflected in such forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, the risks and uncertainties set forth in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our 2022 Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the SEC; the societal, business, and legislative/regulatory impact of pandemics and other public heath crises; increases in financing costs; limits on liquidity; increases in costs associated with compliance with laws and regulations; failure to comply with consumer protection, banking, and other laws; changes in accounting standards and the impact of related changes in significant accounting estimates, including any regarding the measurement of our allowance for credit losses and the related provision expense; any adverse outcomes in any significant litigation to which we are a party; credit risk associated with our exposure to third parties, including counterparties to our derivative transactions; and changes in the terms of education loans and the educational credit marketplace (including changes resulting from new laws and the implementation of existing laws). We could also be affected by, among other things: changes in our funding costs and availability; reductions to our credit ratings; cybersecurity incidents, cyberattacks, and other failures or breaches of our operating systems or infrastructure, including those of third-party vendors; damage to our reputation; risks associated with restructuring initiatives, including failures to successfully implement cost-cutting programs and the adverse effects of such initiatives on our business; changes in the demand for educational financing or in financing preferences of lenders, educational institutions, students, and their families; changes in law and regulations with respect to the student lending business and financial institutions generally; changes in banking rules and regulations, including increased capital requirements; increased competition from banks and other consumer lenders; the creditworthiness of our customers; changes in the general interest rate environment, including the rate relationships among relevant money-market instruments and those of our earning assets versus our funding arrangements; rates of prepayment on the loans that we own; changes in general economic conditions and our ability to successfully effectuate any acquisitions; and other strategic initiatives. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements also requires us to make certain estimates and assumptions, including estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates or assumptions may prove to be incorrect. All forward-looking statements contained in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q are qualified by these cautionary statements and are made only as of the date of this report. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to conform such statements to actual results or changes in our expectations.    

We report financial results on a GAAP basis and also provide certain non-GAAP core earnings performance measures. The difference between our non-GAAP “Core Earnings” and GAAP results for the periods presented were the unrealized, mark-to-fair value gains/losses on derivative contracts (excluding current period accruals on the derivative instruments), net of tax. These are recognized in GAAP, but not in non-GAAP “Core Earnings” results. We provide non-GAAP “Core Earnings” measures because this is one of several measures management uses when making management decisions regarding our performance and the allocation of corporate resources. Our non-GAAP “Core Earnings” are not defined terms within GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. For additional information, see “—Key Financial Measures” and “—Non-GAAP ‘Core Earnings’ ” in this Form 10-Q for the

SLM CORPORATION 53

quarter ended September 30, 2023 for a further discussion and a complete reconciliation between GAAP net income and non-GAAP “Core Earnings.”

Through this discussion and analysis, we intend to provide the reader with some narrative context for how our management views our consolidated financial statements, additional context within which to assess our operating results, and information on the quality and variability of our earnings, liquidity, and cash flows.

Impact of COVID-19 on Sallie Mae

For further discussion of the impact of the coronavirus 2019 or COVID-19 (“COVID-19”) pandemic on the Company, see Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Impact of COVID-19 on Sallie Mae” in the 2022 Form 10-K.

The COVID-19 crisis was unprecedented and has had a significant impact on the economic environment globally and in the U.S. On April 10, 2023, President Biden signed into law a joint resolution that immediately terminated the COVID-19 national emergency. On June 3, 2023, President Biden signed into law the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, and as a result, the U.S. Department of Education announced the end of its COVID-19 student loan forbearance program. Beginning on September 1, 2023, interest accrual on federal student loans resumed and in October 2023, payments by federal student loan borrowers resumed.

There still remains some uncertainty as to the length and breadth of the COVID-19 impact to the U.S. economy and, consequently, on us. Economists believe risk related to the impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. economy may continue in 2023 and beyond. See Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors — Pandemic Risk” in the 2022 Form 10-K for additional discussion regarding the risks associated with COVID-19.

Selected Financial Information and Ratios

 

(In thousands, except per share data and percentages)	Three Months Ended   September 30,						Nine Months Ended   September 30,
	2023			2022			2023			2022
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	$	24,723		$	72,641		$	399,969		$	540,494
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.11		$	0.29		$	1.69		$	2.03
Weighted average shares used to compute diluted earnings per common share	228,800			253,716			236,593			266,065
Return on assets(1)	0.4		%	1.0		%	1.9		%	2.6		%
Other Operating Statistics (Held for Investment)
Ending Private Education Loans, net	$	20,348,308		$	18,980,852		$	20,348,308		$	18,980,852
Ending FFELP Loans, net	550,873			641,450			550,873			641,450
Ending total education loans, net	$	20,899,181		$	19,622,302		$	20,899,181		$	19,622,302
Average education loans	$	21,213,165		$	20,614,487		$	21,615,968		$	21,359,026
(1) We calculate and report our Return on Assets as the ratio of (a) GAAP net income numerator (annualized) to (b) the GAAP total average assets denominator.

54 SLM CORPORATION

Overview

The following discussion and analysis presents a review of our business and operations as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.

Key Financial Measures

Our operating results are primarily driven by net interest income from our Private Education Loan portfolio, gains and losses on loan sales, provision expense for credit losses, and operating expenses. The growth of our business and the strength of our financial condition are primarily driven by our ability to achieve our annual Private Education Loan origination goals while sustaining credit quality and maintaining cost-efficient funding sources to support our originations. A brief summary of our key financial measures (net interest income; loan sales and secured financings; allowance for credit losses; charge-offs and delinquencies; operating expenses; Private Education Loan originations; funding sources; and non-GAAP “Core Earnings”) can be found in Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our 2022 Form 10-K.

LIBOR Transition

Following announcements by the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority (“UKFCA”), which regulates LIBOR, and ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, the administrator of LIBOR, publication of 1-week and 2-month USD LIBOR and all tenors for other currencies ceased after December 31, 2021. While publication of the remaining USD settings ceased after June 30, 2023 (the “LIBOR Cessation Date”), U.S. banking and other global financial services regulators had previously directed regulated institutions to cease entering into new LIBOR-based contracts as soon as practicable and in any event by the end of 2021.

In 2020, we launched a formal cross-functional replacement project with the goal of ensuring a smooth transition to a replacement index for our LIBOR-based assets and obligations with minimal negative impact on our customers, investors, and the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations. In 2020, we began accepting certain deposits based on SOFR. In the second quarter of 2021, we began issuing variable-rate Private Education Loans that are indexed to SOFR. In May 2022, we renewed the Secured Borrowing Facility with an index based on SOFR and, in the third quarter of 2022, we began issuing ABS that are indexed to SOFR. In the second quarter of 2023, our derivatives were transitioned by the CME and LCH into instruments on which the LIBOR coupon remained in effect until the first repricing date after the LIBOR Cessation Date.

In the third quarter of 2023, all our remaining assets, liabilities, and off-balance sheet items referencing LIBOR transitioned to reference SOFR plus the applicable spread adjustment on their respective first repricing dates after the LIBOR Cessation Date. These items were comprised of Private Education Loans originated before April 2021, deposits, variable-rate ABS, derivatives, as well as our Series B Preferred Stock. (The first dividend on our Series B Preferred Stock (when, as, and if declared by our Board of Directors) that will be based on a SOFR rate will be any declared dividend to be paid on December 15, 2023, which will be priced as of September 2023.)

Approximately $96 million of our variable-rate ABS (those issued before November 2017) do not have fallback provisions for an alternative reference rate and we relied upon the safe harbors provided by recently passed federal legislation to transition these ABS to an alternative reference rate. Generally, the safe harbors will shield parties from liability and damages for transitioning certain USD LIBOR-indexed contracts (generally, those that do not have provisions for an alternative reference rate) to a benchmark replacement rate based on SOFR and selected by the Federal Reserve Board.

See Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in the 2022 Form 10-K for additional discussion regarding the risks associated with the transition from LIBOR.

Strategic Imperatives

To further focus our business and increase shareholder value, we continue to advance our strategic imperatives. Our focus remains on maximizing the profitability and growth of our core private student loan business, while harnessing and optimizing the power of our brand and attractive client base. In addition, we continue to seek to better inform the external narrative about student lending and Sallie Mae. We also strive to maintain a rigorous and predictable capital allocation and return program to create shareholder value. We are focused on driving a mission-led culture that continues to make

SLM CORPORATION 55

Sallie Mae a great place to work. We also continue to strengthen our risk and compliance function, enhance and build upon our risk management framework, and assess and monitor enterprise-wide risk.

During the first nine months of 2023, we made the following progress on the above corporate strategic imperatives.

Acquisition of Scholly

On July 21, 2023, we completed the previously announced acquisition of several key assets of Scholly, which is engaged in the business of operating as a scholarship publishing and servicing platform, comprised of websites and mobile application search products which offer custom recommendations for post-secondary scholarships for students, their families, and others as well as related services for scholarship providers. The addition of Scholly assets will support our mission of providing students with the confidence needed to successfully navigate the higher education journey. For additional information on this transaction, see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 1, “Significant Accounting Policies — Business Combination,” and Note 7, “Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets” in this Form 10-Q.

2023-A Securitization

On March 15, 2023, we executed our $579 million SMB Private Education Loan Trust 2023-A term ABS transaction, which was accounted for as a secured financing. We sold $579 million of notes to third parties and retained a 100 percent interest in the residual certificates issued in the securitization, raising approximately $572 million of gross proceeds. The Class A and Class B notes had a weighted average life of 5.06 years and priced at a weighted average SOFR equivalent cost of SOFR plus 1.53 percent.

2023-C Securitization

On August 16, 2023, we executed our $568 million SMB Private Education Loan Trust 2023-C term ABS transaction, which was accounted for as a secured financing. We sold $568 million of notes to third parties and retained a 100 percent interest in the residual certificates issued in the securitization, raising approximately $568 million of gross proceeds. The Class A and Class B notes had a weighted average life of 4.93 years and priced at a weighted average SOFR equivalent cost of SOFR plus 1.69 percent.

2023 Loan Sales and 2023-B Transaction

In the first nine months of 2023, we recognized $128 million in gains from the sale of approximately $2.10 billion of Private Education Loans, including $1.96 billion of principal and $144 million in capitalized interest, to an unaffiliated third party. The transactions qualified for sale treatment and removed the balance of the loans from our balance sheet on the respective settlement dates. We remained the servicer of these loans pursuant to applicable servicing agreements executed in connection with the sales. For additional information regarding these transactions, see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 3, “Loans Held for Investment” and Note 9, “Borrowings - Unconsolidated VIEs” in this Form 10-Q.

Secured Borrowing Facility

On May 16, 2023, we amended our Secured Borrowing Facility to extend the maturity of the facility. The amount that can be borrowed under the facility is $2 billion. We hold 100 percent of the residual interest in the Secured Borrowing Facility trust. Under the Secured Borrowing Facility, we incur financing costs on unused borrowing capacity and on outstanding advances. The amended Secured Borrowing Facility extended the revolving period, during which we may borrow, repay, and reborrow funds, until May 15, 2024. The scheduled amortization period, during which amounts outstanding under the Secured Borrowing Facility must be repaid, ends on May 15, 2025 (or earlier, if certain material adverse events occur).

Sale of Credit Card Loan Portfolio

In May 2023, we sold our Credit Card loan portfolio to a third party. This transaction qualified for sale treatment and removed the balance of the loans from our balance sheet on the settlement date. We recorded a loss of $4 million related to the sale in the second quarter of 2023.

Share Repurchases under our Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans

During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we repurchased 16.4 million shares of our common stock at a total cost of $257 million under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan authorized under our share repurchase programs.

56 SLM CORPORATION

Results of Operations

We present the results of operations below on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

GAAP Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)	Three Months Ended   September 30,				Increase (Decrease)				Nine Months Ended   September 30,				Increase (Decrease)
	2023		2022		$		%		2023		2022		$		%
Interest income:
Loans	$	581	$	483	$	98	20	%	$	1,732	$	1,388	$	344	25	%
Investments	13		10		3		30		37		24		13		54
Cash and cash equivalents	58		26		32		123		155		36		119		331
Total interest income	652		520		132		25		1,924		1,448		476		33
Total interest expense	268		150		118		79		747		341		406		119
Net interest income	385		370		15		4		1,176		1,107		69		6
Less: provisions for credit losses	198		208		(10)		(5)		330		336		(6)		(2)
Net interest income after provisions for credit losses	187		162		25		15		846		771		75		10
Non-interest income:
Gains on sales of loans, net	—		75		(75)		(100)		125		325		(200)		(62)
Gains (losses) on securities, net	1		1		—		—		2		(2)		4		200
Other income	23		19		4		21		63		52		11		21
Total non-interest income	24		95		(71)		(75)		190		375		(185)		(49)
Non-interest expenses:
Total operating expenses	167		150		17		11		476		414		62		15
Acquired intangible assets amortization expense	3		2		1		50		7		5		2		40
Total non-interest expenses	170		152		18		12		483		419		64		15
Income before income tax expense	41		105		(64)		(61)		553		727		(174)		(24)
Income tax expense	11		30		(19)		(63)		140		181		(41)		(23)
Net income	29		75		(46)		(61)		413		546		(133)		(24)
Preferred stock dividends	5		2		3		150		13		6		7		117
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	$	25	$	73	$	(48)	(66)	%	$	400	$	540	$	(140)	(26)	%
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.11	$	0.29	$	(0.18)	(62)	%	$	1.71	$	2.05	$	(0.34)	(17)	%
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.11	$	0.29	$	(0.18)	(62)	%	$	1.69	$	2.03	$	(0.34)	(17)	%
Declared dividends per common share	$	0.11	$	0.11	$	—	—	%	$	0.33	$	0.33	$	—	—	%

SLM CORPORATION 57

 GAAP Consolidated Earnings Summary

Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 Compared with Three Months Ended September 30, 2022

For the three months ended September 30, 2023, net income attributable to common stock was $25 million, or $0.11 diluted earnings per common share, compared with net income attributable to common stock of $73 million, or $0.29 diluted earnings per common share, for the three months ended September 30, 2022.

The primary drivers of changes in net income for the current quarter compared with the year-ago quarter are as follows:

•Net interest income increased by $15 million in the current quarter compared with the year-ago quarter primarily due to a 16-basis point increase in our net interest margin and a $599 million increase in our average Private Education Loans and FFELP Loans outstanding. Our net interest margin increased in the current quarter from the year-ago quarter primarily because our interest-earning assets repriced faster than our cost of funds as interest rates increased dramatically over the past year.

•Provision for credit losses in the current quarter was $198 million, compared with $208 million in the year-ago quarter. During the third quarter of 2023, the provision for credit losses was primarily affected by new loan commitments, net of expired commitments, slower prepayment rates, management overlays, and changes in economic outlook. In the year-ago quarter, the provision for credit losses was primarily affected by provisions for new loan commitments and slower prepayment rates, which were offset by a negative $50 million provision associated with the $1.0 billion Private Education Loan sale completed in the third quarter of 2022.

•There were no gains on sales of loans, net, in the current quarter, as we did not sell loans in the third quarter of 2023. In the third quarter of 2022, we sold $1.0 billion of Private Education Loans that resulted in a $75 million gain.

•Other income was $23 million in the third quarter of 2023, compared with $19 million in the year-ago quarter. In the third quarter of 2023, there was a $3 million increase in third-party servicing fees from the year-ago quarter. The increase in third-party servicing fees was due to an additional $2.15 billion of loans that we sold during the past year where we continue to service on behalf of the owners of the loans. Private Education Loan late fees also increased $1 million compared to the year-ago period.

•Third-quarter 2023 total operating expenses were $167 million, compared with $150 million in the year-ago quarter. The increase in total operating expenses was primarily driven by higher personnel costs and higher FDIC assessment fees.

•During the third quarter of 2023, we recorded $3 million in amortization of acquired intangible assets, up from $2 million in the year-ago quarter. The increase is a result of our acquisition of several key assets of Scholly in the third quarter of 2023. For additional information, see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 7, “Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets” in this Form 10-Q.

•Third-quarter 2023 income tax expense was $11 million, compared with $30 million in the year-ago quarter. Our effective income tax rate decreased to 27.7 percent in the third quarter of 2023 from 28.2 percent in the year-ago quarter. The decrease in the effective rate for the third quarter of 2023 was primarily due to an increase in tax credits.

58 SLM CORPORATION

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 Compared with Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, net income attributable to common stock was $400 million, or $1.69 diluted earnings per common share, compared with net income attributable to common stock of $540 million, or $2.03 diluted earnings per common share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2022.

The primary drivers of changes in net income for the first nine months of 2023 compared with the first nine months of 2022 are as follows:

•Net interest income increased by $69 million in the first nine months of 2023 compared with the year-ago period primarily due to a $257 million increase in average Private Education Loans and FFELP Loans outstanding and a 27-basis point increase in our net interest margin. Our net interest margin increased in the current period from the year-ago period because of the dramatic increase in interest rates over the past year. When interest rates rise, the yield on our interest-earning assets typically increase faster than our cost of funds. As such, as rates increased in the first nine months of 2023, we saw our net interest margin increase.

•Provision for credit losses in the first nine months of 2023 was $330 million, compared with $336 million in the year-ago period. During the first nine months of 2023, the provision for credit losses was primarily affected by $137 million in negative provisions recorded as a result of the $2.10 billion Private Education Loan sales during the first nine months of 2023 and an increase in recovery rates (as a result of the change in our defaulted loan recovery process noted above), which was offset by new loan commitments, net of expired commitments, slower prepayment rates, management overlays, and changes in economic outlook. In the year-ago period, the provision for credit losses was primarily affected by new loan commitments made during the period, slower than expected prepayment rates, and additional management overlays, which were partially offset by negative provisions recorded related to $3.29 billion in Private Education Loans sold in the first nine months of 2022.

•Gains on sales of loans,net were $125 million in the first nine months of 2023, compared with $325 million in the year-ago period. The decrease in gains on sales of loans was primarily the result of selling $2.10 billion of Private Education Loans in the first nine months of 2023, compared with the sale of approximately $3.29 billion of Private Education Loans in the year-ago period, and lower sales premiums compared to the year-ago period, which were attributable to higher interest rates in the first nine months of 2023. We also sold our Credit Card loan portfolio in May 2023 and recorded a $3.5 million loss on the sale in the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

•Gains (losses) on securities, net, were $2 million in gains in the first nine months of 2023, compared with $2 million in losses in the year-ago period. The increase in gains (losses) on securities, net was related to the changes in mark-to-fair value of our trading investments.

•Other income was $63 million in the first nine months of 2023, compared with $52 million in the year-ago period. The increase in other income compared with the year-ago period was primarily the result of a $10 million increase in third-party servicing fees from the year-ago period and a $2 million increase in Private Education Loan late fees compared with the year-ago period.

•Total operating expenses for the first nine months of 2023 were $476 million, compared with $414 million in the year-ago period. The increase in total operating expenses was primarily driven by higher personnel costs, initiative spending, and higher FDIC assessment fees.

•During the first nine months of 2023, we recorded $7 million in amortization of acquired intangible assets, compared with $5 million in the year-ago period, related to our acquisition of several key assets of Scholly in the third quarter of 2023 and Nitro in the first quarter of 2022. For additional information, see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 7, “Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets” in this Form 10-Q.

•Income tax expense for the first nine months of 2023 was $140 million, compared with $181 million in the year-ago period. Our effective income tax rate increased to 25.3 percent for the nine months ending September 30, 2023, compared with 24.9 percent for the year-ago period. The increase in the effective rate for the first nine months of 2023 was primarily attributable to an increase in non-deductible expenses and a decrease in the tax benefit related to stock compensation.

SLM CORPORATION 59

Non-GAAP “Core Earnings”

We prepare financial statements in accordance with GAAP. However, we also produce and report our after-tax earnings on a separate basis that we refer to as “Core Earnings.” The difference between our non-GAAP “Core Earnings” and GAAP results for periods presented generally is driven by the unrealized, mark-to-fair value gains (losses) on derivative contracts recognized in GAAP, but not in non-GAAP “Core Earnings.”

Non-GAAP “Core Earnings” recognizes the difference in accounting treatment based upon whether a derivative qualifies for hedge accounting treatment. We enter into derivative instruments to economically hedge interest rate and cash flow risk associated with our portfolio. We believe that our derivatives are effective economic hedges and, as such, are a critical element of our interest rate risk management strategy. Those derivative instruments that qualify for hedge accounting treatment have their related cash flows recorded in interest income or interest expense along with the hedged item. Some of our derivatives do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment and the stand-alone derivative must be marked-to-fair value in the income statement with no consideration for the corresponding change in fair value of the hedged item. These gains and losses, recorded in “Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net,” are primarily caused by interest rate volatility and changing credit spreads during the period as well as the volume and term of derivatives not receiving hedge accounting treatment. Cash flows on derivative instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting are not recorded in interest income and interest expense; they are recorded in non-interest income: “Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net.”

The adjustments required to reconcile from our non-GAAP “Core Earnings” results to our GAAP results of operations, net of tax, relate to differing treatments for those derivative instruments used to hedge our economic risks that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment. The amount recorded in “Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net” includes (i) the accrual of the current payment on the interest rate swaps that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment, and (ii) the change in fair values related to future expected cash flows for derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment. For purposes of non-GAAP “Core Earnings,” we include in GAAP earnings the current period accrual amounts (interest reclassification) on the swaps and exclude the change in fair values for those derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting treatment. Non-GAAP “Core Earnings” is meant to represent what earnings would have been had these derivatives qualified for hedge accounting and there was no ineffectiveness.

Non-GAAP “Core Earnings” are not a substitute for reported results under GAAP. We provide a non-GAAP “Core Earnings” basis of presentation because we believe it better reflects the financial results for derivatives that are economic hedges of interest rate risk, but which do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment.

GAAP provides a uniform, comprehensive basis of accounting. Our non-GAAP “Core Earnings” basis of presentation differs from GAAP in the way it treats derivatives as described above.

The following table shows the amount in “Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net” that relates to the interest reclassification on the derivative contracts for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. There were no gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities in the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2023, and in the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

	Nine Months Ended   September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2022
Unrealized gains (losses) on instruments not in a hedging relationship	$	(248)
Interest reclassification	243
Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net	$	(5)

60 SLM CORPORATION

The following table reflects adjustments associated with our derivative activities.

	Three Months Ended   September 30,				Nine Months Ended   September 30,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Non-GAAP “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP:
GAAP net income	$	29,365	$	75,172	$	412,948	$	546,057
Preferred stock dividends	4,642		2,531		12,979		5,563
GAAP net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	$	24,723	$	72,641	$	399,969	$	540,494
Adjustments:
Net impact of derivative accounting(1)	—		—		—		248
Net tax expense(2)	—		—		—		60
Total non-GAAP “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP	—		—		—		188
Non-GAAP “Core Earnings” attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	$	24,723	$	72,641	$	399,969	$	540,682
GAAP diluted earnings per common share	$	0.11	$	0.29	$	1.69	$	2.03
Derivative adjustments, net of tax	—		—		—		—
Non-GAAP “Core Earnings” diluted earnings per common share	$	0.11	$	0.29	$	1.69	$	2.03

(1) Derivative Accounting: Non-GAAP “Core Earnings” exclude periodic unrealized gains and losses caused by the mark-to-fair value valuations on derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment under GAAP, but include current period accruals on the derivative instruments. Under GAAP, for our derivatives held to maturity, the cumulative net unrealized gain or loss over the life of the contract will equal $0.

(2) Non-GAAP “Core Earnings” tax rate is based on the effective tax rate at the Bank where the derivative instruments are held.

SLM CORPORATION 61

Financial Condition

Average Balance Sheets

The following table reflects the rates earned on interest-earning assets and paid on interest-bearing liabilities and reflects our net interest margin on a consolidated basis.

 

	Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023				2022				2023				2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance		Rate		Balance		Rate		Balance		Rate		Balance		Rate
Average Assets
Private Education Loans	$	20,649,663	10.96	%	$	19,958,763	9.43	%	$	21,032,541	10.80	%	$	20,685,372	8.82	%
FFELP Loans	563,502		7.35		655,724		5.03		583,427		7.10		673,654		4.18
Credit Cards	—		—		29,443		4.77		14,835		14.02		28,219		4.24
Taxable securities	2,549,512		2.06		2,539,115		1.60		2,539,391		1.93		2,552,487		1.27
Cash and other short-term investments	4,328,383		5.32		4,625,523		2.27		4,169,291		4.98		4,077,340		1.21
Total interest-earning assets	28,091,060		9.21	%	27,808,568		7.42	%	28,339,485		9.08	%	28,017,072		6.91	%
Non-interest-earning assets	367,179				687,518				271,866				597,283
Total assets	$	28,458,239			$	28,496,086			$	28,611,351			$	28,614,355
Average Liabilities and Equity
Brokered deposits	$	9,231,432	3.32	%	$	9,905,248	2.23	%	$	9,641,234	3.15	%	$	9,813,559	1.67	%
Retail and other deposits	11,892,198		4.66		10,970,838		1.89		11,734,137		4.29		11,047,661		1.15
Other interest-bearing liabilities(1)	5,411,629		3.73		5,453,219		3.09		5,352,499		3.59		5,550,092		2.96
Total interest-bearing liabilities	26,535,259		4.00	%	26,329,305		2.27	%	26,727,870		3.74	%	26,411,312		1.72	%
Non-interest-bearing liabilities	116,645				188,532				71,137				106,363
Equity	1,806,335				1,978,249				1,812,344				2,096,680
Total liabilities and equity	$	28,458,239			$	28,496,086			$	28,611,351			$	28,614,355
Net interest margin			5.43	%			5.27	%			5.55	%			5.28	%

(1)  Includes the average balance of our unsecured borrowings, as well as secured borrowings and amortization expense of transaction costs related to our term asset-backed securitizations and our Secured Borrowing Facility.

62 SLM CORPORATION

Rate/Volume Analysis

The following rate/volume analysis shows the relative contribution of changes in interest rates and asset volumes to changes in interest income, interest expense, and net interest income.

 

(Dollars in thousands)	Increase		Change Due To(1)
			Rate		Volume
Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
Interest income	$	132,339	$	127,006	$	5,333
Interest expense	117,221		116,034		1,187
Net interest income	$	15,118	$	11,337	$	3,781

 

(Dollars in thousands)	Increase		Change Due To(1)
			Rate		Volume
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 vs. 2022
Interest income	$	475,773	$	458,926	$	16,847
Interest expense	406,796		402,664		4,132
Net interest income	$	68,977	$	56,116	$	12,861

(1) Changes in income and expense due to both rate and volume have been allocated in proportion to the relationship of the absolute dollar amounts of the change in each. The changes in income and expense are calculated independently for each line in the table. The totals for the rate and volume columns are not the sum of the individual lines.

SLM CORPORATION 63

Summary of Our Loans Held for Investment Portfolio

Ending Loans Held for Investment Balances, net

 

As of September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	Private Education Loans			FFELP Loans			Total Loans Held for Investment
Total loan portfolio:
In-school(1)	$	4,055,137		$	57		$	4,055,194
Grace, repayment and other(2)	17,625,730			554,252			18,179,982
Total, gross	21,680,867			554,309			22,235,176
Deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)	78,673			1,380			80,053
Allowance for credit losses	(1,411,232)			(4,816)			(1,416,048)
Total loans held for investment portfolio, net	$	20,348,308		$	550,873		$	20,899,181
% of total	97		%	3		%	100		%

As of December 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	Private Education Loans			FFELP Loans			Total Loans Held for Investment
Total loan portfolio:
In-school(1)	$	3,659,323		$	57		$	3,659,380
Grace, repayment and other(2)	16,644,365			608,993			17,253,358
Total, gross	20,303,688			609,050			20,912,738
Deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)	69,656			1,549			71,205
Allowance for credit losses	(1,353,631)			(3,444)			(1,357,075)
Total loans held for investment portfolio, net	$	19,019,713		$	607,155		$	19,626,868
% of total	97		%	3		%	100		%

(1)      Loans for customers still attending school and who are not yet required to make payments on the loans.

(2)     Includes loans in deferment or forbearance. Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

Average Loans Held for Investment Balances (net of unamortized premium/(discount))

 

	Three Months Ended   September 30,								Nine Months Ended   September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023				2022				2023				2022
Private Education Loans	$	20,649,663	97	%	$	19,958,763	97	%	$	21,032,541	97	%	$	20,685,372	97	%
FFELP Loans	563,502		3		655,724		3		583,427		3		673,654		3
Total portfolio	$	21,213,165	100	%	$	20,614,487	100	%	$	21,615,968	100	%	$	21,359,026	100	%

64 SLM CORPORATION

Loans Held for Investment, Net — Activity

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	Private Education Loans		FFELP Loans		Total Loans Held for Investment, net
Beginning balance	$	18,648,904	$	570,614	$	19,219,518
Acquisitions and originations:
Fixed-rate	2,353,735		—		2,353,735
Variable-rate	114,313		—		114,313
Total acquisitions and originations	2,468,048		—		2,468,048
Capitalized interest and deferred origination cost premium amortization	100,151		5,268		105,419
Loan consolidations to third parties	(234,781)		(7,874)		(242,655)
Allowance	(50,937)		(394)		(51,331)
Repayments and other	(583,077)		(16,741)		(599,818)
Ending balance	$	20,348,308	$	550,873	$	20,899,181

Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	Private Education Loans		FFELP Loans		Credit Cards		Total Loans Held for Investment, net
Beginning balance	$	18,511,250	$	663,452	$	26,626	$	19,201,328
Acquisitions and originations:
Fixed-rate	1,740,029		—		—		1,740,029
Variable-rate	616,333		—		21,122		637,455
Total acquisitions and originations	2,356,362		—		21,122		2,377,484
Capitalized interest and deferred origination cost premium amortization	91,637		6,096		(41)		97,692
Sales	(976,888)		—		—		(976,888)
Transfer to loans held-for-sale	—		—		(28,458)		(28,458)
Loan consolidations to third parties	(290,727)		(16,163)		—		(306,890)
Allowance	(115,683)		118		2,393		(113,172)
Repayments and other	(595,099)		(12,053)		(21,642)		(628,794)
Ending balance	$	18,980,852	$	641,450	$	—	$	19,622,302

SLM CORPORATION 65

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	Private Education Loans		FFELP Loans		Total Loans Held for Investment, net
Beginning balance	$	19,019,713	$	607,155	$	19,626,868
Acquisitions and originations:
Fixed-rate	4,946,020		—		4,946,020
Variable-rate	628,326		—		628,326
Total acquisitions and originations	5,574,346		—		5,574,346
Capitalized interest and deferred origination cost premium amortization	339,118		16,872		355,990
Sales	(1,964,945)		—		(1,964,945)
Loan consolidations to third parties	(731,656)		(23,033)		(754,689)
Allowance	(57,600)		(1,372)		(58,972)
Repayments and other	(1,830,668)		(48,749)		(1,879,417)
Ending balance	$	20,348,308	$	550,873	$	20,899,181

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	Private Education Loans		FFELP Loans		Credit Cards		Total Loans Held for Investment, net
Beginning balance	$	19,625,374	$	692,954	$	22,955	$	20,341,283
Acquisitions and originations:
Fixed-rate	3,528,370		—		—		3,528,370
Variable-rate	1,643,194		—		63,331		1,706,525
Total acquisitions and originations	5,171,564		—		63,331		5,234,895
Capitalized interest and deferred origination cost premium amortization	303,049		18,709		(195)		321,563
Sales	(3,085,758)		—		—		(3,085,758)
Transfer to loans held-for-sale	—		—		(28,458)		(28,458)
Loan consolidations to third parties	(1,126,636)		(33,880)		—		(1,160,516)
Allowance	(31,450)		266		2,281		(28,903)
Repayments and other	(1,875,291)		(36,599)		(59,914)		(1,971,804)
Ending balance	$	18,980,852	$	641,450	$	—	$	19,622,302

“Loan consolidations to third parties” and “Repayments and other” are both significantly affected by the volume of loans in our held for investment portfolio in full principal and interest repayment status. The amount of loans in full principal and interest repayment status in our Private Education Loans held for investment portfolio at September 30, 2023 increased by 4.7 percent compared with September 30, 2022, and now totals 38 percent of our Private Education Loans held for investment portfolio at September 30, 2023.

“Loan consolidations to third parties” for the three months ended September 30, 2023 total 3.0 percent of our Private Education Loans held for investment portfolio in full principal and interest repayment status at September 30, 2023, or 1.2 percent of our total Private Education Loans held for investment portfolio at September 30, 2023, compared with the year-ago period of 3.9 percent of our Private Education Loans held for investment portfolio in full principal and interest repayment status, or 1.5 percent of our total Private Education Loans held for investment portfolio, respectively. Historical experience has shown that loan consolidation activity is heightened in the period when the loan initially enters full principal and interest repayment status and then subsides over time. In addition, in higher interest rate environments, such as occurred in the first nine months of 2023, we typically experience reduced loan consolidation activity.

The “Repayments and other” category includes all scheduled repayments, as well as voluntary prepayments, made on loans in repayment (including loans in full principal and interest repayment status) and also includes charge-offs. Consequently, this category can be significantly affected by the volume of loans in repayment.

66 SLM CORPORATION

Private Education Loan Originations

The following table summarizes our Private Education Loan originations. Originations represent loans that were funded or acquired during the period presented.

 

	Three Months Ended   September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023			%		2022			%
Smart Option - interest only(1)	$	449,141		18	%	$	464,602		20	%
Smart Option - fixed pay(1)	821,722			34		770,183			33
Smart Option - deferred(1)	1,005,987			41		939,835			40
Graduate Loan(2)	174,563			7		176,114			7
Parent Loan(3)	—			—		217			—
Total Private Education Loan originations	$	2,451,413		100	%	$	2,350,951		100	%
Percentage of loans with a cosigner	90.1		%			88.6		%
Average FICO at approval(4)	749					747

	Nine Months Ended   September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023			%		2022			%
Smart Option - interest only(1)	$	1,024,261		18	%	$	995,603		19	%
Smart Option - fixed pay(1)	1,837,397			33		1,679,130			33
Smart Option - deferred(1)	2,258,488			41		2,025,277			39
Graduate Loan(2)	423,833			8		424,807			8
Parent Loan(3)	38			—		30,439			1
Total Private Education Loan originations	$	5,544,017		100	%	$	5,155,256		100	%
Percentage of loans with a cosigner	88.0		%			86.6		%
Average FICO at approval(4)	747					747

(1) Interest only, fixed pay and deferred describe the payment option while in school or in grace period. See Item 1. “Business - Our Business - Private Education Loans” in the 2022 Form 10-K for a further discussion.

(2) For the three months ended September 30, 2023, the Graduate Loan originations include $9.5 million of Smart Option Loans where the student was in a graduate status. For the three months ended September 30, 2022, the Graduate Loan originations include $0.1 million of Parent Loans and $10.7 million of Smart Option Loans where the student was in a graduate status. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Graduate Loan originations include $24.4 million of Smart Option Loans where the student was in a graduate status. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Graduate Loan originations include $1.8 million of Parent Loans and $24.5 million of Smart Option Loans where the student was in a graduate status.

(3) In December 2021, we discontinued offering our Parent Loan product. Applications for those loans received before the offering termination date were processed, and final disbursements under those loans occurred in February 2023.

(4) Represents the higher credit score of the cosigner or the borrower.

SLM CORPORATION 67

Allowance for Credit Losses

Allowance for Credit Losses Activity

  

Three Months Ended September 30, (dollars in thousands)	2023						2022
	Private Education Loans		FFELP Loans		Total Portfolio		Private Education Loans		FFELP Loans		Credit Cards		Total Portfolio
Beginning balance	$	1,360,294	$	4,422	$	1,364,716	$	1,074,744	$	3,929	$	2,393	$	1,081,066
Transfer from unfunded commitment liability(1)	101,687		—		101,687		168,377		—		—		168,377
Less:
Charge-offs	(104,865)		(272)		(105,137)		(109,350)		(147)		(2,062)		(111,559)
Plus:
Recoveries	9,693		—		9,693		11,400		—		2		11,402
Provisions for credit losses:
Provision, current period	44,423		666		45,089		95,482		29		2,039		97,550
Loan sale reduction to provision	—		—		—		(50,226)		—		—		(50,226)
Loans transferred to held-for-sale	—		—		—		—		—		(2,372)		(2,372)
Total provisions for credit losses(2)	44,423		666		45,089		45,256		29		(333)		44,952
Ending balance	$	1,411,232	$	4,816	$	1,416,048	$	1,190,427	$	3,811	$	—	$	1,194,238

(1)  See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 6, “Unfunded Loan Commitments,” in this Form 10-Q for a summary of the activity in the allowance for and balance of unfunded loan commitments, respectively.

(2)  Below is a reconciliation of the provision for credit losses reported in the consolidated statements of income. When a new loan commitment is made, we record the CECL allowance as a liability for unfunded commitments by recording a provision for credit losses. When the loan is funded, we transfer that liability to the allowance for credit losses.

Consolidated Statements of Income Provisions for Credit Losses Reconciliation
Three Months Ended September 30, (dollars in thousands)
	2023		2022
Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses:
Provisions for loan losses	$	44,423	$	45,256
Provisions for unfunded loan commitments	152,934		162,646
Total Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses	197,357		207,902
Other impacts to the provisions for credit losses:
FFELP Loans	666		29
Credit Cards	—		(333)
Total	666		(304)
Provisions for credit losses reported in consolidated statements of income	$	198,023	$	207,598

68 SLM CORPORATION

Nine Months Ended September 30, (dollars in thousands)	2023						2022
	Private Education Loans		FFELP Loans		Total Portfolio		Private Education Loans		FFELP Loans		Credit Cards		Total Portfolio
Beginning balance	$	1,353,631	$	3,444	$	1,357,075	$	1,158,977	$	4,077	$	2,281	$	1,165,335
Transfer from unfunded commitment liability(1)	278,388		—		278,388		303,591		—		—		303,591
Less:
Charge-offs	(314,500)		(853)		(315,353)		(299,699)		(376)		(2,549)		(302,624)
Plus:
Recoveries	33,385		—		33,385		30,410		—		5		30,415
Provisions for credit losses:
Provision, current period	196,859		2,225		199,084		168,473		110		2,635		171,218
Loan sale reduction to provision	(136,531)		—		(136,531)		(171,325)		—		—		(171,325)
Loans transferred to held-for-sale	—		—		—		—		—		(2,372)		(2,372)
Total provisions for credit losses(2)	60,328		2,225		62,553		(2,852)		110		263		(2,479)
Ending balance	$	1,411,232	$	4,816	$	1,416,048	$	1,190,427	$	3,811	$	—	$	1,194,238

(1)  See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 6, “Unfunded Loan Commitments,” in this Form 10-Q for a summary of the activity in the allowance for and balance of unfunded loan commitments, respectively.

(2)  Below is a reconciliation of the provision for credit losses reported in the consolidated statements of income. When a new loan commitment is made, we record the CECL allowance as a liability for unfunded commitments by recording a provision for credit losses. When the loan is funded, we transfer that liability to the allowance for credit losses.

Consolidated Statements of Income Provisions for Credit Losses Reconciliation
Nine Months Ended September 30, (dollars in thousands)
	2023		2022
Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses:
Provisions for loan losses	$	60,328	$	(2,852)
Provisions for unfunded loan commitments	267,311		338,672
Total Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses	327,639		335,820
Other impacts to the provisions for credit losses:
FFELP Loans	2,225		110
Credit Cards	—		263
Total	2,225		373
Provisions for credit losses reported in consolidated statements of income	$	329,864	$	336,193

Private Education Loan Allowance for Credit Losses

In establishing the allowance for Private Education Loan losses as of September 30, 2023, we considered several factors with respect to our Private Education Loan portfolio, in particular, credit quality and delinquency, forbearance, and charge-off trends.

Private Education Loans held for investment in full principal and interest repayment status were 38 percent of our total Private Education Loans held for investment portfolio at September 30, 2023, compared with 39 percent at September 30, 2022.

For a more detailed discussion of our policy for determining the collectability of Private Education Loans and maintaining our allowance for Private Education Loans, see Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Allowance for Credit Losses” and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 5, “Loans Held for Investment — Certain Collection Tools - Private Education Loans” in the 2022 Form 10-K.

SLM CORPORATION 69

The table below presents our Private Education Loans held for investment portfolio delinquency trends. Loans in repayment include loans making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the following table, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

Private Education Loans Held for Investment	2023				2022
September 30, (dollars in thousands)	Balance		%		Balance		%
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)	$	5,961,879			$	5,356,860
Loans in forbearance(2)	213,843				201,047
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
Loans current	14,938,462		96.3	%	14,002,955		96.3	%
Loans delinquent 30-59 days(3)	283,621		1.8		255,241		1.8
Loans delinquent 60-89 days(3)	153,449		1.0		151,812		1.0
Loans 90 days or greater past due(3)	129,613		0.9		136,548		0.9
Total Private Education Loans in repayment	15,505,145		100.0	%	14,546,556		100.0	%
Total Private Education Loans, gross	21,680,867				20,104,463
Private Education Loans deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)	78,673				66,816
Total Private Education Loans	21,759,540				20,171,279
Private Education Loans allowance for losses	(1,411,232)				(1,190,427)
Private Education Loans, net	$	20,348,308			$	18,980,852
Percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment			71.5	%			72.4	%
Delinquencies as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment			3.7	%			3.7	%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment and forbearance			1.4	%			1.4	%

(1)Deferment includes customers who have returned to school or are engaged in other permitted educational activities and are not yet required to make payments on the loans (e.g., residency periods for medical students or a grace period for bar exam preparation).

(2)Loans for customers who have requested extension of grace period generally during employment transition or who have temporarily ceased making full payments due to hardship or other factors, consistent with established loan program servicing policies and procedures.

(3)The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.

Delinquencies as a percentage of Private Education Loans (held for investment) in repayment remained unchanged at 3.7 percent at September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022, and the forbearance rate remained unchanged at 1.4 percent at both September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022. See additional discussion related to collections activity and the COVID-19 pandemic in Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Impact of COVID-19 on Sallie Mae — Customers and Credit Performance” and “—Financial Condition — Allowance for Credit Losses — Use of Forbearance and Rate Modifications as a Private Education Loan Collection Tool” in the 2022 Form 10-K.

70 SLM CORPORATION

Changes in Allowance for Private Education Loan Losses

The following table summarizes changes in the allowance for Private Education Loan (held for investment) losses.

 

	Three Months Ended   September 30,						Nine Months Ended   September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023			2022			2023			2022
Beginning balance	$	1,360,294		$	1,074,744		$	1,353,631		$	1,158,977
Transfer from unfunded commitment liability(1)	101,687			168,377			278,388			303,591
Provision for credit losses:
Provision, current period	44,423			95,482			196,859			168,473
Loan sale reduction to provision	—			(50,226)			(136,531)			(171,325)
Total provision	44,423			45,256			60,328			(2,852)
Net charge-offs:
Charge-offs	(104,865)			(109,350)			(314,500)			(299,699)
Recoveries	9,693			11,400			33,385			30,410
Net charge-offs	(95,172)			(97,950)			(281,115)			(269,289)
Ending balance	$	1,411,232		$	1,190,427		$	1,411,232		$	1,190,427
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance and accrued interest to be capitalized	6.15		%	5.63		%	6.15		%	5.63		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment and accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(2)(3)	8.84		%	7.98		%	8.84		%	7.98		%
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)	3.71			3.04			3.77			3.32
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(2)	2.53		%	2.67		%	2.44		%	2.37		%
Delinquencies as a percentage of ending loans in repayment(2)	3.65		%	3.74		%	3.65		%	3.74		%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of ending loans in repayment and forbearance(2)	1.36		%	1.36		%	1.36		%	1.36		%
Ending total loans, gross	$	21,680,867		$	20,104,463		$	21,680,867		$	20,104,463
Average loans in repayment(2)	$	15,023,993		$	14,674,437		$	15,358,596		$	15,173,465
Ending loans in repayment(2)	$	15,505,145		$	14,546,556		$	15,505,145		$	14,546,556
Accrued interest to be capitalized	$	1,283,388		$	1,056,983		$	1,283,388		$	1,056,983
Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(3)	$	464,807		$	371,388		$	464,807		$	371,388

(1) See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 6, “Unfunded Loan Commitments,” in this Form 10-Q for a summary of the activity in the allowance for and balance of unfunded loan commitments, respectively.

(2) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

(3) Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment includes interest on loans that are in repayment but have not yet entered into full principal and interest payment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, does not include the interest on those loans while they are in forbearance).

As part of concluding on the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses, we review key allowance and loan metrics. The most significant of these metrics considered are the allowance coverage of net charge-offs ratio; the allowance as a percentage of ending total loans and accrued interest to be capitalized and of ending loans in repayment and accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment; and delinquency and forbearance percentages.

SLM CORPORATION 71

Delinquency Trends by Active Repayment Status

The tables below show the composition and status of the Private Education Loan portfolio held for investment aged by number of months in active repayment status (months for which a scheduled monthly payment was due). Active repayment status includes loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but for purposes of the tables below, does not include those loans while they are in forbearance). Our experience shows that the percentage of loans in forbearance status generally decreases the longer the loans have been in active repayment status. At September 30, 2023, for Private Education Loans (held for investment) that have been in active repayment status for fewer than 25 months, loans in forbearance status as a percentage of all loans in repayment and forbearance were 1.0 percent. Approximately 71 percent of our Private Education Loans (held for investment) in forbearance status have been in active repayment status fewer than 25 months.

As of September 30, 2023 (dollars in millions)	Private Education Loans Held for Investment Aged by Number of Months in Active Repayment Status															Not Yet in Repayment			Total
	0 to 12			13 to 24			25 to 36			37 to 48			More than 48
Loans in-school/grace/deferment	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	5,962		$	5,962
Loans in forbearance	118			35			24			15			22			—			214
Loans in repayment - current	5,147			3,180			1,898			1,504			3,209			—			14,938
Loans in repayment - delinquent 30-59 days	86			55			40			31			72			—			284
Loans in repayment - delinquent 60-89 days	48			28			22			14			40			—			152
Loans in repayment - 90 days or greater past due	33			26			20			14			37			—			130
Total	$	5,432		$	3,324		$	2,004		$	1,578		$	3,380		$	5,962		21,680
Deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)																			79
Allowance for credit losses																			(1,411)
Total Private Education Loans, net																			$	20,348
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of total Private Education Loans in repayment and forbearance	0.75		%	0.22		%	0.15		%	0.10		%	0.14		%	—		%	1.36		%

72 SLM CORPORATION

As of September 30, 2022 (dollars in millions)	Private Education Loans Held for Investment Aged by Number of Months in Active Repayment Status															Not Yet in Repayment			Total
	0 to 12			13 to 24			25 to 36			37 to 48			More than 48
Loans in-school/grace/deferment	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	5,357		$	5,357
Loans in forbearance	117			33			20			13			18			—			201
Loans in repayment - current	4,918			2,659			2,032			1,418			2,975			—			14,002
Loans in repayment - delinquent 30-59 days	88			45			38			24			60			—			255
Loans in repayment - delinquent 60-89 days	53			27			22			16			34			—			152
Loans in repayment - 90 days or greater past due	44			27			21			14			31			—			137
Total	$	5,220		$	2,791		$	2,133		$	1,485		$	3,118		$	5,357		20,104
Deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)																			67
Allowance for credit losses																			(1,190)
Total Private Education Loans, net																			$	18,981
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of total Private Education Loans in repayment and forbearance	0.79		%	0.22		%	0.14		%	0.09		%	0.12		%	—		%	1.36		%

Private Education Loans Held for Investment Types

The following table provides information regarding the loans in repayment balance and total loan balance by Private Education Loan held for investment product type at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

 

As of September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	Signature and Other		Parent Loan(1)		Smart Option		Career Training(2)		Graduate Loan		Total
$ in repayment(3)	$	220,485	$	219,046	$	13,869,402	$	2,495	$	1,193,717	$	15,505,145
$ in total	$	309,164	$	220,082	$	19,433,762	$	2,519	$	1,715,340	$	21,680,867

 

As of December 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	Signature and Other		Parent Loan(1)		Smart Option		Career Training(2)		Graduate Loan		Total
$ in repayment(3)	$	216,513	$	261,316	$	13,599,750	$	4,565	$	1,047,406	$	15,129,550
$ in total	$	308,884	$	262,602	$	18,218,925	$	4,602	$	1,508,675	$	20,303,688

(1) In December 2021, we discontinued offering our Parent Loan product. Applications for those loans received before the offering termination date continued to be processed, and final disbursements under those loans occurred in February 2023.

(2) In May 2022, we discontinued offering our Career Training loan product. Applications for those loans received before the offering termination date continued to be processed, and final disbursements under those loans occurred in September 2023.

(3) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

SLM CORPORATION 73

Accrued Interest Receivable

The following table provides information regarding accrued interest receivable on our Private Education Loans held for investment. The table also discloses the amount of accrued interest on loans 90 days or greater past due as compared to our allowance for uncollectible interest. The majority of the total accrued interest receivable represents accrued interest on deferred loans where no payments are due while the borrower is in school and fixed-pay loans where the borrower makes a $25 monthly payment that is smaller than the interest accruing on that loan in that month. The accrued interest on these loans will be capitalized to the balance of the loans when the borrower exits the grace period after separation from school, and the current expected credit losses on accrued interest that will be capitalized is included in our allowance for credit losses.

	Private Education Loans
	Accrued Interest Receivable
(Dollars in thousands)	Total Interest Receivable		90 Days or Greater Past Due		Allowance for Uncollectible Interest(1)(2)
September 30, 2023	$	1,429,225	$	6,756	$	8,516
December 31, 2022	$	1,177,562	$	6,609	$	8,121
September 30, 2022	$	1,201,159	$	6,515	$	7,783

(1)The allowance for uncollectible interest at September 30, 2023 and 2022 represents the expected losses related to the portion of accrued interest receivable on those loans that are in repayment (at September 30, 2023 and 2022, relates to $146 million and $144 million, respectively, of accrued interest receivable) that is/was not expected to be capitalized. The accrued interest receivable that is/was expected to be capitalized ($1.3 billion and $1.1 billion, at September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively) is reserved in the allowance for credit losses.

(2)The allowance for uncollectible interest at December 31, 2022 represents the expected losses related to the portion of accrued interest receivable on those loans in repayment ($240 million of accrued interest receivable) that was not expected to be capitalized. The accrued interest receivable that was expected to be capitalized ($937 million) was reserved in the allowance for credit losses.

74 SLM CORPORATION

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Funding and Liquidity Risk Management

Our primary liquidity needs include our ongoing ability to fund our businesses throughout market cycles, including during periods of financial stress, our ongoing ability to fund originations of Private Education Loans, and our ability to meet any outflows of our Bank deposits. To achieve these objectives, we analyze and monitor our liquidity needs, and maintain excess liquidity and access to diverse funding sources, such as deposits at the Bank, issuance of secured debt primarily through asset-backed securitizations, other financing facilities, and loan sales.

Interest-bearing deposits as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 consisted of retail and brokered non-maturity savings deposits, retail and brokered non-maturity MMDAs, and retail and brokered CDs. Interest-bearing deposits also include deposits from Educational 529 and Health Savings plans that diversify our funding sources and that we consider to be core. These and other large omnibus accounts, aggregating the deposits of many individual depositors, represented $7.5 billion and $8.0 billion of our deposit total as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The omnibus accounts are structured in such a way that entitles the individual depositor pass-through deposit insurance (subject to FDIC rules and limitations), and the majority of these deposits have contractual minimum balances and maturity terms.

At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, our sources of liquidity included liquid investments with unrealized losses of $184.7 million and $184.5 million, respectively. It is our policy to manage operations so liquidity needs are fully satisfied through normal operations to avoid unplanned loan or liquid investment sales under all but the most dire emergency conditions. Our liquidity management is governed by policies approved by our Board of Directors. Oversight of these policies is performed in the Asset and Liability Committee, a management-level committee.

These policies take into account the volatility of cash flow forecasts, expected asset and liability maturities, anticipated loan demand, and a variety of other factors to establish minimum liquidity guidelines.

Key risks associated with our liquidity relate to our ability to access the capital markets and the markets for bank deposits at reasonable rates. This ability may be affected by our performance, competitive pressures, the macroeconomic environment, and the impact they have on the availability of funding sources in the marketplace. We target maintaining sufficient on-balance sheet and contingent sources of liquidity to enable us to meet all contractual and contingent obligations under various stress scenarios, including severe macroeconomic stresses as well as specific stresses that test the resiliency of our balance sheet. As the Bank has grown, we have improved our liquidity stress testing practices to align more closely with the industry, which resulted in our adopting increased liquidity requirements. Beginning in the second quarter of 2019, we began to increase our liquidity levels by increasing cash and marketable investments held as part of our ongoing efforts to enhance our ability to maintain a strong risk management position. By early 2020 and continuing through 2022, we held a significant liquidity buffer of cash and securities, which we expect to maintain through 2023. Due to the seasonal nature of our business, our liquidity levels will likely vary from quarter to quarter.

Sources of Liquidity and Available Capacity

Ending Balances

(Dollars in thousands)	September 30, 2023		December 31, 2022
Sources of primary liquidity:
Unrestricted cash and liquid investments:
Holding Company and other non-bank subsidiaries	$	3,093	$	—
Sallie Mae Bank(1)	3,545,132		4,617,533
Available-for-sale investments	1,926,971		2,012,901
Total unrestricted cash and liquid investments	$	5,475,196	$	6,630,434

(1) This amount will be used primarily to originate Private Education Loans at the Bank.

SLM CORPORATION 75

Average Balances

 

	Three Months Ended   September 30,				Nine Months Ended   September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Sources of primary liquidity:
Unrestricted cash and liquid investments:
Holding Company and other non-bank subsidiaries	$	3,609	$	1,391	$	5,840	$	7,661
Sallie Mae Bank(1)	4,130,488		4,432,386		3,969,493		3,868,795
Available-for-sale investments	1,954,661		2,229,465		1,984,226		2,291,946
Total unrestricted cash and liquid investments	$	6,088,758	$	6,663,242	$	5,959,559	$	6,168,402

(1) This amount will be used primarily to originate Private Education Loans at the Bank.

Deposits

The following table summarizes total deposits.

	September 30,		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023		2022
Deposits - interest-bearing	$	21,550,108	$	21,446,647
Deposits - non-interest-bearing	637		1,424
Total deposits	$	21,550,745	$	21,448,071

Our total deposits of $21.6 billion were comprised of $10.4 billion in brokered deposits and $11.2 billion in retail and other deposits at September 30, 2023, compared to total deposits of $21.4 billion, which were comprised of $9.9 billion in brokered deposits and $11.5 billion in retail and other deposits, at December 31, 2022.

Interest-bearing deposits as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 consisted of retail and brokered non-maturity savings deposits, retail and brokered non-maturity MMDAs, and retail and brokered CDs. Interest-bearing deposits also include deposits from Educational 529 and Health Savings plans that diversify our funding sources and that we consider to be core. These and other large omnibus accounts, aggregating the deposits of many individual depositors, represented $7.5 billion and $8.0 billion of our deposit total as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

Some of our deposit products are serviced by third-party providers. Placement fees associated with the brokered CDs are amortized into interest expense using the effective interest rate method. We recognized placement fee expense of $3 million and $3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and placement fee expense of $9 million and $10 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Fees paid to third-party brokers related to brokered CDs were $4 million and $4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and fees paid to third-party brokers related to brokered CDs were $7 million and $8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Interest bearing deposits at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 are summarized as follows:

	September 30, 2023				December 31, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Amount		Qtr.-End Weighted Average Stated Rate(1)		Amount		Year-End Weighted Average Stated Rate(1)
Money market	$	10,241,232	4.75	%	$	10,977,242	3.75	%
Savings	930,590		4.35		982,586		3.15
Certificates of deposit	10,378,286		3.58		9,486,819		2.57
Deposits - interest bearing	$	21,550,108			$	21,446,647

(1) Includes the effect of interest rate swaps in effective hedge relationships.

76 SLM CORPORATION

As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were $494 million and $615 million, respectively, of deposits exceeding FDIC insurance limits. Accrued interest on deposits was $73 million and $59 million at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The omnibus accounts are structured in such a way that entitles the individual depositor pass-through deposit insurance (subject to FDIC rules and limitations), and the majority of these deposits have contractual minimum balances and maturity terms.

Counterparty Exposure

Counterparty exposure related to financial instruments arises from the risk that a lending, investment, or derivative counterparty will not be able to meet its obligations to us.

Excess cash is generally invested with the FRB on an overnight basis or in the FRB’s Term Deposit Facility, minimizing counterparty exposure on cash balances.

Our investment portfolio is primarily comprised of a small portfolio of mortgage-backed securities issued by government agencies and government-sponsored enterprises that are purchased to meet CRA targets. Additionally, our investing activity is governed by Board-approved limits on the amount that is allowed to be invested with any one issuer based on the credit rating of the issuer, further minimizing our counterparty exposure. Counterparty credit risk is considered when valuing investments and considering impairment.

Related to derivative transactions, protection against counterparty risk is generally provided by International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Credit Support Annexes (“CSAs”), or clearinghouses for over-the-counter derivatives. CSAs require a counterparty to post collateral if a potential default would expose the other party to a loss. All derivative contracts entered into by the Bank are covered under CSAs or clearinghouse agreements and require collateral to be exchanged based on the net fair value of derivatives with each counterparty. Our exposure to the counterparty is limited to the value of the derivative contracts in a gain position, less any collateral held by us and plus collateral posted with the counterparty.

Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act requires all standardized derivatives, including most interest rate swaps, to be submitted for clearing to central counterparties to reduce counterparty risk. Two of the central counterparties we use are the CME and the LCH. All variation margin payments on derivatives cleared through the CME and LCH are accounted for as legal settlement. As of September 30, 2023, $1.8 billion notional of our derivative contracts were cleared on the CME and $0.1 billion were cleared on the LCH. The derivative contracts cleared through the CME and LCH represent 91.7 percent and 8.3 percent, respectively, of our total notional derivative contracts of $1.9 billion at September 30, 2023.

For derivatives cleared through the CME and LCH, the net gain (loss) position includes the variation margin amounts as settlement of the derivative and not collateral against the fair value of the derivative. The amount of variation margin included as settlement as of September 30, 2023 was $(50) million and $(6) million for the CME and LCH, respectively. Changes in fair value for derivatives not designated as hedging instruments are presented as realized gains (losses).

Our exposure to the counterparty is limited to the value of the derivative contracts in a gain position less any collateral held and plus any collateral posted. When there is a net negative exposure, we consider our exposure to the counterparty to be zero. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we had a net positive exposure (derivative gain/loss positions to us, less collateral held by us and plus collateral posted with counterparties) related to derivatives of $11 million and $12 million, respectively.

We have liquidity exposure related to collateral movements between us and our derivative counterparties. Movements in the value of the derivatives, which are primarily affected by changes in interest rates, may require us to return cash collateral held or may require us to access primary liquidity to post collateral to counterparties.

SLM CORPORATION 77

The table below highlights exposure related to our derivative counterparties as of September 30, 2023.

As of September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	SLM Corporation and Sallie Mae Bank Contracts
Total exposure, net of collateral	$	10,836
Exposure to counterparties with credit ratings, net of collateral	$	10,836
Percent of exposure to counterparties with credit ratings below S&P AA- or Moody’s Aa3	—		%
Percent of exposure to counterparties with credit ratings below S&P A- or Moody’s A3	—		%

Regulatory Capital

The Bank is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by federal and state banking authorities. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. Under U.S. Basel III and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Bank must meet specific capital standards that involve quantitative measures of its assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Bank’s capital amounts and its classification under the prompt corrective action framework are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components of capital, risk weightings, and other factors.

 Capital Management

The Bank intends to maintain at all times regulatory capital levels that meet both the minimum levels required under U.S. Basel III (including applicable buffers) and the levels necessary to be considered “well capitalized” under the FDIC’s prompt corrective action framework, in order to support asset growth and operating needs, address unexpected credit risks, and protect the interests of depositors and the Deposit Insurance Fund administered by the FDIC. The Bank’s Capital Policy requires management to monitor these capital standards and the Bank’s compliance with them. The Board of Directors and management periodically evaluate the quality of assets, the stability of earnings, and the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses for the Bank. The Company is a source of strength for the Bank and will provide additional capital if necessary.

We believe that current and projected capital levels are appropriate for 2023. As of September 30, 2023, the Bank’s risk-based and leverage capital ratios exceed the required minimum ratios and the applicable buffers under the fully phased-in U.S. Basel III standards as well as the “well capitalized” standards under the prompt corrective action framework.

Under U.S. Basel III, the Bank is required to maintain the following minimum regulatory capital ratios: a Common Equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4.5 percent, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0 percent, a Total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0 percent, and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4.0 percent. In addition, the Bank is subject to a Common Equity Tier 1 capital conservation buffer of greater than 2.5 percent. Failure to maintain the buffer will result in restrictions on the Bank’s ability to make capital distributions, including the payment of dividends, and to pay discretionary bonuses to executive officers. Including the buffer, the Bank is required to maintain the following capital ratios under U.S. Basel III in order to avoid such restrictions: a Common Equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of greater than 7.0 percent, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of greater than 8.5 percent, and a Total risk-based capital ratio of greater than 10.5 percent.

To qualify as “well capitalized” under the prompt corrective action framework for insured depository institutions, the Bank must maintain a Common Equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 6.5 percent, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 8.0 percent, a Total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10.0 percent, and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of at least 5.0 percent.

Under regulations issued by the FDIC and other federal banking agencies, banking organizations that adopted CECL during the 2020 calendar year, including the Bank, could elect to delay for two years, and then phase in over the following three years, the effects on regulatory capital of CECL relative to the incurred loss methodology. The Bank elected to use this option. Therefore, the regulatory capital impact of the Bank’s transition adjustments recorded on January 1, 2020 from the adoption of CECL, and 25 percent of the ongoing impact of CECL on the Bank’s allowance for credit losses, retained earnings, and average total consolidated assets, each as reported for regulatory capital purposes

78 SLM CORPORATION

(collectively, the “adjusted transition amounts”), were deferred for the two-year period ending January 1, 2022. On January 1, 2022, 25 percent of the adjusted transition amounts was phased in for regulatory capital purposes. On January 1, 2023, an additional 25 percent of the adjusted transition amounts was phased in for regulatory capital purposes. On January 1 of 2024 and 2025, the adjusted transition amounts will continue to be phased in for regulatory capital purposes at a rate of 25 percent per year, with the phased-in amounts included in regulatory capital at the beginning of each year. The Bank’s January 1, 2020 CECL transition amounts increased our allowance for credit losses by $1.1 billion, increased the liability representing our off-balance sheet exposure for unfunded commitments by $116 million, and increased our deferred tax asset by $306 million, resulting in a cumulative effect adjustment that reduced retained earnings by $953 million. This transition adjustment was inclusive of qualitative adjustments incorporated into our CECL allowance as necessary, to address any limitations in the models used.

At September 30, 2023, the adjusted transition amounts that were deferred and are being phased in for regulatory capital purposes are as follows:

	Adjusted Transition Amounts		Phase-In Amounts for the Year Ended		Phase-In Amounts for the Nine Months Ended		Remaining Adjusted Transition Amounts to be Phased-In
(Dollars in thousands)	December 31, 2021		December 31, 2022		September 30, 2023		September 30, 2023
Retained earnings	$	836,351	$	(209,088)	$	(209,088)	$	418,175
Allowance for credit losses	1,038,145		(259,536)		(259,536)		519,073
Liability for unfunded commitments	104,377		(26,094)		(26,094)		52,189
Deferred tax asset	306,171		(76,542)		(76,542)		153,087

SLM CORPORATION 79

The Bank’s required and actual regulatory capital amounts and ratios under U.S. Basel III are shown in the following table. The following capital amounts and ratios are based upon the Bank’s average assets and risk-weighted assets, as indicated. The Bank has elected to exclude accumulated other comprehensive income related to both available-for-sale investments and swap valuations from Common Equity Tier 1 Capital. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the unrealized loss on available-for-sale investments included in other comprehensive income totaled $158 million and $160 million, net of tax of $51 million and $52 million, respectively. The capital ratios would remain above the well capitalized thresholds if the unrealized loss became fully recognized into capital.

	Actual				U.S. Basel III Minimum Requirements Plus Buffer(1)(2)
(Dollars in thousands)	Amount		Ratio		Amount			Ratio
As of September 30, 2023(3):
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	2,935,903	11.7	%	$	1,763,562	>	7.0	%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	2,935,903	11.7	%	$	2,141,468	>	8.5	%
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	3,258,771	12.9	%	$	2,645,343	>	10.5	%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)	$	2,935,903	10.1	%	$	1,166,116	>	4.0	%
As of December 31, 2022(3):
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	3,040,662	12.9	%	$	1,645,807	>	7.0	%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	3,040,662	12.9	%	$	1,998,480	>	8.5	%
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	3,338,645	14.2	%	$	2,468,711	>	10.5	%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)	$	3,040,662	10.3	%	$	1,185,280	>	4.0	%

(1)    Reflects the U.S. Basel III minimum required ratio plus the applicable capital conservation buffer.

(2)    The Bank’s regulatory capital ratios also exceeded all applicable standards for the Bank to qualify as “well capitalized” under the prompt corrective action framework.

(3)    For September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the actual amounts and the actual ratios include the adjusted transition amounts discussed above that were phased in at the beginning of 2022 and 2023.

Dividends

The Bank is chartered under the laws of the State of Utah and its deposits are insured by the FDIC. The Bank’s ability to pay dividends is subject to the laws of Utah and the regulations of the FDIC. Generally, under Utah’s industrial bank laws and regulations as well as FDIC regulations, the Bank may pay dividends from its net profits without regulatory approval if, following the payment of the dividend, the Bank’s capital and surplus would not be impaired. The Bank declared $100 million and $400 million in dividends to the Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, and $241 million and $642 million in dividends to the Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, with the proceeds primarily used to fund share repurchase programs and stock dividends. In the future, we expect that the Bank will pay dividends to the Company as may be necessary to enable the Company to pay any declared dividends on its Series B Preferred Stock and common stock and to consummate any common share repurchases by the Company under its share repurchase programs.

80 SLM CORPORATION

Borrowings

Outstanding borrowings consist of unsecured debt and secured borrowings issued through our term ABS program and our Secured Borrowing Facility. The issuing entities for those secured borrowings are VIEs and are consolidated for accounting purposes. The following table summarizes our borrowings at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. For additional information, see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 9, “Borrowings” in this Form 10-Q.

	September 30, 2023						December 31, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Short-Term		Long-Term		Total		Short-Term		Long-Term		Total
Unsecured borrowings:
Unsecured debt (fixed-rate)	$	—	$	991,396	$	991,396	$	—	$	988,986	$	988,986
Total unsecured borrowings	—		991,396		991,396		—		988,986		988,986
Secured borrowings:
Private Education Loan term securitizations:
Fixed-rate	—		3,807,493		3,807,493		—		3,462,363		3,462,363
Variable-rate	—		716,643		716,643		—		783,765		783,765
Total Private Education Loan term securitizations	—		4,524,136		4,524,136		—		4,246,128		4,246,128
Secured Borrowing Facility	—		—		—		—		—		—
Total secured borrowings	—		4,524,136		4,524,136		—		4,246,128		4,246,128
Total	$	—	$	5,515,532	$	5,515,532	$	—	$	5,235,114	$	5,235,114

Short-term Borrowings

On May 16, 2023, we amended our Secured Borrowing Facility to extend the maturity of the facility. The amount that can be borrowed under the facility is $2 billion. We hold 100 percent of the residual interest in the Secured Borrowing Facility trust. Under the Secured Borrowing Facility, we incur financing costs on unused borrowing capacity and on outstanding advances. The amended Secured Borrowing Facility extended the revolving period, during which we may borrow, repay, and reborrow funds, until May 15, 2024. The scheduled amortization period, during which amounts outstanding under the Secured Borrowing Facility must be repaid, ends on May 15, 2025 (or earlier, if certain material adverse events occur). At both September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, there were no secured borrowings outstanding under the Secured Borrowing Facility.

Other Borrowing Sources

We maintain discretionary uncommitted Federal Funds lines of credit with various correspondent banks, which totaled $125 million at September 30, 2023. The interest rate we are charged on these lines of credit is priced at Fed Funds plus a spread at the time of borrowing and is payable daily. We did not utilize these lines of credit in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 or in the year ended December 31, 2022.

We established an account at the FRB to meet eligibility requirements for access to the Primary Credit borrowing facility at the FRB’s Window. The Primary Credit borrowing facility is a lending program available to depository institutions that are in generally sound financial condition. All borrowings at the Window must be fully collateralized. We can pledge asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, as well as FFELP Loans and Private Education Loans, to the FRB as collateral for borrowings at the Window. Generally, collateral value is assigned based on the estimated fair value of the pledged assets. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the value of our pledged collateral at the FRB totaled $1.6 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively. The interest rate charged to us is the discount rate set by the FRB. We did not utilize this facility in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 or in the year ended December 31, 2022.

SLM CORPORATION 81

Contractual Loan Commitments

When we approve a Private Education Loan at the beginning of an academic year, that approval may cover the borrowing for the entire academic year. As such, we do not always disburse the full amount of the loan at the time of such approval, but instead have a commitment to fund a portion of the loan at a later date (usually at the start of the second semester or subsequent trimesters). We estimate expected credit losses over the contractual period in which we are exposed to credit risk via a contractual obligation to extend credit, unless that obligation is unconditionally cancellable by us. At September 30, 2023, we had $2.4 billion of outstanding contractual loan commitments which we expect to fund during the remainder of the 2023/2024 academic year. At September 30, 2023, we had a $114 million reserve recorded in “Other Liabilities” to cover expected losses that may occur during the one-year loss emergence period on these unfunded commitments. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies - Allowance for Credit Losses — Off-Balance Sheet Exposure for Contractual Loan Commitments” in our 2022 Form 10-K and Note 6, “Unfunded Loan Commitments” in this Form 10-Q for additional information.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations addresses our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. In preparing our consolidated financial statements, we have identified certain accounting estimates and assumptions that we consider to be the most critical to an understanding of our financial statements because they involve significant judgments and uncertainties.

The critical accounting estimates we have identified relate to the allowance for credit losses. These estimates reflect our best judgment about current and, for some estimates, including management overlays, future economic and market conditions. These estimates are based on information available as of the date of these financial statements. If conditions change from those expected, it is reasonably possible that these judgments and estimates could change, which may result in a change in the allowance for credit losses or material changes to our consolidated financial statements. A discussion of our critical accounting policies can be found in our 2022 Form 10-K.

In the second quarter of 2023, we changed how we collect on defaulted loans. Previously, we used a mix of in-house collectors and sales to third parties. We will continue to sell a segment of defaulted loans immediately after charge-off but will no longer sell retained defaulted loans (that have been subject to internal collection attempts for six months) to third parties and instead will continue our collection efforts using in-house collectors and collection agencies. This improved our estimate of recovery rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. When we estimate the timing and amount of future recoveries on charged-off loans, we no longer include expectations of future sales on retained defaulted loans. We continue to monitor how we collect on defaulted loans and may modify the approach from time to time based on performance, industry conventions, and/or regulatory feedback.

82 SLM CORPORATION

Item 3.     Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Interest Rate Sensitivity Analysis

Our interest rate risk management program seeks to manage and control interest rate risk, thereby reducing our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates and achieving consistent and acceptable levels of profit in any rate environment and sustainable growth in net interest income over the long term. We evaluate and monitor interest rate risk through two primary methods:

•Earnings at Risk (“EAR”), which measures the impact of hypothetical changes in interest rates on net interest income; and

•Economic Value of Equity (“EVE”), which measures the sensitivity or change in the economic value of equity to changes in interest rates.

A number of potential interest rate scenarios are simulated using our asset liability management system. The Bank is the primary source of interest rate risk within the Company. At June 30, 2023, a significant portion of the Bank’s earning assets and a large balance of deposits were indexed to 1-month LIBOR. As of their first repricing date after the LIBOR Cessation Date, these legacy assets and liabilities were converted to various SOFR fallback rates plus a spread adjustment and are modeled accordingly. Rates are shocked in parallel for shock scenarios unless otherwise indicated. In addition, key rates are modeled with a floor, which indicates how low each specific rate is likely to move in practice. Rates are adjusted up or down via a set of scenarios that includes both rate shocks and ramps. Rate shocks represent an immediate and sustained change in key rates, including 30-day average SOFR, with the resulting changes in other indices correlated accordingly. Interest rate ramps represent a linear increase in those key rates over the course of 12 months, with the resulting changes in other indices correlated accordingly.

The following table summarizes the potential effect on earnings over the next 24 months and the potential effect on market values of balance sheet assets and liabilities at September 30, 2023 and 2022, based upon a sensitivity analysis performed by management assuming hypothetical increases in market interest rates of 100 and 300 basis points and a decrease of 100 and 300 basis points while credit and funding spreads remain constant. EAR analysis assumes a static balance sheet, with maturities of each product replaced with assumed issuance of new products of the same type. The EVE sensitivity is applied only to financial assets and liabilities, including hedging instruments, that existed at the balance sheet date, and does not reflect any impact of new assets, liabilities, commitments, or hedging instruments that may arise in the future.

Due to the low interest rate environment in early 2022, results for the downward 300-basis point rate shock were not presented because they did not provide a meaningful indication of interest rate sensitivity at that time. As interest rates rose, the 100-basis point downward rate shock was added to the model in the second quarter of 2022 and the 300-basis point downward rate shock was added in the fourth quarter of 2022. The EAR results for September 30, 2023 indicate a market risk profile of low sensitivity to rate changes, based on static balance sheet assumptions over the next two years. The EVE metrics demonstrate higher sensitivity than results from one year ago due to fixed-rate liabilities repricing more quickly than fixed-rate assets. Management is evaluating this trend and will take actions as necessary to manage EVE sensitivity.

	2023				2022
As of September 30,	+300 Basis Points	+100 Basis Points	-100 Basis Points	-300 Basis Points	+300 Basis Points	+100 Basis Points	-100 Basis Points	-300 Basis Points
EAR - Shock	-2.5%	-0.8%	+0.5%	+1.5%	+1.8%	+0.6%	-0.7%	N/A
EAR - Ramp	-2.2%	-0.7%	+0.6%	+1.6%	+1.0%	+0.3%	-0.4%	N/A
EVE	-25.1%	-8.7%	+8.8%	+26.5%	-6.0%	-2.0%	+1.8%	N/A

In the preceding tables, the interest rate sensitivity analysis reflects the balance sheet mix of fully variable SOFR, and Prime-based loans, and fully variable funding, including brokered CDs that have been converted to SOFR through derivative transactions. The analysis assumes that retail MMDAs and retail savings balances, while relatively sensitive to interest rate changes, will not correlate 100 percent to the full interest rate shocks or ramps. Also considered is the impact

SLM CORPORATION 83

of FFELP Loans, which receive floor income in low interest rate environments, and will therefore not reprice fully with interest rate shocks.

Although we believe that these measurements provide an estimate of our interest rate sensitivity, they do not account for potential changes in credit quality, balance sheet mix, and size of our balance sheet. They also do not account for other business developments that could affect net income, or for management actions that could affect net income or could be taken to change our risk profile. Accordingly, we can give no assurance that actual results would not differ materially from the estimated outcomes of our simulations. Further, such simulations do not represent our current view of expected future interest rate movements.

Asset and Liability Funding Gap

The table below presents our assets and liabilities (funding) arranged by underlying indices as of September 30, 2023. In the following GAAP presentation, the funding gap only includes derivatives that qualify as effective hedges (those derivatives which are reflected in net interest income, as opposed to those reflected in the “gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net” line on the consolidated statements of income). The difference between the asset and the funding is the funding gap for the specified index. This represents at a high level our exposure to interest rate risk in the form of basis risk and repricing risk, which is the risk that the different indices may reset at different frequencies or may not move in the same direction or at the same magnitude. (Note that all fixed-rate assets and liabilities are aggregated into one line item, which does not capture the differences in time due to maturity.)

As of September 30, 2023 (dollars in millions) Index	Frequency of Variable Resets	Assets		Funding (1)		Funding Gap
Fed Funds Effective Rate	daily/weekly/monthly	$	—	$	944.8	$	(944.8)
SOFR Rate	daily/weekly/monthly	8,282.4		4,991.2		3,291.2
3-month SOFR	quarterly	—		251.1		(251.1)
3-month Treasury bill	weekly	87.5		—		87.5
Prime	monthly	0.5		—		0.5
Non-Discrete reset(2)	daily/weekly	3,775.8		3,788.3		(12.5)
Fixed-Rate(3)		17,127.0		19,297.8		(2,170.8)
Total		$	29,273.2	$	29,273.2	$	—

(1)     Funding (by index) includes the impact of all derivatives that qualify as effective hedges.

(2)     Assets include restricted and unrestricted cash equivalents and other overnight type instruments. Funding includes liquid retail deposits and the obligation to return cash collateral held related to derivatives exposures.

(3)     Assets include receivables and other assets (including premiums and reserves). Funding includes unswapped time deposits, liquid MMDAs swapped to fixed-rates, and stockholders' equity.

The “Funding Gap” in the above table shows primarily mismatches in the Fed Funds Effective rate, SOFR rate, 3-month SOFR, and fixed-rate categories. Changes in the Fed Funds Effective Rate and the daily, weekly, and monthly SOFR categories are generally quite highly correlated and the rates should offset each other relatively effectively. The funding in the fixed-rate bucket includes $1.5 billion of equity and $0.4 billion of non-interest bearing liabilities. We consider the overall repricing risk to be moderate, which is supported by other analyses of interest rate sensitivity.

We use interest rate swaps and other derivatives to achieve our risk management objectives. Our asset liability management strategy is to match assets with debt (in combination with derivatives) that have the same underlying index and reset frequency or have interest rate characteristics that we believe are highly correlated. The use of funding with index types and reset frequencies that are different from our assets exposes us to interest rate risk in the form of basis and repricing risk. This could result in our cost of funds not moving in the same direction or with the same magnitude as the yield on our assets. While we believe this risk is low, as all of these indices are short-term with rate movements that are highly correlated over a long period of time, market disruptions (which have occurred in recent years) can lead to a temporary divergence between indices, resulting in a negative impact to our earnings.

84 SLM CORPORATION

Weighted Average Life

The following table reflects the weighted average lives of our earning assets and liabilities at September 30, 2023.

 

As of September 30, 2023 (averages in years)	Weighted Average Life
Earning assets
Education loans	5.01
Cash and investments	1.46
Total earning assets	4.23
Deposits
Short-term deposits	0.78
Long-term deposits	2.11
Total deposits	1.11
Borrowings
Long-term borrowings	3.38
Total borrowings	3.38

SLM CORPORATION 85

Item 4.     Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of September 30, 2023. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of September 30, 2023, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

No change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) occurred during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2023 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

86 SLM CORPORATION

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.    Legal Proceedings

We and our subsidiaries and affiliates are subject to various claims, lawsuits, and other actions that arise in the normal course of business. It is common for the Company, our subsidiaries, and affiliates to receive information and document requests and investigative demands from state attorneys general, legislative committees, and administrative agencies. These requests may be for informational or regulatory purposes and may relate to our business practices, the industries in which we operate, or other companies with whom we conduct business. Our practice has been and continues to be to cooperate with these bodies and be responsive to any such requests.

For additional information regarding our legal proceedings, see Part I, Item 3. “Legal Proceedings” in our 2022 Form 10-K.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Our business activities involve a variety of risks. Readers should carefully consider the risk factors disclosed in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our 2022 Form 10-K.

Item 2.    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Share Repurchases

The following table provides information relating to our purchase of shares of our common stock in the three months ended September 30, 2023.

 

(In thousands, except per share data)	Total Number of Shares Purchased(1)	Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs(2)(3)	Approximate Dollar Value of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under Publicly Announced Plans or Programs(2)
Period:
July 1 - July 31, 2023	—	$	—	—	$	326,000
August 1 - August 31, 2023	10	$	16.18	—	$	326,000
September 1 - September 30, 2023	1	$	13.62	—	$	326,000
Total third-quarter 2023	11	$	16.14	—

(1)      The total number of shares purchased includes the shares of our common stock tendered to us to satisfy the exercise price in connection with cashless exercises of stock options, and tax withholding obligations in connection with exercises of stock options and vesting of restricted stock, restricted stock units, and performance stock units.

(2)     As of September 30, 2023, we had $326 million remaining under the 2022 Share Repurchase Program.

(3)    In the third quarter of 2023, we did not repurchase shares under any 10b5-1 trading plan. See Note 11, “Stockholders’ Equity” to our consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-Q for further discussion.

The closing price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on September 29, 2023 was $13.62.

Item 3.    Defaults Upon Senior Securities

Nothing to report.

Item 4.    Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 5.    Other Information

Nothing to report.

SLM CORPORATION 87

Item 6.    Exhibits

The following exhibits are furnished or filed, as applicable:

10.1	Offer Letter between Peter Graham and the Company dated August 25, 2023.
31.1	Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2	Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1	Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2	Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

88 SLM CORPORATION

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

SLM CORPORATION (Registrant)
By:	/S/ STEVEN J. MCGARRY
	Steven J. McGarry Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

Date: October 25, 2023

SLM CORPORATION 89

EX-10.1

EXHIBIT 10.1

[Sallie Mae Logo]

Dear Pete,

On behalf of SLM Corporation (the “Company”), I am pleased to offer you employment in the position of Executive Vice President effective September 18, 2023. Following your start date, you will subsequently be appointed as Chief Financial Officer effective October 27, 2023. You will report to Jonathan Witter, Chief Executive Officer.

Your annualized base salary of $580,000 will be paid bi-weekly.

You will be eligible for an annual target bonus of 150% of your base salary, subject to the terms and conditions of the Company’s Annual Incentive Plan (AIP). Bonus awards are prorated based on your date of hire and are paid within the first quarter of the following calendar year; you must be employed with Sallie Mae on the date of payment to be eligible. If actions are taken that are not appropriately risk-balanced, or in cases where imprudent or excessive risk is taken, an employee’s incentive compensation may be reduced, eliminated, or recouped. We’ll share more information about the terms and conditions of this bonus plan after your start date.

As part of the annual management review process, you will be eligible to participate in the Sallie Mae equity program early in the following calendar year, based on the level of your position. You will be eligible to receive an equity grant based on the full year target level award for your position which is $1,300,000. The award amount and grant date of the equity award, if approved, will be after the date the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors meets to review and approve management compensation. Agreements detailing your award, and its vesting terms, will be provided at the time of grant.

You will also receive an $850,000 sign-on award to be issued in the form of restricted stock units (RSUs), contingent upon the approval from the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. This award will be made on October 30, 2023. The terms and conditions of this award will be provided to you when issued.

You will also receive a one-time cash sign-on bonus of $460,000, less applicable taxes, to be paid on the pay date following 30 days of active employment. Company policy requires that if you voluntarily terminate your employment, or if your employment is involuntarily terminated by the company for cause, prior to the satisfactory completion of one year of service, you will be liable to re-pay the company for the entire sign-on bonus granted. If you voluntarily or involuntarily resign after one year of service but less than two years of service, you will be liable to re-pay the company for 50% of the amount paid as a sign-on bonus. By signing your acceptance of the terms of this offer, you agree to repay the sign-on bonus owed to the company within 30 days of the effective date of your voluntary or involuntarily termination.

You will also be eligible for our employee benefits package provided to Officers of the Company at the Executive Officer level including the SLM Relocation Services policy at the Executive Level, or its successor policy, and the SLM Corporation Severance Plan for Senior Officers and the Change in Control Severance Plan for Senior Officers or their respective success plans. Other benefits include the Executive Physical Program and the Supplemental 401(k) Savings Plan, in addition to our regular package of employee benefits. Your benefits will take effect on the first calendar day of the month following your start date. For more information on your benefits, please review the Benefits Overview and Healthcare Premiumsguide.

You represent that you have not taken and agree that you will not take in connection with your employment with the Company, any action that would violate any contractual or other restriction or obligation that is binding on you or any continuing duty you may owe to others, including to your current and any prior employer. If you are not able to make this representation or your representation is false, then the Company reserves the right to terminate your employment for Cause. You acknowledge that in the event of a conflict with any other agreement (whether written or oral) or understanding that you have with the Company, the terms of this letter agreement control and that this letter agreement supersedes any prior discussions regarding your employment with the company.

You acknowledge and agree that you will not use or disclose at any time, except with the prior written consent of the Company, any proprietary, trade secret or confidential information relating to the business of the Company you may receive in connection with our offer of employment and between the date hereof and your Start Date; provided, however, that this provision will not preclude you from (i) the use or disclosure of such information which presently is known generally to the public or which subsequently comes into the public domain, other than by way of disclosure in violation of this offer letter or in any other unauthorized fashion, or (ii) disclosure of such information is required by law or court order; provided that, prior to such disclosure required by law or court order, you will give the Company three (3) business days’ written notice (or, if disclosure is required to be made in less than three (3) business days, then such notice shall be given as promptly as practicable after determination that disclosure may be required) of the nature of the law or order requiring disclosure and the disclosure to be made in accordance therewith. Prior to your Start Date, you will be asked to review and sign the Agreement Regarding Confidentiality, Intellectual Property, and Non-Solicitation, and you acknowledge that the execution of that agreement is a requirement for your employment.

This offer of employment is contingent upon passing background and identity checks. Prior to your first day of employment, you will be required to complete our background check and fingerprinting for identity verification. Further, to the extent applicable, this offer is contingent upon your eligibility for re-employment with Sallie Mae and the verification of any applicable degree(s)/licensure(s) required or associated with the position. We retain the right to rescind our employment offer if you do not pass these checks, or if you do not complete any steps throughout the pre-employment process.

As you know, employment at Sallie Mae is at-will and nothing in this offer changes this status. Please indicate your acceptance of our offer as set forth in this letter by signing and returning to

my attention. I encourage you to keep a copy of this letter for your records.

This offer of employment, and its commitments, supersedes all other offers and commitments,

oral or written, explicit or implied, made by any person at Sallie Mae.

We look forward to officially welcoming you into the Sallie Mae team.

Sincerely,

/s/ Will Wolf

Will Wolf

Chief People Officer

SLM Corporation

Agreed and Signed By:

/s/ Peter M Graham Date: August 25, 2023

Peter Graham

/s/ Jonathan W WitterDate:August 25, 2023

Jon Witter

Chief Executive Officer

SLM Corporation

EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Jonathan W. Witter, certify that:

1.    I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of SLM Corporation;

2.    Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.    The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)    Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)    Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)    Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d)    Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.    The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)    All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)    Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ JONATHAN W. WITTER

Jonathan W. Witter

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

October 25, 2023

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Steven J. McGarry, certify that:

1.    I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of SLM Corporation;

2.    Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.    The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)    Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)    Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)    Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d)    Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.    The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)    All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)    Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ STEVEN J. MCGARRY

Steven J. McGarry

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

October 25, 2023

EX-32.1

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of SLM Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Jonathan W. Witter, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)    The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

/s/ JONATHAN W. WITTER

Jonathan W. Witter

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

October 25, 2023

EX-32.2

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of SLM Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Steven J. McGarry, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)    The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

/s/ STEVEN J. MCGARRY

Steven J. McGarry

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

October 25, 2023

XML

Cover page	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023 shares
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2023
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-13251
Entity Registrant Name	SLM Corp
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	52-2013874
Entity Address, Address Line One	300 Continental Drive
Entity Address, City or Town	Newark,
Entity Address, State or Province	DE
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	19713
City Area Code	302
Local Phone Number	451-0200
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	226,271,057
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2023
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Central Index Key	0001032033
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Common stock, par value $.20 per share
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, par value $.20 per share
Trading Symbol	SLM
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B, par value $.20 per share
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B, par value $.20 per share
Trading Symbol	SLMBP
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ

XML

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 3,548,225	$ 4,616,117
Investments:
Trading investments at fair value (cost of $42,196 and $47,554, respectively)	52,561	55,903
Available-for-sale investments at fair value (cost of $2,524,634 and $2,554,332, respectively)	2,315,978	2,342,089
Other investments	94,068	94,716
Total investments	2,462,607	2,492,708
Loans held for investment (net of allowance for losses of $1,416,048 and $1,357,075, respectively)	20,899,181	19,626,868
Loans held for sale	0	29,448
Restricted cash	175,061	156,719
Other interest-earning assets	11,087	11,162
Accrued interest receivable	1,457,323	1,202,059
Premises and equipment, net	132,622	140,728
Goodwill and acquired intangible assets, net	127,723	118,273
Income taxes receivable, net	409,658	380,058
Tax indemnification receivable	2,945	2,816
Other assets	46,787	34,073
Total assets	29,273,219	28,811,029
Liabilities
Deposits	21,550,745	21,448,071
Long-term borrowings	5,515,532	5,235,114
Other liabilities	407,718	400,874
Total liabilities	27,473,995	27,084,059
Commitments and contingencies
Equity
Preferred stock, par value $0.20 per share, 20 million shares authorized: Series B: 2.5 million and 2.5 million shares issued, respectively, at stated value of $100 per share	251,070	251,070
Common stock, par value $0.20 per share, 1.125 billion shares authorized: 438.2 million and 435.1 million shares issued, respectively	87,639	87,025
Additional paid-in capital	1,140,599	1,109,072
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (net of tax benefit of ($32,548) and ($30,160), respectively)	(101,315)	(93,870)
Retained earnings	3,485,575	3,163,640
Total SLM Corporation stockholders’ equity before treasury stock	4,863,568	4,516,937
Less: Common stock held in treasury at cost: 211.9 million and 194.4 million shares, respectively	(3,064,344)	(2,789,967)
Total equity	1,799,224	1,726,970
Total liabilities and equity	$ 29,273,219	$ 28,811,029

XML

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands, shares in Millions	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Trading investments, cost	$ 42,196	$ 47,554
Available-for sale investments at fair value, cost	2,524,634	2,554,332
Allowance for credit losses	$ 1,416,048	$ 1,357,075
Preferred stock, par or stated value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ 0.20
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	20.0	20.0
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	2.5	2.5
Preferred stock, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 100	$ 100
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ 0.20
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	1,125.0	1,125.0
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	438.2	435.1
Tax benefit on accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ 32,548	$ 30,160
Common stock held in treasury (in shares)	211.9	194.4

XML

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Interest income:
Loans	$ 581,080	$ 483,327	$ 1,732,206	$ 1,387,411
Investments	13,268	10,260	36,636	24,252
Cash and cash equivalents	57,902	26,324	154,911	36,317
Total interest income	652,250	519,911	1,923,753	1,447,980
Interest expense:
Deposits	209,921	105,468	584,859	215,473
Interest expense on short-term borrowings	3,576	3,054	9,893	8,902
Interest expense on long-term borrowings	54,125	41,879	152,674	116,255
Total interest expense	267,622	150,401	747,426	340,630
Net interest income	384,628	369,510	1,176,327	1,107,350
Less: provisions for credit losses	198,023	207,598	329,864	336,193
Net interest income after provisions for credit losses	186,605	161,912	846,463	771,157
Non-interest income:
Gains (losses) on sales of loans, net	(5)	74,978	124,740	324,856
Gains (losses) on securities, net	1,490	891	1,988	(2,021)
Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net	0	0	0	(5)
Other income	22,753	19,234	63,275	52,451
Total non-interest income	24,238	95,103	190,003	375,281
Operating expenses:
Compensation and benefits	83,577	65,003	249,459	202,995
FDIC assessment fees	12,283	4,592	33,663	11,501
Other operating expenses	71,542	80,369	192,983	199,204
Total operating expenses	167,402	149,964	476,105	413,700
Acquired intangible assets amortization expense	2,834	2,328	7,351	5,478
Total non-interest expenses	170,236	152,292	483,456	419,178
Income before income tax expense	40,607	104,723	553,010	727,260
Income tax expense	11,242	29,551	140,062	181,203
Net income	29,365	75,172	412,948	546,057
Preferred stock dividends	4,642	2,531	12,979	5,563
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	$ 24,723	$ 72,641	$ 399,969	$ 540,494
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.11	$ 0.29	$ 1.71	$ 2.05
Average common shares outstanding (in shares)	226,120	251,266	234,170	263,098
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.11	$ 0.29	$ 1.69	$ 2.03
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)	228,800	253,716	236,593	266,065
Declared dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.11	$ 0.11	$ 0.33	$ 0.33

XML

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 29,365	$ 75,172	$ 412,948	$ 546,057
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments	(17,686)	(68,701)	3,358	(197,930)
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	(5,767)	29,823	(13,191)	98,248
Total unrealized gains (losses)	(23,453)	(38,878)	(9,833)	(99,682)
Income tax (expense) benefit	5,702	9,400	2,388	24,102
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (expense) benefit	(17,751)	(29,478)	(7,445)	(75,580)
Total comprehensive income	$ 11,614	$ 45,694	$ 405,503	$ 470,477

XML

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Series B Preferred Stock	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Retained Earnings	Retained Earnings Series B Preferred Stock	Treasury Stock
Beginning balance, shares issued (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021			2,510,696	432,013,372
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021									(153,056,639)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021				278,956,733
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 2,149,711		$ 251,070	$ 86,403	$ 1,074,384	$ (17,897)	$ 2,817,134		$ (2,061,383)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	546,057						546,057
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(75,580)					(75,580)
Total comprehensive income	470,477
Cash dividends declared:
Common Stock	(86,219)						(86,219)
Preferred Stock		$ (5,563)						$ (5,563)
Dividend equivalent units related to employee stock-based compensation plans	$ (557)				245		(802)
Issuance of common shares (in shares)	3,093,392			3,093,392
Issuance of common shares	$ 990			$ 619	371
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 27,050				26,761		289
Common stock repurchased (in shares)	(30,721,944)			(30,721,944)					(30,721,944)
Common stock repurchased	$ (552,887)								$ (552,887)
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans (in shares)	(1,131,351)			(1,131,351)					(1,131,351)
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans	$ (20,774)								$ (20,774)
Ending balance, shares issued (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2022			2,510,696	435,106,764
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2022									(184,909,934)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2022				250,196,830
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2022	1,982,228		$ 251,070	$ 87,022	1,101,761	(93,477)	3,270,896		$ (2,635,044)
Beginning balance, shares issued (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2022			2,510,696	435,102,082
Beginning balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2022									(183,717,942)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2022				251,384,140
Beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2022	1,976,810		$ 251,070	$ 87,021	1,095,296	(63,999)	3,225,610		$ (2,618,188)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	75,172						75,172
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(29,478)					(29,478)
Total comprehensive income	45,694
Cash dividends declared:
Common Stock	(27,643)						(27,643)
Preferred Stock		(2,531)						(2,531)
Dividend equivalent units related to employee stock-based compensation plans	$ (540)				(539)		(1)
Issuance of common shares (in shares)	4,682			4,682
Issuance of common shares	$ 540			$ 1	539
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 6,754				6,465		289
Common stock repurchased (in shares)	(1,191,544)			(1,191,544)					(1,191,544)
Common stock repurchased	$ (16,849)								$ (16,849)
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans (in shares)	(448)			(448)					(448)
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans	$ (7)								$ (7)
Ending balance, shares issued (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2022			2,510,696	435,106,764
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2022									(184,909,934)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2022				250,196,830
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2022	$ 1,982,228		$ 251,070	$ 87,022	1,101,761	(93,477)	3,270,896		$ (2,635,044)
Beginning balance, shares issued (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022			2,510,696	435,121,140
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022	(194,400,000)								(194,445,696)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022				240,675,444
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2022	$ 1,726,970		$ 251,070	$ 87,025	1,109,072	(93,870)	3,163,640		$ (2,789,967)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	412,948						412,948
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(7,445)					(7,445)
Total comprehensive income	405,503
Cash dividends declared:
Common Stock	$ (76,817)						(76,817)
Preferred Stock		(12,979)						(12,979)
Issuance of common shares (in shares)	3,073,639			3,073,639
Issuance of common shares	$ 2,624			$ 614	3,227		(1,217)
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 28,300				28,300
Common stock repurchased (in shares)	(16,389,696)			(16,389,696)					(16,389,696)
Common stock repurchased	$ (257,563)								$ (257,563)
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans (in shares)	(1,088,330)			(1,088,330)					(1,088,330)
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans	$ (16,814)								$ (16,814)
Ending balance, shares issued (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2023			2,510,696	438,194,779
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2023	(211,900,000)								(211,923,722)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2023				226,271,057
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2023	$ 1,799,224		$ 251,070	$ 87,639	1,140,599	(101,315)	3,485,575		$ (3,064,344)
Beginning balance, shares issued (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2023			2,510,696	437,993,893
Beginning balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2023									(211,913,035)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2023				226,080,858
Beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2023	1,806,364		$ 251,070	$ 87,599	1,129,537	(83,564)	3,485,732		$ (3,064,010)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	29,365						29,365
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(17,751)					(17,751)
Total comprehensive income	11,614
Cash dividends declared:
Common Stock	$ (24,879)						(24,879)
Preferred Stock		$ (4,642)						$ (4,642)
Issuance of common shares (in shares)	200,886			200,886
Issuance of common shares	$ 2,629			$ 40	2,590		(1)
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 8,472				8,472
Common stock repurchased (in shares)	0
Common stock repurchased	$ (161)								$ (161)
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans (in shares)	(10,687)			(10,687)					(10,687)
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans	$ (173)								$ (173)
Ending balance, shares issued (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2023			2,510,696	438,194,779
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2023	(211,900,000)								(211,923,722)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2023				226,271,057
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2023	$ 1,799,224		$ 251,070	$ 87,639	$ 1,140,599	$ (101,315)	$ 3,485,575		$ (3,064,344)

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Common stock dividend (in dollars per share)	$ 0.11	$ 0.11	$ 0.33	$ 0.33
Series B Preferred Stock
Preferred stock dividend rate (in dollars per share)	$ 1.85	$ 1.01	$ 5.17	$ 2.22

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Operating activities
Net income	$ 412,948	$ 546,057
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Provisions for credit losses	329,864	336,193
Income tax expense	140,062	181,203
Amortization of brokered deposit placement fee	8,818	9,757
Amortization of Secured Borrowing Facility upfront fee	2,149	1,930
Amortization of deferred loan origination costs and loan premium/(discounts), net	9,831	11,619
Net amortization of discount on investments	(2,012)	802
Increase in tax indemnification receivable	(129)	(345)
Depreciation of premises and equipment	13,404	12,840
Acquired intangible assets amortization expense	7,351	5,478
Stock-based compensation expense	28,300	27,152
Unrealized (gains) losses on derivatives and hedging activities, net	(280)	247
Gains on sales of loans, net	(124,740)	(324,856)
(Gains) losses on securities, net	(1,988)	2,021
Acquisition transaction costs, net	997	2,602
Other adjustments to net income, net	12,279	11,153
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Increase in accrued interest receivable	(777,125)	(580,704)
Increase in trading investments	0	(5,064)
Increase in non-marketable securities	(853)	(2,050)
Decrease (increase) in other interest-earning assets	75	(1,370)
Increase in other assets	(31,211)	(20,725)
Decrease in income taxes payable, net	(163,077)	(217,909)
Increase in accrued interest payable	27,829	25,307
Decrease in other liabilities	(9,988)	(15,471)
Total adjustments	(530,444)	(540,190)
Total net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(117,496)	5,867
Investing activities
Loans acquired and originated	(5,600,123)	(5,234,895)
Net proceeds from sales of loans held for investment and loans held for sale	2,157,024	3,460,758
Proceeds from FFELP Loan claim payments	39,836	22,587
Net decrease in loans held for investment and loans held for sale (other than loans acquired and originated, and loan sales)	2,338,426	2,833,822
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	(70,790)	(753,129)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of available-for-sale securities	215,042	812,712
Purchase of subsidiary, net of cash acquired	(14,654)	(127,654)
Total net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(935,239)	1,014,201
Financing activities
Brokered deposit placement fee	(6,904)	(8,147)
Net increase (decrease) in certificates of deposit	886,475	(77,938)
Net increase (decrease) in other deposits	(796,218)	611,851
Borrowings collateralized by loans in securitization trusts - issued	1,135,054	572,640
Borrowings collateralized by loans in securitization trusts - repaid	(863,230)	(988,505)
Fees paid on Secured Borrowing Facility	(2,850)	(2,838)
Common stock dividends paid	(76,817)	(86,219)
Preferred stock dividends paid	(12,979)	(5,563)
Common stock repurchased	(259,331)	(555,607)
Total net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	3,185	(540,741)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(1,049,550)	479,327
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	4,772,836	4,545,344
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	3,723,286	5,024,671
Cash disbursements made for:
Interest	691,632	285,626
Income taxes paid	171,022	219,975
Income taxes refunded	(8,157)	(2,023)
Reconciliation of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to the Consolidated Balance Sheets:
Cash and cash equivalents	3,548,225	4,846,754
Restricted cash	175,061	177,917
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	3,723,286	5,024,671
Collateralized borrowings
Financing activities
Issuance costs	(15)	(40)
Unsecured debt offering
Financing activities
Issuance costs	$ 0	$ (375)

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Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies

Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited, consolidated financial statements of SLM Corporation (“Sallie Mae,” “SLM,” the “Company,” “we,” or “us”) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete consolidated financial statements. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SLM Corporation and its majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries after eliminating the effects of intercompany accounts and transactions. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods have been included. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2023 or for any other period. These unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 (the “2022 Form 10-K”).

Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries after eliminating the effects of intercompany accounts and transactions.

We consolidate any variable interest entity (“VIE”) where we have determined we are the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary is the entity which has both: (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance; and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE.

Business Combination

On July 21, 2023, we completed the acquisition of several key assets of Scholly, Inc. (“Scholly”). Scholly is engaged in the business of operating as a scholarship publishing and servicing platform, comprised of websites and mobile application search products which offer custom recommendations for post-secondary scholarships for students, their families, and others as well as related services for scholarship providers. The addition of Scholly assets will support our mission of providing students with the confidence needed to successfully navigate the higher education journey.

The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB’s”) Accounting Standard Codification 805, “Business Combinations,” whereby as of the acquisition date, the acquired tangible assets and liabilities were recorded at their estimated fair values. The identifiable intangible assets were recorded at fair values as determined by an independent appraiser. The purchase price allocation for Scholly resulted in an excess purchase price over fair value of net assets acquired, or goodwill, of $5 million. Certain amounts are provisional and are subject to change, including final working capital adjustments and goodwill.

The results of operations of Scholly have been included in our consolidated financial statements since the acquisition date. We have not disclosed the pro forma impact of this acquisition to the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, as the pro forma impact was deemed immaterial. Transaction costs associated with the Scholly acquisition were approximately $1 million and were expensed as incurred within “Other operating expenses” in the consolidated statements of income.

Identifiable intangible assets at the acquisition date included definite life intangible assets with an aggregate fair value of approximately $11 million, including tradename and trademarks, developed technology, customer relationships, and partner relationships. The intangible assets will be amortized over a period of two to four years based on the estimated economic benefit derived from each of the underlying assets.

See Note 7, “Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets,” for additional details.

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Investments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

Investments

Investments

Trading Investments

We periodically sell Private Education Loans through securitization transactions where we are required to retain a five percent vertical risk retention interest (i.e., five percent of each class issued in the securitizations). We classify those vertical risk retention interests related to the transactions as available-for-sale investments, except for the interest in the residual classes, which we classify as trading investments recorded at fair value with changes recorded through earnings.

At December 31, 2022 we had a $5 million investment in a convertible debt security classified as a trading investment. In March 2023, this security, and the related accrued interest, was converted into equity securities classified as investments in non-marketable securities.

At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we had $53 million and $56 million, respectively, classified as trading investments.

Available-for-Sale Investments

The amortized cost and fair value of securities available for sale are as follows:

As of September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	Amortized Cost		Allowance for credit losses(1)		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value
Available-for-sale:
Mortgage-backed securities	$	438,527	$	—	$	—	$	(87,399)	$	351,128
Utah Housing Corporation bonds	3,408		—		—		(555)		2,853
U.S. government-sponsored enterprises and Treasuries	1,669,748		—		—		(96,757)		1,572,991
Other securities	412,951		—		595		(24,540)		389,006
Total	$	2,524,634	$	—	$	595	$	(209,251)	$	2,315,978
As of December 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	Amortized Cost		Allowance for credit losses(1)		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value
Available-for-sale:
Mortgage-backed securities	$	389,067	$	—	$	2	$	(68,705)	$	320,364
Utah Housing Corporation bonds	3,584		—		—		(357)		3,227
U.S. government-sponsored enterprises and Treasuries	1,804,726		—		—		(115,416)		1,689,310
Other securities	356,955		—		33		(27,800)		329,188
Total	$	2,554,332	$	—	$	35	$	(212,278)	$	2,342,089

(1) Represents the amount of impairment that has resulted from credit-related factors and that was recognized in the consolidated balance sheets (as a credit loss expense on available-for-sale securities). The amount excludes unrealized losses related to non-credit factors.

The following table summarizes the amount of gross unrealized losses for our available-for-sale securities and the estimated fair value for securities having gross unrealized loss positions, categorized by length of time the securities have been in an unrealized loss position:

(Dollars in thousands)	Less than 12 months				12 months or more				Total
	Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value
As of September 30, 2023:
Mortgage-backed securities	$	(3,342)	$	67,737	$	(84,057)	$	283,391	$	(87,399)	$	351,128
Utah Housing Corporation bonds	—		—		(555)		2,853		(555)		2,853
U.S. government-sponsored enterprises and Treasuries	—		—		(96,757)		1,572,991		(96,757)		1,572,991
Other securities	(2,051)		81,109		(22,489)		236,226		(24,540)		317,335
Total	$	(5,393)	$	148,846	$	(203,858)	$	2,095,461	$	(209,251)	$	2,244,307
As of December 31, 2022:
Mortgage-backed securities	$	(13,956)	$	99,598	$	(54,749)	$	220,576	$	(68,705)	$	320,174
Utah Housing Corporation bonds	(357)		3,227		—		—		(357)		3,227
U.S. government-sponsored enterprises and Treasuries	(28,128)		689,300		(87,288)		1,000,010		(115,416)		1,689,310
Other securities	(15,852)		232,546		(11,948)		92,883		(27,800)		325,429
Total	$	(58,293)	$	1,024,671	$	(153,985)	$	1,313,469	$	(212,278)	$	2,338,140

At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, 226 of 230 and 191 of 194, respectively, of our available-for-sale securities were in an unrealized loss position.

Impairment

For available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position, we first assess whether we intend to sell, or it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell, the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of these criteria are met, the security’s amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through net income. For securities in an unrealized loss position that do not meet these criteria, we evaluate whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit loss or other factors. In making this assessment, we consider the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency, adverse conditions specifically related to the security, as well as any guarantees (e.g., guarantees by the U.S. Government) that may be applicable to the security. If this assessment indicates a credit loss exists, the credit-related portion of the loss is recorded as an allowance for losses on the security.

Our investment portfolio contains mortgage-backed securities issued by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac, as well as Utah Housing Corporation bonds. We own these securities to meet our requirements under the Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”). We also invest in other U.S. government-sponsored enterprise securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Banks, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Farm Credit Bank. Our mortgage-backed securities that were issued under Ginnie Mae programs carry a full faith and credit guarantee from the U.S. Government. The remaining mortgage-backed securities in a net loss position carry a principal and interest guarantee by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, respectively. Our Treasury and other U.S. government-sponsored enterprise bonds are rated Aaa by Moody’s Investors Service or AA+ by Standard and Poor’s. We have the intent and ability to hold these bonds for a period of time sufficient for the market price to recover to at least the adjusted amortized cost of the security. Based on this qualitative analysis, we have determined that no credit impairment exists.

We periodically sell Private Education Loans through securitization transactions where we are required to retain a five percent vertical risk retention interest. We classify the non-residual vertical risk retention interests as available-for-sale investments. We have the intent and ability to hold each of these bonds for a period of time sufficient for the market price to recover to at least the adjusted amortized cost of the security. We expect to receive all contractual cash flows related to these investments and do not consider a credit impairment to exist.

As of September 30, 2023, the amortized cost and fair value of securities, by contractual maturities, are summarized below. Contractual maturities versus actual maturities may differ due to the effect of prepayments.

As of September 30, 2023 Year of Maturity (dollars in thousands)	Amortized Cost		Estimated Fair Value
2023	$	25,000	$	24,767
2024	699,111		677,812
2025	298,564		285,252
2026	548,563		492,182
2027	98,511		92,979
2038	69		68
2039	663		622
2042	2,439		2,008
2043	4,209		3,573
2044	4,945		4,302
2045	5,163		4,337
2046	7,841		6,540
2047	7,917		6,658
2048	2,032		1,790
2049	15,899		13,366
2050	109,845		82,601
2051	156,133		116,543
2052	54,219		44,328
2053	163,617		150,202
2054	75,509		67,142
2055	90,148		86,125
2056	105,584		104,292
2058	48,653		48,489
Total	$	2,524,634	$	2,315,978

Some of the mortgage-backed securities and a portion of the government securities have been pledged to the Federal Reserve Bank (the “FRB”) as collateral against any advances and accrued interest under the Primary Credit lending program sponsored by the FRB. We had $582 million and $547 million par value of securities pledged to this borrowing facility at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, as discussed further in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 9, “Borrowings” in this Form 10-Q.

Other Investments

Investments in Non-Marketable Securities

We hold investments in non-marketable securities and account for these investments at cost, less impairment, plus or minus observable price changes of identical or similar securities of the same issuer. Changes in market value are recorded through earnings. Because these are non-marketable securities, we use observable price changes of identical or similar securities of the same issuer, or when observable prices are not available, use market data of similar entities, in determining any changes in the value of the securities. In March 2023 our $5 million investment in a convertible debt security, classified as a trading investment, and the related accrued interest were converted into equity securities and were reclassified to investments in non-marketable securities. As of September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, our total investment in these securities was $14 million and $8 million, respectively.

Low Income Housing Tax Credit Investments

We invest in affordable housing projects that qualify for the low-income housing tax credit (“LIHTC”), which is designed to promote private development of low-income housing. These investments generate a return mostly through realization of federal tax credits and tax benefits from net operating losses on the underlying properties. Total carrying value of the LIHTC investments was $74 million at September 30, 2023 and $80 million at December 31, 2022. We are periodically required to provide additional financial support during the investment period. Our liability for these unfunded commitments was $34 million at September 30, 2023 and $46 million at December 31, 2022.

Related to these investments, we recognized tax credits and other tax benefits through tax expense of $1 million at September 30, 2023 and $9 million at December 31, 2022. Tax credits and other tax benefits are recognized as part of our annual effective tax rate used to determine tax expense in a given quarter. Accordingly, the portion of a year’s expected tax benefits recognized in any given quarter may differ from 25 percent.

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Loans Held for Investment

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Receivables [Abstract]

Loans Held for Investment

Loans Held for Investment

Loans held for investment consist of Private Education Loans and FFELP Loans. We use “Private Education Loans” to mean education loans to students or their families that are not made, insured, or guaranteed by any state or federal government. Private Education Loans do not include loans insured or guaranteed under the previously existing Federal Family Education Loan Program (“FFELP”). We use “Credit Cards” to refer to the suite of Credit Cards that we previously held. At September 30, 2022, we transferred our Credit Card portfolio to loans held for sale and subsequently sold the Credit Card portfolio to a third party in May 2023. For additional information, see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 4, “Loans Held for Sale” in this Form 10-Q.

Our Private Education Loans are made largely to bridge the gap between the cost of higher education and the amount funded through financial aid, government loans, and customers’ resources. Private Education Loans bear the full credit risk of the customer. We manage this risk through risk-performance underwriting strategies and qualified cosigners. Private Education Loans may be fixed-rate or may carry a variable interest rate indexed to SOFR, the Secured Overnight Financing Rate. As of September 30, 2023, 35 percent of all of our Private Education Loans were indexed to SOFR. As of December 30, 2022, 45 percent of all of our Private Education Loans were indexed to LIBOR, the London interbank offered rate, or SOFR. We provide incentives for customers to include a cosigner on the loan, and the vast majority of Private Education Loans in our portfolio are cosigned. We also encourage customers to make payments while in school.

FFELP Loans are insured as to their principal and accrued interest in the event of default, subject to a risk-sharing level based on the date of loan disbursement. These insurance obligations are supported by contractual rights against the United States. For loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2006, we receive 97 percent reimbursement on all qualifying claims. For loans disbursed after October 1, 1993, and before July 1, 2006, we receive 98 percent reimbursement on all qualifying claims. For loans disbursed prior to October 1, 1993, we receive 100 percent reimbursement on all qualifying claims.

In the first nine months of 2023, we recognized $128 million in gains from the sale of approximately $2.10 billion of Private Education Loans, including $1.96 billion of principal and $144 million in capitalized interest, to an unaffiliated third party. In the first nine months of 2022, we recognized $325 million in gains from the sale of approximately $3.29 billion of our Private Education Loans, including $3.08 billion of principal and $213 million in capitalized interest, to unaffiliated third parties. There were VIEs created in the execution of certain of these loan sales; however, based on our consolidation analysis, we are not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs. These transactions qualified for sale treatment and removed the balance of the loans from our balance sheet on the respective settlement dates. We remained the servicer of these loans pursuant to applicable servicing agreements executed in connection with the sales. For additional information, see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 9, “Borrowings - Unconsolidated VIEs” in this Form 10-Q.

Loans held for investment are summarized as follows:

	September 30,		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023		2022
Private Education Loans:
Fixed-rate	$	14,000,110	$	11,108,079
Variable-rate	7,680,757		9,195,609
Total Private Education Loans, gross	21,680,867		20,303,688
Deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)	78,673		69,656
Allowance for credit losses	(1,411,232)		(1,353,631)
Total Private Education Loans, net	20,348,308		19,019,713
FFELP Loans	554,309		609,050
Deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)	1,380		1,549
Allowance for credit losses	(4,816)		(3,444)
Total FFELP Loans, net	550,873		607,155
Loans held for investment, net	$	20,899,181	$	19,626,868

The estimated weighted average life of education loans in our portfolio was approximately 5.0 years and 5.0 years at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

The average balance (net of unamortized premium/(discount)) and the respective weighted average interest rates of loans held for investment in our portfolio are summarized as follows:

	2023				2022
Three Months Ended September 30, (dollars in thousands)	Average Balance		Weighted Average Interest Rate		Average Balance		Weighted Average Interest Rate
Private Education Loans	$	20,649,663	10.96	%	$	19,958,763	9.43	%
FFELP Loans	563,502		7.35		655,724		5.03
Total portfolio	$	21,213,165			$	20,614,487

	2023				2022
Nine Months Ended September 30, (dollars in thousands)	Average Balance		Weighted Average Interest Rate		Average Balance		Weighted Average Interest Rate
Private Education Loans	$	21,032,541	10.80	%	$	20,685,372	8.82	%
FFELP Loans	583,427		7.10		673,654		4.18
Total portfolio	$	21,615,968			$	21,359,026

Loans Held for SaleWe had no loans held for sale at September 30, 2023 and $29 million in loans held for sale at December 31, 2022. The balance at December 31, 2022 was comprised of our Credit Card loan portfolio. At September 30, 2022, when the loans were transferred to held for sale, we reversed $2.4 million through the provisions for credit losses for the allowance related to these loans. At September 30, 2022, we wrote down this loan portfolio to its estimated fair value through a charge-off to the allowance for credit losses of $1.5 million. In May 2023, we sold our Credit Card loan portfolio to a third party. This transaction qualified for sale treatment and removed the balance of the loans from our balance sheet on the settlement date. We recorded a loss of $4 million related to the sale in the second quarter of 2023.

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Loans Held for Sale

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Transfers and Servicing [Abstract]

Loans Held for Sale

Loans Held for Investment

Loans held for investment consist of Private Education Loans and FFELP Loans. We use “Private Education Loans” to mean education loans to students or their families that are not made, insured, or guaranteed by any state or federal government. Private Education Loans do not include loans insured or guaranteed under the previously existing Federal Family Education Loan Program (“FFELP”). We use “Credit Cards” to refer to the suite of Credit Cards that we previously held. At September 30, 2022, we transferred our Credit Card portfolio to loans held for sale and subsequently sold the Credit Card portfolio to a third party in May 2023. For additional information, see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 4, “Loans Held for Sale” in this Form 10-Q.

Our Private Education Loans are made largely to bridge the gap between the cost of higher education and the amount funded through financial aid, government loans, and customers’ resources. Private Education Loans bear the full credit risk of the customer. We manage this risk through risk-performance underwriting strategies and qualified cosigners. Private Education Loans may be fixed-rate or may carry a variable interest rate indexed to SOFR, the Secured Overnight Financing Rate. As of September 30, 2023, 35 percent of all of our Private Education Loans were indexed to SOFR. As of December 30, 2022, 45 percent of all of our Private Education Loans were indexed to LIBOR, the London interbank offered rate, or SOFR. We provide incentives for customers to include a cosigner on the loan, and the vast majority of Private Education Loans in our portfolio are cosigned. We also encourage customers to make payments while in school.

FFELP Loans are insured as to their principal and accrued interest in the event of default, subject to a risk-sharing level based on the date of loan disbursement. These insurance obligations are supported by contractual rights against the United States. For loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2006, we receive 97 percent reimbursement on all qualifying claims. For loans disbursed after October 1, 1993, and before July 1, 2006, we receive 98 percent reimbursement on all qualifying claims. For loans disbursed prior to October 1, 1993, we receive 100 percent reimbursement on all qualifying claims.

In the first nine months of 2023, we recognized $128 million in gains from the sale of approximately $2.10 billion of Private Education Loans, including $1.96 billion of principal and $144 million in capitalized interest, to an unaffiliated third party. In the first nine months of 2022, we recognized $325 million in gains from the sale of approximately $3.29 billion of our Private Education Loans, including $3.08 billion of principal and $213 million in capitalized interest, to unaffiliated third parties. There were VIEs created in the execution of certain of these loan sales; however, based on our consolidation analysis, we are not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs. These transactions qualified for sale treatment and removed the balance of the loans from our balance sheet on the respective settlement dates. We remained the servicer of these loans pursuant to applicable servicing agreements executed in connection with the sales. For additional information, see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 9, “Borrowings - Unconsolidated VIEs” in this Form 10-Q.

Loans held for investment are summarized as follows:

	September 30,		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023		2022
Private Education Loans:
Fixed-rate	$	14,000,110	$	11,108,079
Variable-rate	7,680,757		9,195,609
Total Private Education Loans, gross	21,680,867		20,303,688
Deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)	78,673		69,656
Allowance for credit losses	(1,411,232)		(1,353,631)
Total Private Education Loans, net	20,348,308		19,019,713
FFELP Loans	554,309		609,050
Deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)	1,380		1,549
Allowance for credit losses	(4,816)		(3,444)
Total FFELP Loans, net	550,873		607,155
Loans held for investment, net	$	20,899,181	$	19,626,868

The estimated weighted average life of education loans in our portfolio was approximately 5.0 years and 5.0 years at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

The average balance (net of unamortized premium/(discount)) and the respective weighted average interest rates of loans held for investment in our portfolio are summarized as follows:

	2023				2022
Three Months Ended September 30, (dollars in thousands)	Average Balance		Weighted Average Interest Rate		Average Balance		Weighted Average Interest Rate
Private Education Loans	$	20,649,663	10.96	%	$	19,958,763	9.43	%
FFELP Loans	563,502		7.35		655,724		5.03
Total portfolio	$	21,213,165			$	20,614,487

	2023				2022
Nine Months Ended September 30, (dollars in thousands)	Average Balance		Weighted Average Interest Rate		Average Balance		Weighted Average Interest Rate
Private Education Loans	$	21,032,541	10.80	%	$	20,685,372	8.82	%
FFELP Loans	583,427		7.10		673,654		4.18
Total portfolio	$	21,615,968			$	21,359,026

Loans Held for SaleWe had no loans held for sale at September 30, 2023 and $29 million in loans held for sale at December 31, 2022. The balance at December 31, 2022 was comprised of our Credit Card loan portfolio. At September 30, 2022, when the loans were transferred to held for sale, we reversed $2.4 million through the provisions for credit losses for the allowance related to these loans. At September 30, 2022, we wrote down this loan portfolio to its estimated fair value through a charge-off to the allowance for credit losses of $1.5 million. In May 2023, we sold our Credit Card loan portfolio to a third party. This transaction qualified for sale treatment and removed the balance of the loans from our balance sheet on the settlement date. We recorded a loss of $4 million related to the sale in the second quarter of 2023.

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Allowance for Credit Losses

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Receivables [Abstract]

Allowance for Credit Losses

Allowance for Credit Losses Our provision for credit losses represents the periodic expense of maintaining an allowance sufficient to absorb lifetime expected credit losses in the held for investment loan portfolios. The evaluation of the allowance for credit losses is inherently subjective, as it requires material estimates that may be susceptible to significant changes. We believe the allowance for credit losses is appropriate to cover lifetime losses expected to be incurred in the loan portfolios. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies — Allowance for Credit Losses — Allowance for Private Education Loan Losses, — Allowance for FFELP Loan Losses” in our 2022 Form 10-K for a more detailed discussion.

Allowance for Credit Losses Metrics

Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	FFELP Loans			Private Education Loans			Total
Allowance for Credit Losses
Beginning balance	$	4,422		$	1,360,294		$	1,364,716
Transfer from unfunded commitment liability(1)	—			101,687			101,687
Provisions:
Provision for current period	666			44,423			45,089
Total provisions(2)	666			44,423			45,089
Net charge-offs:
Charge-offs	(272)			(104,865)			(105,137)
Recoveries	—			9,693			9,693
Net charge-offs	(272)			(95,172)			(95,444)
Ending Balance	$	4,816		$	1,411,232		$	1,416,048
Allowance(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	4,816		$	1,411,232		$	1,416,048
Loans(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	554,309		$	21,680,867		$	22,235,176
Accrued interest to be capitalized(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	—		$	1,283,388		$	1,283,388
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(4)	0.25		%	2.53		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance and accrued interest to be capitalized(5)	0.87		%	6.15		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment and accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(4)(5)	1.15		%	8.84		%
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)	4.43			3.71
Ending total loans, gross	$	554,309		$	21,680,867
Average loans in repayment(4)	$	428,028		$	15,023,993
Ending loans in repayment(4)	$	418,022		$	15,505,145
Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(6)	$	—		$	464,807

(1) See Note 6, “Unfunded Loan Commitments,” for a summary of the activity in the allowance for and balance of unfunded loan commitments, respectively.

(2) Below is a reconciliation of the provisions for credit losses reported in the consolidated statements of income. When a new loan commitment is made, we record the CECL allowance as a liability for unfunded loan commitments by recording a provision for credit losses. When the loan is funded, we transfer that liability to the allowance for credit losses.

Consolidated Statements of Income Provisions for Credit Losses Reconciliation
Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)
Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses:
Provisions for loan losses	$	44,423
Provisions for unfunded loan commitments	152,934
Total Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses	197,357
Other impacts to the provisions for credit losses:
FFELP Loans	666
Total	666
Provisions for credit losses reported in consolidated statements of income	$	198,023

(3) For the three months ended September 30, 2023, there were no allowance for credit losses, loans, or accrued interest to be capitalized balances that were individually evaluated for impairment.

(4) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

(5) Accrued interest to be capitalized on Private Education Loans only.

(6) Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment includes interest on loans that are in repayment but have not yet entered into full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, does not include the interest on those loans while they are in forbearance).

Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	FFELP  Loans			Private  Education Loans			Credit Cards			Total
Allowance for Credit Losses
Beginning balance	$	3,929		$	1,074,744		$	2,393		$	1,081,066
Transfer from unfunded commitment liability(1)	—			168,377			—			168,377
Provisions:
Provision for current period	29			95,482			2,039			97,550
Loan sale reduction to provision	—			(50,226)			—			(50,226)
Loans transferred from held-for-sale	—			—			(2,372)			(2,372)
Total provisions(2)	29			45,256			(333)			44,952
Net charge-offs:
Charge-offs	(147)			(109,350)			(2,062)			(111,559)
Recoveries	—			11,400			2			11,402
Net charge-offs	(147)			(97,950)			(2,060)			(100,157)
Ending Balance	$	3,811		$	1,190,427		$	—		$	1,194,238
Allowance(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	3,811		$	1,190,427		$	—		$	1,194,238
Loans(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	643,614		$	20,104,463		$	—		$	20,748,077
Accrued interest to be capitalized(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	—		$	1,056,983		$	—		$	1,056,983
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(4)	0.11		%	2.67		%	—		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance and accrued interest to be capitalized(5)	0.59		%	5.63		%	—		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment and accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(4)(5)	0.78		%	7.98		%	—		%
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)	6.48			3.04			—
Ending total loans, gross	$	643,614		$	20,104,463		$	—
Average loans in repayment(4)	$	518,226		$	14,674,437		$	—
Ending loans in repayment(4)	$	489,920		$	14,546,556		$	—
Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(6)	$	—		$	371,388		$	—

(1) See Note 6, “Unfunded Loan Commitments,” for a summary of the activity in the allowance for and balance of unfunded loan commitments, respectively.

(2) Below is a reconciliation of the provisions for credit losses reported in the consolidated statements of income. When a new loan commitment is made, we record the CECL allowance as a liability for unfunded loan commitments by recording a provision for credit losses. When the loan is funded, we transfer that liability to the allowance for credit losses.

Consolidated Statements of Income Provisions for Credit Losses Reconciliation
Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)
Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses:
Provisions for loan losses	$	45,256
Provisions for unfunded loan commitments	162,646
Total Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses	207,902
Other impacts to the provisions for credit losses:
FFELP Loans	29
Credit Cards	(333)
Total	(304)
Provisions for credit losses reported in consolidated statements of income	$	207,598

(3) For the three months ended September 30, 2022, there were no allowance for credit losses, loans, or accrued interest to be capitalized balances that were individually evaluated for impairment.

(4) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

(5) Accrued interest to be capitalized on Private Education Loans only.

(6) Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment includes interest on loans that are in repayment but have not yet entered into full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, does not include the interest on those loans while they are in forbearance).

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	FFELP Loans			Private Education Loans			Total
Allowance for Credit Losses
Beginning balance	$	3,444		$	1,353,631		$	1,357,075
Transfer from unfunded commitment liability(1)	—			278,388			278,388
Provisions:
Provision for current period	2,225			196,859			199,084
Loan sale reduction to provision	—			(136,531)			(136,531)
Total provisions(2)	2,225			60,328			62,553
Net charge-offs:
Charge-offs	(853)			(314,500)			(315,353)
Recoveries	—			33,385			33,385
Net charge-offs	(853)			(281,115)			(281,968)
Ending Balance	$	4,816		$	1,411,232		$	1,416,048
Allowance(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	4,816		$	1,411,232		$	1,416,048
Loans(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	554,309		$	21,680,867		$	22,235,176
Accrued interest to be capitalized(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	—		$	1,283,388		$	1,283,388
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(4)	0.26		%	2.44		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance and accrued interest to be capitalized(5)	0.87		%	6.15		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment and accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(4)(5)	1.15		%	8.84		%
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)	4.23			3.77
Ending total loans, gross	$	554,309		$	21,680,867
Average loans in repayment(4)	$	440,716		$	15,358,596
Ending loans in repayment(4)	$	418,022		$	15,505,145
Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(6)	$	—		$	464,807

(1) See Note 6, “Unfunded Loan Commitments,” for a summary of the activity in the allowance for and balance of unfunded loan commitments, respectively.

(2) Below is a reconciliation of the provisions for credit losses reported in the consolidated statements of income. When a new loan commitment is made, we record the CECL allowance as a liability for unfunded loan commitments by recording a provision for credit losses. When the loan is funded, we transfer that liability to the allowance for credit losses.

Consolidated Statements of Income Provisions for Credit Losses Reconciliation
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)
Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses:
Provisions for loan losses	$	60,328
Provisions for unfunded loan commitments	267,311
Total Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses	327,639
Other impacts to the provisions for credit losses:
FFELP Loans	2,225
Total	2,225
Provisions for credit losses reported in consolidated statements of income	$	329,864

(3) For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, there were no allowance for credit losses, loans, or accrued interest to be capitalized balances that were individually evaluated for impairment.

(4) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

(5) Accrued interest to be capitalized on Private Education Loans only.

(6) Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment includes interest on loans that are in repayment but have not yet entered into full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, does not include the interest on those loans while they are in forbearance).

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	FFELP  Loans			Private  Education Loans			Credit Cards			Total
Allowance for Credit Losses
Beginning balance	$	4,077		$	1,158,977		$	2,281		$	1,165,335
Transfer from unfunded commitment liability(1)	—			303,591			—			303,591
Provisions:
Provision for current period	110			168,473			2,635			171,218
Loan sale reduction to provision	—			(171,325)			—			(171,325)
Loans transferred from held-for-sale	—			—			(2,372)			(2,372)
Total provisions(2)	110			(2,852)			263			(2,479)
Net charge-offs:
Charge-offs	(376)			(299,699)			(2,549)			(302,624)
Recoveries	—			30,410			5			30,415
Net charge-offs	(376)			(269,289)			(2,544)			(272,209)
Ending Balance	$	3,811		$	1,190,427		$	—		$	1,194,238
Allowance(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	3,811		$	1,190,427		$	—		$	1,194,238
Loans(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	643,614		$	20,104,463		$	—		$	20,748,077
Accrued interest to be capitalized(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	—		$	1,056,983		$	—		$	1,056,983
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(4)	0.09		%	2.37		%	—		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance and accrued interest to be capitalized(5)	0.59		%	5.63		%	—		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment and accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(4)(5)	0.78		%	7.98		%	—		%
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)	7.60			3.32			—
Ending total loans, gross	$	643,614		$	20,104,463		$	—
Average loans in repayment(4)	$	532,275		$	15,173,465		$	—
Ending loans in repayment(4)	$	489,920		$	14,546,556		$	—
Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(6)	$	—		$	371,388		$	—

(1) See Note 6, “Unfunded Loan Commitments,” for a summary of the activity in the allowance for and balance of unfunded loan commitments, respectively.

(2) Below is a reconciliation of the provisions for credit losses reported in the consolidated statements of income. When a new loan commitment is made, we record the CECL allowance as a liability for unfunded loan commitments by recording a provision for credit losses. When the loan is funded, we transfer that liability to the allowance for credit losses.

Consolidated Statements of Income Provisions for Credit Losses Reconciliation
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)
Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses:
Provisions for loan losses	$	(2,852)
Provisions for unfunded loan commitments	338,672
Total Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses	335,820
Other impacts to the provisions for credit losses:
FFELP Loans	110
Credit Cards	263
Total	373
Provisions for credit losses reported in consolidated statements of income	$	336,193

(3) For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, there were no allowance for credit losses, loans, or accrued interest to be capitalized balances that were individually evaluated for impairment.

(4) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

(5) Accrued interest to be capitalized on Private Education Loans only.

(6) Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment includes interest on loans that are in repayment but have not yet entered into full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, does not include the interest on those loans while they are in forbearance).

Allowance for Credit Losses

In the fourth quarter of 2022, we changed our loss model to include forecasts of college graduate unemployment, home price index, and median family income in determining the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses. Prior to this change, we used forecasts of college graduate unemployment and the Consumer Price Index in our loss forecasting models. We obtain forecasts for these inputs from Moody’s Analytics. Moody’s Analytics provides a range of forecasts for each of these inputs with various likelihoods of occurring. We determine which forecasts we will include in our estimation of the allowance for credit losses and the associated weightings for each of these inputs. At September 30, 2022, December 31, 2022, and September 30, 2023, we used the Base (50th percentile likelihood of occurring)/S1 (stronger near-term growth scenario with 10 percent likelihood of occurring)/S3 (downside scenario with 10 percent likelihood of occurring) scenarios and weighted them 40 percent, 30 percent, and 30 percent, respectively. Management reviews both the scenarios and their respective weightings each quarter in determining the allowance for credit losses.

In the second quarter of 2023, we changed how we collect on defaulted loans. Previously, we used a mix of in-house collectors and sales to third parties. We will continue to sell a segment of defaulted loans immediately after charge-off but will no longer sell retained defaulted loans (that have been subject to internal collection attempts for six months) to third parties and instead will continue our collection efforts using in-house collectors and collection agencies. This improved our estimate of recovery rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. When we estimate the timing and amount of future recoveries on charged-off loans, we no longer include expectations of future sales on retained defaulted loans. We continue to monitor how we collect on defaulted loans and may modify the approach from time to time based on performance, industry conventions, and/or regulatory feedback.

Provisions for credit losses in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 decreased by $6 million compared with the year-ago period. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the provision for credit losses was primarily affected by new loan commitments, net of expired commitments, slower prepayment rates, management overlays, and changes in economic outlook, which were offset by $137 million in negative provisions recorded as a result of the $2.10 billion Private Education Loan sales during the first nine months of 2023 and an increase in recovery rates (as a result of the change in our defaulted loan recovery program noted above). In the year-ago period, the provision for credit losses was primarily affected by new loan commitments made during the period, slower than expected prepayment rates, and additional management overlays, which were partially offset by negative provisions recorded related to $3.29 billion in Private Education Loans sold in the first nine months of 2022.

As part of concluding on the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses, we review key allowance and loan metrics. The most significant of these metrics considered are the allowance coverage of net charge-offs ratio; the allowance as a percentage of ending total loans and accrued interest to be capitalized and of ending loans in repayment and accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment; and delinquency and forbearance percentages.

Loan Modifications to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty

The allowance for credit losses incorporates an estimate of lifetime expected credit losses and is recorded on each asset upon asset origination or acquisition. The starting point for the estimate of the allowance for credit losses is historical information, which includes losses from modifications of receivables whose borrowers are experiencing financial difficulty. We use a discounted cash flow model to determine the allowance for credit losses. An assessment of whether a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty is made on the date of a modification.

The effect of most modifications of loans made to borrowers who are experiencing financial difficulty is already included in the allowance for credit losses because of the measurement methodologies used to estimate the allowance. The forecast of expected future cash flows is updated as the loan modifications occur.

We adjust the terms of loans for certain borrowers when we believe such changes will help our customers manage their student loan obligations and achieve better student outcomes and increase the collectability of the loans. These changes generally take the form of a temporary forbearance of payments, a temporary interest rate reduction, a temporary interest rate reduction with a permanent extension of the loan term, and/or a short-term extended repayment alternative.

When we give a borrower facing financial difficulty an interest rate reduction, we currently temporarily reduce the contractual interest rate on a loan to 4.0 percent for a two-year period and, in the vast majority of cases, permanently extend the final maturity date of the loan. The combination of these two loan term changes helps reduce the monthly payment due from the borrower and increases the likelihood the borrower will remain current during the interest rate modification period as well as when the loan returns to its original contractual interest rate.

Within the Private Education Loan portfolio, we deem loans greater than 90 days past due as nonperforming. FFELP Loans are at least 97 percent guaranteed as to their principal and accrued interest by the federal government in the event

of default and, therefore, we do not deem FFELP Loans as nonperforming from a credit risk perspective at any point in their life cycle prior to claim payment and continue to accrue interest on those loans through the date of claim.

For additional information, see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies —Allowance for Credit Losses,” and Note 7, “Allowance for Credit Losses” in our 2022 Form 10-K.

Under our current forbearance practices, temporary forbearance of payments is generally granted in one-to-two month increments, for up to 12 months over the life of the loan, with 12 months of positive payment performance by a borrower required between grants (meaning the borrower must make payment in a cumulative amount equivalent to 12 monthly required payments under the loan). See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 5, “Loans Held for Investment — Certain Collection Tools - Private Education Loans” in our 2022 Form 10-K. If the loan has been previously restructured, we consider the cumulative effect of past restructurings made within the 12-month period before the current restructuring when determining whether a delay in payment resulting from the current restructuring is insignificant. Due to our current forbearance practices, including the limitations on forbearances offered to borrowers, we do not believe the granting of forbearances will exceed the significance threshold and, therefore, we do not consider the forbearances as loan modifications.

The limitations on granting of forbearances described above apply to hardship forbearances. We offer other administrative forbearances (e.g., death and disability, bankruptcy, military service, disaster forbearance, and in school assistance) that are either required by law (such as by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act) or are considered separate from our active loss mitigation programs and therefore are not considered to be loan modifications requiring disclosure. In addition, we may offer on a limited basis term extensions or rate reductions or a combination of both to borrowers to reduce consolidation activities. For purposes of this disclosure, we do not consider them modifications of loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty and they therefore are not included in the tables below.

The following tables show the amortized cost basis at the end of the respective reporting periods of the loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty that were modified during the period, disaggregated by class of financing receivable and type of modification. When we approve a Private Education Loan at the beginning of an academic year, we do not always disburse the full amount of the loan at the time of approval, but instead have a commitment to fund a portion of the loan at a later date (usually at the start of the second semester or subsequent trimesters). We consider borrowers to be in financial difficulty after they have exited school and have difficulty making their scheduled principal and interest payments.

	Loan Modifications Made to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty
Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	Interest Rate Reduction				Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type:	Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable		Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable
Private Education Loans	$	16,620	0.07	%	$	90,193	0.39	%
Total	$	16,620	0.07	%	$	90,193	0.39	%

	Loan Modifications Made to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty
Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	Interest Rate Reduction				Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type:	Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable		Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable
Private Education Loans	$	9,750	0.05	%	$	79,765	0.40	%
Total	$	9,750	0.05	%	$	79,765	0.40	%

	Loan Modifications Made to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	Interest Rate Reduction				Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type:	Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable		Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable
Private Education Loans	$	39,263	0.17	%	$	254,639	1.10	%
Total	$	39,263	0.17	%	$	254,639	1.10	%

	Loan Modifications Made to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	Interest Rate Reduction				Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type:	Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable		Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable
Private Education Loans	$	25,065	0.12	%	$	237,588	1.18	%
Total	$	25,065	0.12	%	$	237,588	1.18	%

The following tables describe the financial effect of the modifications made to loans whose borrowers are experiencing financial difficulty:

Three Months Ended September 30, 2023
Interest Rate Reduction		Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type	Financial Effect	Loan Type	Financial Effect
Private Education Loans	Reduced average contractual rate from 13.57% to 4.00%	Private Education Loans	Added a weighted average 10.22 years to the life of loans Reduced average contractual rate from 13.12% to 4.00%

Three Months Ended September 30, 2022
Interest Rate Reduction		Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type	Financial Effect	Loan Type	Financial Effect
Private Education Loans	Reduced average contractual rate from 11.31% to 4.00%	Private Education Loans	Added a weighted average 10.24 years to the life of loans Reduced average contractual rate from 10.87% to 4.00%

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
Interest Rate Reduction		Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type	Financial Effect	Loan Type	Financial Effect
Private Education Loans	Reduced average contractual rate from 13.29% to 4.00%	Private Education Loans	Added a weighted average 10.24 years to the life of loans Reduced average contractual rate from 12.84% to 4.00%

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022
Interest Rate Reduction		Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type	Financial Effect	Loan Type	Financial Effect
Private Education Loans	Reduced average contractual rate from 10.76% to 4.00%	Private Education Loans	Added a weighted average 10.38 years to the life of loans Reduced average contractual rate from 10.17% to 4.00%

Private Education Loans are charged off at the end of the month in which they reach 120 days delinquent or otherwise when the loans are classified as a loss by us or our regulator. Therefore, the amortized cost basis of the loan is reduced by the uncollectible amount and the allowance for credit losses is adjusted by the same amount. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies — Allowance for Credit Losses — Allowance for Private Education Loan Losses, and — Allowance for FFELP Loan Losses” in our 2022 Form 10-K for a more detailed discussion.

For the current period presented, the following table provides loan modifications for which a payment default occurred in the relevant period presented and within 12 months of the loan receiving a loan modification. Additionally, for the current period presented, the table summarizes charge-offs occurring in the relevant period presented and within 12 months of the loan receiving a loan modification. The charge-offs and payment defaults for the year-ago period are presented for loans receiving a loan modification during the reporting period rather than within 12 months of the loan receiving a loan modification, as the effective date of adoption for the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2022-02, Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures, was January 1, 2022. We define payment default as 60 days or more past due for purposes of this disclosure.

	Three Months Ended September 30, 2023						Three Months Ended September 30, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Modified Loans(1)(2)		Payment Default(4)		Charge-Offs(5)		Modified Loans(1)(2)		Payment Default(4)		Charge-Offs(5)
Loan Type:
Private Education Loans	$	14,546	$	14,129	$	4,534	$	9,467	$	9,289	$	1,801
Total	$	14,546	$	14,129	$	4,534	$	9,467	$	9,289	$	1,801

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023						Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Modified Loans(1)(3)		Payment Default(4)		Charge-Offs(5)		Modified Loans(1)(3)		Payment Default(4)		Charge-Offs(5)
Loan Type:
Private Education Loans	$	26,449	$	27,672	$	6,428	$	12,660	$	12,463	$	1,861
Total	$	26,449	$	27,672	$	6,428	$	12,660	$	12,463	$	1,861

(1) Represents period-end amortized cost basis of loans that have been modified and for which a payment default occurred in the relevant period presented and within 12 months of receiving a modification (or within the reporting period, for the loans shown in in the year-ago period, as the case may be).

(2) For the three months ended September 30, 2023, the modified loans include $12.4 million of interest rate reduction and term extension loan modifications and $2.1 million of interest rate reduction only loan modifications. For the three months ended September 30, 2022, the modified loans include $8.5 million of interest rate reduction and term extension loan modifications and $1.0 million of interest rate reduction only loan modifications.

(3) For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the modified loans include $23.0 million of interest rate reduction and term extension loan modifications and $3.4 million of interest rate reduction only loan modifications. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the modified loans include $11.4 million of interest rate reduction and term extension loan modifications and $1.2 million of interest rate reduction only loan modifications.

(4) Represents the unpaid principal balance at the time of payment default.

(5) Represents the unpaid principal balance at the time of charge off.

We closely monitor performance of the loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty that are modified to understand the effectiveness of the modification efforts. The following tables depict the performance of loans that have been modified during the respective reporting periods (first nine months of 2023 and full year 2022, respectively).

	Payment Status (Amortized Cost Basis)
At September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	Deferment(1)		Current(2)(3)		30-59 Days Past Due(2)(3)		60-89 Days Past Due(2)(3)		90 Days or Greater  Past Due(2)(3)		Total
Loan Type:
Private Education Loans	$	5,140	$	266,090	$	10,137	$	5,565	$	6,970	$	293,902
Total	$	5,140	$	266,090	$	10,137	$	5,565	$	6,970	$	293,902

	Payment Status (Amortized Cost Basis)
At December 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	Deferment(1)		Current(2)(3)		30-59 Days Past Due(2)(3)		60-89 Days Past Due(2)(3)		90 Days or Greater  Past Due(2)(3)		Total
Loan Type:
Private Education Loans	$	7,698	$	289,134	$	13,859	$	8,809	$	6,616	$	326,116
Total	$	7,698	$	289,134	$	13,859	$	8,809	$	6,616	$	326,116

(1) Deferment includes customers who have returned to school or are engaged in other permitted educational activities and are not yet required to make full principal and interest payments on the loans (e.g., residency periods for medical students or a grace period for bar exam preparation). Deferment also includes loans that have entered a forbearance after the loan modification was granted.

(2) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making full principal and interest payments after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

(3) The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.

Private Education Loans Held for Investment - Key Credit Quality Indicators

FFELP Loans are at least 97 percent guaranteed as to their principal and accrued interest in the event of default; therefore, there are no key credit quality indicators associated with FFELP Loans.

For Private Education Loans, the key credit quality indicators are FICO scores, the existence of a cosigner, the loan status, and loan seasoning. The FICO scores are assessed at original approval and periodically refreshed/updated through the loan’s term. The following tables highlight the gross principal balance of our Private Education Loan portfolio (held for investment), by year of origination approval, stratified by key credit quality indicators.

As of September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	Private Education Loans Held for Investment - Credit Quality Indicators
Year of Origination Approval	2023(1)		2022(1)		2021(1)		2020(1)		2019(1)		2018 and Prior(1)		Total(1)		% of Balance
Cosigners:
With cosigner	$	3,262,857	$	4,710,256	$	2,894,829	$	1,686,843	$	1,480,270	$	4,860,436	$	18,895,491	87	%
Without cosigner	467,628		711,282		468,874		304,590		268,797		564,205		2,785,376		13
Total	$	3,730,485	$	5,421,538	$	3,363,703	$	1,991,433	$	1,749,067	$	5,424,641	$	21,680,867	100	%
FICO at Origination Approval(2):
Less than 670	$	278,407	$	418,966	$	236,903	$	127,660	$	146,011	$	481,014	$	1,688,961	8	%
670-699	530,255		752,093		455,895		278,207		275,056		929,262		3,220,768		15
700-749	1,150,877		1,690,871		1,067,755		645,549		584,322		1,830,206		6,969,580		32
Greater than or equal to 750	1,770,946		2,559,608		1,603,150		940,017		743,678		2,184,159		9,801,558		45
Total	$	3,730,485	$	5,421,538	$	3,363,703	$	1,991,433	$	1,749,067	$	5,424,641	$	21,680,867	100	%
FICO Refreshed(2)(3):
Less than 670	$	353,491	$	605,817	$	387,375	$	218,261	$	214,908	$	807,495	$	2,587,347	12	%
670-699	528,071		733,990		422,792		211,964		187,283		607,515		2,691,615		12
700-749	1,144,110		1,602,766		980,859		553,576		486,058		1,469,715		6,237,084		29
Greater than or equal to 750	1,704,813		2,478,965		1,572,677		1,007,632		860,818		2,539,916		10,164,821		47
Total	$	3,730,485	$	5,421,538	$	3,363,703	$	1,991,433	$	1,749,067	$	5,424,641	$	21,680,867	100	%
Seasoning(4):
1-12 payments	$	2,016,589	$	2,187,876	$	414,530	$	232,959	$	201,057	$	379,107	$	5,432,118	25	%
13-24 payments	—		1,114,686		1,380,064		183,885		186,471		459,239		3,324,345		15
25-36 payments	—		—		643,381		753,256		120,744		487,209		2,004,590		9
37-48 payments	—		—		—		410,918		696,040		471,110		1,578,068		7
More than 48 payments	—		—		—		40		263,792		3,116,035		3,379,867		16
Not yet in repayment	1,713,896		2,118,976		925,728		410,375		280,963		511,941		5,961,879		28
Total	$	3,730,485	$	5,421,538	$	3,363,703	$	1,991,433	$	1,749,067	$	5,424,641	$	21,680,867	100	%
2023 Current period(5) gross charge-offs	$	(614)	$	(17,832)	$	(52,861)	$	(38,251)	$	(39,710)	$	(165,232)	$	(314,500)
2023 Current period(5) recoveries	76		1,278		4,802		3,522		3,923		19,784		33,385
2023 Current period(5) net charge-offs	$	(538)	$	(16,554)	$	(48,059)	$	(34,729)	$	(35,787)	$	(145,448)	$	(281,115)
Total accrued interest by origination vintage	$	94,292	$	407,226	$	328,076	$	186,063	$	150,655	$	262,913	$	1,429,225
(1)Balance represents gross Private Education Loans held for investment. (2)Represents the higher credit score of the cosigner or the borrower. (3)Represents the FICO score updated as of the third-quarter 2023. (4)Number of months in active repayment (whether interest only payment, fixed payment, or full principal and interest payment status) for which a scheduled payment was due. (5)Current period refers to period from January 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023.

As of December 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	Private Education Loans Held for Investment - Credit Quality Indicators
Year of Origination Approval	2022(1)		2021(1)		2020(1)		2019(1)		2018(1)		2017 and Prior(1)		Total(1)		% of Balance
Cosigners:
With cosigner	$	3,656,111	$	3,941,921	$	2,208,033	$	1,853,619	$	1,402,828	$	4,626,491	$	17,689,003	87	%
Without cosigner	620,422		605,238		376,589		319,041		213,014		480,381		2,614,685		13
Total	$	4,276,533	$	4,547,159	$	2,584,622	$	2,172,660	$	1,615,842	$	5,106,872	$	20,303,688	100	%
FICO at Origination Approval(2):
Less than 670	$	326,991	$	307,646	$	158,606	$	177,098	$	143,674	$	439,587	$	1,553,602	8	%
670-699	593,216		611,649		356,541		339,685		259,142		878,426		3,038,659		15
700-749	1,336,765		1,440,510		834,819		719,777		537,680		1,722,068		6,591,619		32
Greater than or equal to 750	2,019,561		2,187,354		1,234,656		936,100		675,346		2,066,791		9,119,808		45
Total	$	4,276,533	$	4,547,159	$	2,584,622	$	2,172,660	$	1,615,842	$	5,106,872	$	20,303,688	100	%
FICO Refreshed(2)(3):
Less than 670	$	443,868	$	461,589	$	242,310	$	237,105	$	204,894	$	773,324	$	2,363,090	12	%
670-699	594,118		579,784		284,244		240,999		173,754		564,344		2,437,243		12
700-749	1,322,558		1,378,910		748,368		628,060		449,701		1,388,090		5,915,687		29
Greater than or equal to 750	1,915,989		2,126,876		1,309,700		1,066,496		787,493		2,381,114		9,587,668		47
Total	$	4,276,533	$	4,547,159	$	2,584,622	$	2,172,660	$	1,615,842	$	5,106,872	$	20,303,688	100	%
Seasoning(4):
1-12 payments	$	2,448,884	$	636,073	$	384,334	$	330,316	$	235,878	$	424,636	$	4,460,121	22	%
13-24 payments	—		2,477,764		255,510		195,753		166,045		455,782		3,550,854		18
25-36 payments	—		—		1,366,398		257,534		126,223		489,157		2,239,312		11
37-48 payments	—		—		127		1,008,418		224,805		451,102		1,684,452		8
More than 48 payments	—		—		—		—		643,611		2,830,285		3,473,896		17
Not yet in repayment	1,827,649		1,433,322		578,253		380,639		219,280		455,910		4,895,053		24
Total	$	4,276,533	$	4,547,159	$	2,584,622	$	2,172,660	$	1,615,842	$	5,106,872	$	20,303,688	100	%
2022 Current period(5) gross charge-offs	$	(2,224)	$	(25,698)	$	(48,271)	$	(62,071)	$	(57,505)	$	(231,647)	$	(427,416)
2022 Current period(5) recoveries	124		1,841		4,170		5,556		5,407		24,639		41,737
2022 Current period(5) net charge-offs	$	(2,100)	$	(23,857)	$	(44,101)	$	(56,515)	$	(52,098)	$	(207,008)	$	(385,679)
Total accrued interest by origination vintage	$	142,915	$	315,308	$	207,858	$	184,832	$	116,211	$	210,438	$	1,177,562

(1)Balance represents gross Private Education Loans held for investment.

(2)Represents the higher credit score of the cosigner or the borrower.

(3)Represents the FICO score updated as of the fourth-quarter 2022.

(4)Number of months in active repayment (whether interest only payment, fixed payment, or full principal and interest payment status) for which a scheduled payment was due.

(5)Current period refers to January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022.

Delinquencies - Private Education Loans Held for Investment

The following tables provide information regarding the loan status of our Private Education Loans held for investment, by year of origination approval. Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the following tables, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

	Private Education Loans Held for Investment - Delinquencies by Origination Vintage
As of September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	2023			2022			2021			2020			2019			2018 and Prior			Total
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)	$	1,713,896		$	2,118,976		$	925,728		$	410,375		$	280,963		$	511,941		$	5,961,879
Loans in forbearance(2)	4,584			28,747			29,129			21,854			24,555			104,974			213,843
Loans in repayment:
Loans current	2,005,363			3,218,301			2,327,629			1,500,801			1,382,249			4,504,119			14,938,462
Loans delinquent 30-59 days(3)	4,272			32,282			41,945			28,901			30,468			145,753			283,621
Loans delinquent 60-89 days(3)	1,788			15,013			22,612			16,566			16,311			81,159			153,449
Loans 90 days or greater past due(3)	582			8,219			16,660			12,936			14,521			76,695			129,613
Total Private Education Loans in repayment	2,012,005			3,273,815			2,408,846			1,559,204			1,443,549			4,807,726			15,505,145
Total Private Education Loans, gross	3,730,485			5,421,538			3,363,703			1,991,433			1,749,067			5,424,641			21,680,867
Private Education Loans deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)	26,268			21,367			11,090			6,555			3,993			9,400			78,673
Total Private Education Loans	3,756,753			5,442,905			3,374,793			1,997,988			1,753,060			5,434,041			21,759,540
Private Education Loans allowance for losses	(220,113)			(361,902)			(227,021)			(134,487)			(111,946)			(355,763)			(1,411,232)
Private Education Loans, net	$	3,536,640		$	5,081,003		$	3,147,772		$	1,863,501		$	1,641,114		$	5,078,278		$	20,348,308
Percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment	53.9		%	60.4		%	71.6		%	78.3		%	82.5		%	88.6		%	71.5		%
Delinquent Private Education Loans in repayment as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment	0.3		%	1.7		%	3.4		%	3.7		%	4.2		%	6.3		%	3.7		%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance	0.2		%	0.9		%	1.2		%	1.4		%	1.7		%	2.1		%	1.4		%

(1)Deferment includes customers who have returned to school or are engaged in other permitted educational activities and are not yet required to make payments on the loans (e.g., residency periods for medical students or a grace period for bar exam preparation).

(2)Loans for customers who have requested extension of grace period generally during employment transition or who have temporarily ceased making full payments due to hardship or other factors, consistent with established loan program servicing policies and procedures.

(3)The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.

	Private Education Loans Held for Investment - Delinquencies by Origination Vintage
As of December 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	2022			2021			2020			2019			2018			2017 and Prior			Total
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)	$	1,827,649		$	1,433,322		$	578,253		$	380,639		$	219,280		$	455,910		$	4,895,053
Loans in forbearance(2)	16,046			64,360			38,613			37,802			30,583			91,681			279,085
Loans in repayment:
Loans current	2,411,441			2,991,839			1,907,574			1,683,986			1,301,809			4,262,698			14,559,347
Loans delinquent 30-59 days(3)	14,164			30,740			30,877			35,213			31,366			144,948			287,308
Loans delinquent 60-89 days(3)	5,523			15,056			14,433			18,201			16,697			77,595			147,505
Loans 90 days or greater past due(3)	1,710			11,842			14,872			16,819			16,107			74,040			135,390
Total Private Education Loans in repayment	2,432,838			3,049,477			1,967,756			1,754,219			1,365,979			4,559,281			15,129,550
Total Private Education Loans, gross	4,276,533			4,547,159			2,584,622			2,172,660			1,615,842			5,106,872			20,303,688
Private Education Loans deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)	26,714			15,933			9,062			5,496			3,575			8,876			69,656
Total Private Education Loans	4,303,247			4,563,092			2,593,684			2,178,156			1,619,417			5,115,748			20,373,344
Private Education Loans allowance for losses	(304,943)			(323,506)			(181,915)			(141,424)			(101,023)			(300,820)			(1,353,631)
Private Education Loans, net	$	3,998,304		$	4,239,586		$	2,411,769		$	2,036,732		$	1,518,394		$	4,814,928		$	19,019,713
Percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment	56.9		%	67.1		%	76.1		%	80.7		%	84.5		%	89.3		%	74.5		%
Delinquent Private Education Loans in repayment as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment	0.9		%	1.9		%	3.1		%	4.0		%	4.7		%	6.5		%	3.8		%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance	0.7		%	2.1		%	1.9		%	2.1		%	2.2		%	2.0		%	1.8		%

(1)Deferment includes customers who have returned to school or are engaged in other permitted educational activities and are not yet required to make payments on the loans (e.g., residency periods for medical students or a grace period for bar exam preparation).

(2)Loans for customers who have requested extension of grace period generally during employment transition or who have temporarily ceased making full payments due to hardship or other factors, consistent with established loan program servicing policies and procedures.

(3)The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.

 Accrued Interest Receivable

The following table provides information regarding accrued interest receivable on our Private Education Loans. The table also discloses the amount of accrued interest on loans 90 days or greater past due as compared to our allowance for uncollectible interest on loans making full interest payments. The majority of the total accrued interest receivable represents accrued interest on deferred loans where no payments are due while the borrower is in school and fixed-pay loans where the borrower makes a $25 monthly payment that is smaller than the interest accruing on the loan in that month. The accrued interest on these loans will be capitalized to the balance of the loans when the borrower exits the grace period after separation from school, and the current expected credit losses on accrued interest that will be capitalized is included in our allowance for credit losses.

	Private Education Loans
	Accrued Interest Receivable
(Dollars in thousands)	Total Interest Receivable		90 Days or Greater Past Due		Allowance for Uncollectible Interest(1)(2)
September 30, 2023	$	1,429,225	$	6,756	$	8,516
December 31, 2022	$	1,177,562	$	6,609	$	8,121

(1)The allowance for uncollectible interest at September 30, 2023 represents the expected losses related to the portion of accrued interest receivable on those loans that are in repayment ($146 million of accrued interest receivable) that is not expected to be capitalized. The accrued interest receivable that is expected to be capitalized ($1.3 billion) is reserved in the allowance for credit losses.

(2)The allowance for uncollectible interest at December 31, 2022 represents the expected losses related to the portion of accrued interest receivable on those loans in repayment ($240 million of accrued interest receivable) that was not expected to be capitalized. The accrued interest receivable that was expected to be capitalized ($937 million) was reserved in the allowance for credit losses.

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Unfunded Loan Commitments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Credit Loss [Abstract]

Unfunded Loan Commitments

Unfunded Loan Commitments

When we approve a Private Education Loan at the beginning of an academic year, that approval may cover the borrowing for the entire academic year. As such, we do not always disburse the full amount of the loan at the time of such approval, but instead have a commitment to fund a portion of the loan at a later date (usually at the start of the second semester or subsequent trimesters). We estimate expected credit losses over the contractual period in which we are exposed to credit risk via a contractual obligation to extend credit, unless that obligation is unconditionally cancellable by us. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies - Allowance for Credit Losses, — Off-Balance Sheet Exposure for Contractual Loan Commitments” in our 2022 Form 10-K for additional information.

At September 30, 2023, we had $2.4 billion of outstanding contractual loan commitments which we expect to fund during the remainder of the 2023/2024 academic year. The tables below summarize the activity in the allowance recorded to cover lifetime expected credit losses on the unfunded commitments, which is recorded in “Other Liabilities” on the consolidated balance sheets, as well as the activity in the unfunded commitments balance.

	2023				2022
Three Months Ended September 30, (dollars in thousands)	Allowance		Unfunded Commitments		Allowance		Unfunded Commitments
Beginning Balance	$	62,600	$	1,562,856	$	113,525	$	1,413,840
Provision/New commitments - net(1)	115,605		3,258,234		192,559		3,148,434
Other provision items	37,329		—		(29,913)		—
Transfer - funded loans(2)	(101,687)		(2,451,203)		(168,377)		(2,345,348)
Ending Balance	$	113,847	$	2,369,887	$	107,794	$	2,216,926
	2023				2022
Nine Months Ended September 30, (dollars in thousands)	Allowance		Unfunded Commitments		Allowance		Unfunded Commitments
Beginning Balance	$	124,924	$	1,995,808	$	72,713	$	1,776,976
Provision/New commitments - net(1)	220,303		5,912,418		339,705		5,584,129
Other provision items	47,008		—		(1,033)		—
Transfer - funded loans(2)	(278,388)		(5,538,339)		(303,591)		(5,144,179)
Ending Balance	$	113,847	$	2,369,887	$	107,794	$	2,216,926

(1)     Net of expirations of commitments unused.

(2)     When a loan commitment is funded, its related liability for credit losses (which originally was recorded as a provision for unfunded commitments) is transferred to the allowance for credit losses.

The unfunded commitments disclosed above represent the total amount of outstanding unfunded commitments at each period end. However, historically not all of these commitments are funded prior to the expiration of the commitments. We estimate the amount of commitments expected to be funded in calculating the reserve for unfunded commitments. The amount we expect to fund and use in our calculation of the reserve for unfunded commitments will change period to period based upon the loan characteristics of the underlying commitments.

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Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets

Goodwill

We recorded as goodwill the excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of identifiable assets and liabilities acquired as part of the acquisition of the assets primarily used or held for use of Epic Research Education Services, LLC, which does business as Nitro College (“Nitro”), in the first quarter of 2022 and the acquisition of the key assets of Scholly in the third quarter of 2023. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested periodically for impairment. We test goodwill for impairment annually in the fourth quarter of the year, or more frequently if we believe that indicators of impairment exist. At September 30, 2023, we had $56 million in total goodwill. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies — Business Combination,” for additional details on our acquisition of Scholly and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies — Business Combination” in our 2022 Form 10-K for additional details on our acquisition of Nitro.

Acquired Intangible Assets

Our intangible assets include acquired tradename and trademarks, customer relationships, developed technology, and partner relationships. We review our long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable.

Acquired intangible assets include the following:

		September 30, 2023						December 31, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Weighted Average Useful Life (in years)(1)	Cost Basis		Accumulated Amortization		Net		Cost Basis		Accumulated Amortization		Net
Tradename and trademarks(2)	9.5	$	74,510	$	(11,093)	$	63,417	$	68,470	$	(5,706)	$	62,764
Customer relationships(2)	4.6	8,920		(3,268)		5,652		5,670		(1,723)		3,947
Developed technology(2)	3.5	2,590		(720)		1,870		1,260		(350)		910
Partner relationships	2.5	730		(49)		681		—		—		—
Total acquired intangible assets		$	86,750	$	(15,130)	$	71,620	$	75,400	$	(7,779)	$	67,621

(1)     The weighted average useful life of acquired intangible assets is at acquisition; 9.5 years is the weighted average useful life of the acquired intangible assets related to the Nitro acquisition and 3.9 years is related to the Scholly acquisition.

(2) Tradename and trademarks, customer relationships, and developed technology at September 30, 2023 include $6 million, $3 million, and $1 million, respectively related to the Scholly acquisition.

We recorded amortization of acquired intangible assets totaling approximately $3 million and $7 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, and approximately $2 million and $5 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively. We will continue to amortize our intangible assets with definite useful lives over their remaining estimated useful lives. We estimate amortization expense associated with these intangible assets will be approximately $10 million, $12 million, $11 million, $10 million, and $8 million in 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively.

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Deposits

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Banking and Thrift, Other Disclosure [Abstract]

Deposits

Deposits

The following table summarizes total deposits at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

	September 30,		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023		2022
Deposits - interest-bearing	$	21,550,108	$	21,446,647
Deposits - non-interest-bearing	637		1,424
Total deposits	$	21,550,745	$	21,448,071

Our total deposits of $21.6 billion were comprised of $10.4 billion in brokered deposits and $11.2 billion in retail and other deposits at September 30, 2023, compared to total deposits of $21.4 billion, which were comprised of $9.9 billion in brokered deposits and $11.5 billion in retail and other deposits, at December 31, 2022.

Interest-bearing deposits as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 consisted of retail and brokered non-maturity savings deposits, retail and brokered non-maturity money market deposits (“MMDAs”), and retail and brokered certificates of deposit (“CDs”). Interest-bearing deposits also include deposits from Educational 529 and Health Savings plans that diversify our funding sources and that we consider to be core. These and other large omnibus accounts, aggregating the deposits of many individual depositors, represented $7.5 billion and $8.0 billion of our deposit total as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

Some of our deposit products are serviced by third-party providers. Placement fees associated with the brokered CDs are amortized into interest expense using the effective interest rate method. We recognized placement fee expense of $3 million and $3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and placement fee expense of $9 million and $10 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Fees paid to third-party brokers related to brokered CDs were $4 million and $4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and fees paid to third-party brokers related to brokered CDs were $7 million and $8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Interest bearing deposits at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 are summarized as follows:

 

	September 30, 2023				December 31, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Amount		Qtr.-End Weighted Average Stated Rate(1)		Amount		Year-End Weighted Average Stated Rate(1)
Money market	$	10,241,232	4.75	%	$	10,977,242	3.75	%
Savings	930,590		4.35		982,586		3.15
Certificates of deposit	10,378,286		3.58		9,486,819		2.57
Deposits - interest bearing	$	21,550,108			$	21,446,647

    (1) Includes the effect of interest rate swaps in effective hedge relationships.

Certificates of deposit remaining maturities are summarized as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)	September 30, 2023		December 31, 2022
One year or less	$	3,436,186	$	3,224,573
After one year to two years	4,079,381		2,954,257
After two years to three years	2,359,064		1,904,919
After three years to four years	248,301		1,031,881
After four years to five years	255,354		324,375
After five years	—		46,814
Total	$	10,378,286	$	9,486,819

As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were $494 million and $615 million, respectively, of deposits exceeding Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance limits. Accrued interest on deposits was $73 million and $59 million at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The omnibus accounts are structured in such a way that entitles the individual depositor pass-through deposit insurance (subject to FDIC rules and limitations), and the majority of these deposits have contractual minimum balances and maturity terms.

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Borrowings

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Borrowings

Borrowings

Outstanding borrowings consist of unsecured debt and secured borrowings issued through our term asset-backed securitization (“ABS”) program and our Private Education Loan multi-lender secured borrowing facility (the “Secured Borrowing Facility”). For additional information regarding our borrowings, see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 12, “Borrowings” in our 2022 Form 10-K. The following table summarizes our borrowings at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

	September 30, 2023						December 31, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Short-Term		Long-Term		Total		Short-Term		Long-Term		Total
Unsecured borrowings:
Unsecured debt (fixed-rate)	$	—	$	991,396	$	991,396	$	—	$	988,986	$	988,986
Total unsecured borrowings	—		991,396		991,396		—		988,986		988,986
Secured borrowings:
Private Education Loan term securitizations:
Fixed-rate	—		3,807,493		3,807,493		—		3,462,363		3,462,363
Variable-rate	—		716,643		716,643		—		783,765		783,765
Total Private Education Loan term securitizations	—		4,524,136		4,524,136		—		4,246,128		4,246,128
Secured Borrowing Facility	—		—		—		—		—		—
Total secured borrowings	—		4,524,136		4,524,136		—		4,246,128		4,246,128
Total	$	—	$	5,515,532	$	5,515,532	$	—	$	5,235,114	$	5,235,114

Short-term Borrowings

On May 16, 2023, we amended our Secured Borrowing Facility to extend the maturity of the facility. The amount that can be borrowed under the facility is $2 billion. We hold 100 percent of the residual interest in the Secured Borrowing Facility trust. Under the Secured Borrowing Facility, we incur financing costs on unused borrowing capacity and on outstanding advances. The amended Secured Borrowing Facility extended the revolving period, during which we may borrow, repay, and reborrow funds, until May 15, 2024. The scheduled amortization period, during which amounts outstanding under the Secured Borrowing Facility must be repaid, ends on May 15, 2025 (or earlier, if certain material adverse events occur). At both September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, there were no secured borrowings outstanding under the Secured Borrowing Facility.

Long-term Borrowings

Secured Financings

2023 Transactions

On March 15, 2023, we executed our $579 million SMB Private Education Loan Trust 2023-A term ABS transaction, which was accounted for as a secured financing. We sold $579 million of notes to third parties and retained a 100 percent interest in the residual certificates issued in the securitization, raising approximately $572 million of gross proceeds. The Class A and Class B notes had a weighted average life of 5.06 years and priced at a weighted average SOFR equivalent cost of SOFR plus 1.53 percent. On September 30, 2023, $609 million of our Private Education Loans, including $563 million of principal and $46 million in capitalized interest, were encumbered because of this transaction.

On August 16, 2023, we executed our $568 million SMB Private Education Loan Trust 2023-C term ABS transaction, which was accounted for as a secured financing. We sold $568 million of notes to third parties and retained a 100 percent interest in the residual certificates issued in the securitization, raising approximately $568 million of gross proceeds. The Class A and Class B notes had a weighted average life of 4.93 years and priced at a weighted average SOFR equivalent cost of SOFR plus 1.69 percent. On September 30, 2023, $637 million of our Private Education Loans, including $590 million of principal and $47 million in capitalized interest, were encumbered because of this transaction.

Secured Financings at Issuance

The following table summarizes our secured financings issued in the year ended December 31, 2022 and in the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

Issue	Date Issued	Total Issued		Weighted Average Cost of Funds(1)	Weighted Average Life  (in years)
(Dollars in thousands)
Private Education Loans:
2022-C	August 2022	$	575,000	SOFR plus 1.76%	4.69
Total notes issued in 2022		$	575,000
Total loan and accrued interest amount securitized at inception in 2022(2)		$	674,387
2023-A	March 2023	$	579,000	SOFR plus 1.53%	5.06
2023-C	August 2023	568,000		SOFR plus 1.69%	4.93
Total notes issued in 2023		$	1,147,000
Total loan and accrued interest amount securitized at inception in 2023(3)		$	1,292,507

(1) Represents SOFR equivalent cost of funds for floating and fixed-rate bonds, excluding issuance costs.

(2) At September 30, 2023, $565 million of our Private Education Loans, including $527 million of principal and $38 million in capitalized interest, were encumbered related to these transactions.

(3) At September 30, 2023, $1.24 billion of our Private Education Loans, including $1.15 billion of principal and $94 million in capitalized interest, were encumbered related to these transactions.

Consolidated Funding Vehicles

We consolidate our financing entities that are VIEs as a result of our being the entities’ primary beneficiary. As a result, these financing VIEs are accounted for as secured borrowings.

As of September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	Debt Outstanding						Carrying Amount of Assets Securing Debt Outstanding
	Short-Term		Long-Term		Total		Loans		Restricted Cash		Other Assets(1)		Total
Secured borrowings:
Private Education Loan term securitizations	$	—	$	4,524,136	$	4,524,136	$	5,776,779	$	174,757	$	358,220	$	6,309,756
Secured Borrowing Facility	—		—		—		—		—		1,767		1,767
Total	$	—	$	4,524,136	$	4,524,136	$	5,776,779	$	174,757	$	359,987	$	6,311,523

As of December 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	Debt Outstanding						Carrying Amount of Assets Securing Debt Outstanding
	Short-Term		Long-Term		Total		Loans		Restricted Cash		Other Assets(1)		Total
Secured borrowings:
Private Education Loan term securitizations	$	—	$	4,246,128	$	4,246,128	$	5,433,602	$	156,719	$	286,093	$	5,876,414
Secured Borrowing Facility	—		—		—		—		—		1,066		1,066
Total	$	—	$	4,246,128	$	4,246,128	$	5,433,602	$	156,719	$	287,159	$	5,877,480

(1) Other assets primarily represent accrued interest receivable.

Unconsolidated VIEs

Private Education Loan Securitizations

Unconsolidated VIEs include variable interests that we hold in certain securitization trusts created by the sale of our Private Education Loans to unaffiliated third parties. We remained the servicer of these loans pursuant to applicable servicing agreements executed in connection with the sales, and we are also the administrator of these trusts. Additionally, we own five percent of the securities issued by the trusts to meet risk retention requirements. We were not required to consolidate these entities because the fees we receive as the servicer/administrator are commensurate with our responsibility, so the fees are not considered a variable interest. Additionally, the five percent vertical interest we maintain does not absorb more than an insignificant amount of the VIE’s expected losses, nor do we receive more than an insignificant amount of the VIE’s expected residual returns.

2023-B Transaction

On May 24, 2023, we closed an SMB Private Education Loan Trust 2023-B term ABS transaction (the “2023-B Transaction”), in which an unaffiliated third party sold to the trust approximately $2 billion of Private Education Loans that the third-party seller previously purchased from us on May 3, 2023. Sallie Mae Bank sponsored the 2023-B Transaction, is the servicer and administrator, and was the seller of an additional $105 million of Private Education Loans into the trust. The sale of such additional loans qualified for sale treatment and removed these loans from our balance sheet on the settlement date of the 2023-B Transaction and we recorded a $5 million gain on sale associated with this transaction. In connection with the 2023-B Transaction settlement, we retained a five percent vertical risk retention interest (i.e., five percent of each class issued in the securitization). We classified those vertical risk retention interests related to the 2023-B Transaction as available-for-sale investments, except for the interest in the residual class, which we classified as a trading investment recorded at fair value with changes recorded through earnings.

The table below provides a summary of our exposure related to our unconsolidated VIEs.

	September 30, 2023						December 31, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Debt Interests(1)		Equity Interests(2)		Total Exposure		Debt Interests(1)		Equity Interests(2)		Total Exposure
Private Education Loan term securitizations	$	389,006	$	52,561	$	441,567	$	329,188	$	50,786	$	379,974

(1) Vertical risk retention interest classified as available-for-sale investment.

(2) Vertical risk retention interest classified as trading investment.

Other Borrowing Sources

We maintain discretionary uncommitted Federal Funds lines of credit with various correspondent banks, which totaled $125 million at September 30, 2023. The interest rate we are charged on these lines of credit is priced at Fed Funds plus a spread at the time of borrowing and is payable daily. We did not utilize these lines of credit in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 or in the year ended December 31, 2022.

We established an account at the FRB to meet eligibility requirements for access to the Primary Credit borrowing facility at the FRB’s Discount Window (the “Window”). The Primary Credit borrowing facility is a lending program available to depository institutions that are in generally sound financial condition. All borrowings at the Window must be fully collateralized. We can pledge asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, as well as FFELP Loans and Private Education Loans, to the FRB as collateral for borrowings at the Window. Generally, collateral value is assigned based on the estimated fair value of the pledged assets. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the value of our pledged collateral at the FRB totaled $1.6 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively. The interest rate charged to us is the discount rate set by the FRB. We did not utilize this facility in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 or in the year ended December 31, 2022.

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Derivative Financial Instruments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivative Financial Instruments

Risk Management Strategy

We maintain an overall interest rate risk management strategy that incorporates the use of derivative instruments to reduce the economic effect of interest rate changes. Our goal is to manage interest rate sensitivity by modifying the repricing frequency and underlying index characteristics of certain balance sheet assets or liabilities so any adverse impacts related to movements in interest rates are managed within low to moderate limits. As a result of interest rate fluctuations, hedged balance sheet positions will appreciate or depreciate in market value or create variability in cash flows. Income or loss on the derivative instruments linked to the hedged item will generally offset the effect of this unrealized appreciation or depreciation or volatility in cash flows for the period the item is being hedged. We view this strategy as a prudent management of interest rate risk. Please refer to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 13, “Derivative Financial Instruments” in our 2022 Form 10-K for a full discussion of our risk management strategy.

Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) requires all standardized derivatives, including most interest rate swaps, to be submitted for clearing to central counterparties to reduce counterparty risk. Two of the central counterparties we use are the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME”) and the London Clearing House (“LCH”). All variation margin payments on derivatives cleared through the CME and LCH are accounted for as legal settlement. As of September 30, 2023, $1.8 billion notional of our derivative contracts were cleared on the CME and $0.1 billion were cleared on the LCH. The derivative contracts cleared through the CME and LCH represent 91.7 percent and 8.3 percent, respectively, of our total notional derivative contracts of $1.9 billion at September 30, 2023.

For derivatives cleared through the CME and LCH, the net gain (loss) position includes the variation margin amounts as settlement of the derivative and not collateral against the fair value of the derivative. The amount of variation margin included as settlement as of September 30, 2023 was $(50) million and $(6) million for the CME and LCH, respectively. Changes in fair value for derivatives not designated as hedging instruments are presented as realized gains (losses).

Our exposure is limited to the value of the derivative contracts in a gain position less any collateral held and plus any collateral posted. When there is a net negative exposure, we consider our exposure to the counterparty to be zero. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we had a net positive exposure (derivative gain/loss positions to us, less collateral held by us and plus collateral posted with counterparties) related to derivatives of $11 million and $12 million, respectively.

Summary of Derivative Financial Statement Impact

The following tables summarize the fair values and notional amounts of all derivative instruments at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, and their impact on earnings and other comprehensive income for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022. Please refer to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 13, “Derivative Financial Instruments” in our 2022 Form 10-K for a full discussion of cash flow hedges, fair value hedges, and trading activities.

Impact of Derivatives on the Consolidated Balance Sheets
		Cash Flow Hedges				Fair Value Hedges				Trading				Total
		September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2023		2022		2023		2022		2023		2022		2023		2022
Fair Values(1)	Hedged Risk Exposure
Derivative Assets:(2)
Interest rate swaps	Interest rate	$	—	$	972	$	17	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	17	$	972
Derivative Liabilities:(2)
Interest rate swaps	Interest rate	(268)		—		—		(567)		—		—		(268)		(567)
Total net derivatives		$	(268)	$	972	$	17	$	(567)	$	—	$	—	$	(251)	$	405

(1)    Fair values reported include variation margin as legal settlement of the derivative contract. Assets and liabilities are presented without consideration of master netting agreements. Derivatives are carried on the balance sheet based on net position by counterparty under master netting agreements and classified in other assets or other liabilities depending on whether in a net positive or negative position.

(2)    The following table reconciles gross positions with the impact of master netting agreements to the balance sheet classification:

	Other Assets				Other Liabilities
	September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Gross position(1)	$	17	$	972	$	(268)	$	(567)
Impact of master netting agreement	(17)		(567)		17		567
Derivative values with impact of master netting agreements (as carried on balance sheet)	—		405		(251)		—
Cash collateral pledged(2)	11,087		11,162		—		—
Net position	$	11,087	$	11,567	$	(251)	$	—

(1)Gross position amounts include accrued interest and variation margin as legal settlement of the derivative contract.

(2)Cash collateral pledged excludes amounts that represent legal settlement of the derivative contracts.

Notional Values
	Cash Flow				Fair Value				Trading				Total
(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
	2023		2022		2023		2022		2023		2022		2023		2022
Interest rate swaps	$	1,229,011	$	1,314,660	$	702,309	$	1,528,186	$	—	$	—	$	1,931,320	$	2,842,846
Net total notional	$	1,229,011	$	1,314,660	$	702,309	$	1,528,186	$	—	$	—	$	1,931,320	$	2,842,846

As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the following amounts were recorded on the consolidated balance sheet related to cumulative basis adjustments for fair value hedges:

(Dollars in thousands)	Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets/(Liabilities)				Cumulative Amount of Fair Value Hedging Adjustment Included in the Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets/(Liabilities)
Line Item in the Balance Sheet in Which the Hedged Item is Included:	September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Deposits	$	(681,292)	$	(1,494,087)	$	20,755	$	31,259

Impact of Derivatives on the Consolidated Statements of Income
	Three Months Ended   September 30,				Nine Months Ended   September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Fair Value Hedges
Interest rate swaps:
Interest recognized on derivatives	$	(6,701)	$	(1,783)	$	(19,086)	$	24,418
Hedged items recorded in interest expense	(4,346)		14,143		(10,504)		86,899
Derivatives recorded in interest expense	4,265		(14,425)		10,596		(86,896)
Total	$	(6,782)	$	(2,065)	$	(18,994)	$	24,421
Cash Flow Hedges
Interest rate swaps:
Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into interest expense	$	12,813	$	2,771	$	34,917	$	(4,033)
Total	$	12,813	$	2,771	$	34,917	$	(4,033)
Trading
Interest rate swaps:
Change in fair value of future interest payments recorded in earnings	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	(248)
Total	—		—		—		(248)
Total	$	6,031	$	706	$	15,923	$	20,140

Impact of Derivatives on the Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)	$	7,046	$	32,594	$	21,726	$	94,215
Less: amount of gain (loss) reclassified in interest expense	12,813		2,771		34,917		(4,033)
Total change in other comprehensive income (loss) for unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives, before income tax (expense) benefit	$	(5,767)	$	29,823	$	(13,191)	$	98,248

Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income related to derivatives will be reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on our variable-rate deposits. During the next 12 months, we estimate that $46 million will be reclassified as a decrease to interest expense.

Cash Collateral

As of September 30, 2023, cash collateral held and pledged excludes amounts that represent legal settlement of the derivative contracts held with the CME and LCH. There was no cash collateral held by us related to derivative exposure between us and our derivatives counterparties at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Collateral held is recorded in “Other Liabilities” on the consolidated balance sheets. Cash collateral pledged by us related to derivative exposure between us and our derivatives counterparties was $11 million and $11 million at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Collateral pledged is recorded in “Other interest-earning assets” on the consolidated balance sheets.

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Stockholders' Equity

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Equity [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity

Stockholders’ Equity

The following table summarizes our common share repurchases and issuances.

 

	Three Months Ended   September 30,				Nine Months Ended   September 30,
(Shares and per share amounts in actuals)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Common stock repurchased under repurchase programs(1)	—		1,191,544		16,389,696		30,721,944
Average purchase price per share(2)	$	—	$	14.14	$	15.71	$	18.00
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans(3)	10,687		448		1,088,330		1,131,351
Average purchase price per share	$	16.14	$	13.99	$	15.45	$	18.36
Common shares issued(4)	200,886		4,682		3,073,639		3,093,392

(1) Common shares purchased under our share repurchase programs. We have utilized all capacity under our 2021 Share Repurchase Program. There was $326 million of capacity remaining under the 2022 Share Repurchase Program at September 30, 2023.

(2) Average purchase price per share includes purchase commission costs and excise taxes.

(3) Comprised of shares withheld from stock option exercises and vesting of restricted stock for employees’ tax withholding obligations and shares tendered by employees to satisfy option exercise costs.

(4)  Common shares issued under our various compensation and benefit plans.

The closing price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on September 29, 2023 was $13.62.

Common Stock Dividends

In both September 2023 and September 2022, we paid a common stock dividend of $0.11 per common share.

Share Repurchases

On January 27, 2021, we announced a share repurchase program (the “2021 Share Repurchase Program”), which was effective upon announcement and expired on January 26, 2023, and originally permitted us to repurchase shares of our common stock from time to time up to an aggregate repurchase price not to exceed $1.25 billion.

In October 2021, our Board of Directors approved a $250 million increase in the amount of common stock that may be repurchased under our 2021 Share Repurchase Program. This was in addition to the original $1.25 billion of authorization announced on January 27, 2021, for a total 2021 Share Repurchase Program authorization of $1.5 billion. Under the 2021 Share Repurchase Program, we repurchased 2.0 million shares of common stock for $38 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2022. We have utilized all capacity under the 2021 Share Repurchase Program.

On January 26, 2022, we announced a new share repurchase program (the “2022 Share Repurchase Program”), which was effective upon announcement and expires on January 25, 2024, and permits us to repurchase shares of our common stock from time to time up to an aggregate repurchase price not to exceed $1.25 billion. Under the 2022 Share Repurchase Program, we did not repurchase shares of common stock in the three months ended September 30, 2023, and we repurchased 16.4 million shares of common stock for $257 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2023. Under the 2022 Share Repurchase Program, we also repurchased 1.2 million shares of common stock for $17 million in the three months ended September 30, 2022, and 28.7 million shares of common stock for $515 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2022. We had $326 million of capacity remaining under the 2022 Share Repurchase Program at September 30, 2023.

So long as there is unexpired capacity under a given repurchase program, repurchases under the programs may occur from time to time and through a variety of methods, including tender offers, open market repurchases, repurchases effected through Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, negotiated block purchases, accelerated share repurchase programs, or other similar transactions. The timing and volume of any repurchases under the 2022 Share Repurchase Program will be subject to market conditions, and there can be no guarantee that the Company will repurchase up to the limit of the program or at all.

Share Repurchases under Rule 10b5-1 trading plansDuring the three months ended September 30, 2023, we did not repurchase shares of our common stock under any share repurchase program. During the three months ended September 30, 2022, we repurchased 1.2 million shares of our common stock at a total cost of $17 million, and during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, we repurchased 16.4 million and 30.7 million shares, respectively, of our common stock at a total cost of $257 million and $553 million, respectively, under Rule 10b5-1 trading plans authorized under our share repurchase programs.

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Earnings per Common Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings per Common Share

Earnings per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share (“EPS”) are calculated using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted EPS calculations follows.

	Three Months Ended   September 30,				Nine Months Ended   September 30,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Numerator:
Net income	$	29,365	$	75,172	$	412,948	$	546,057
Preferred stock dividends	4,642		2,531		12,979		5,563
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	$	24,723	$	72,641	$	399,969	$	540,494
Denominator:
Weighted average shares used to compute basic EPS	226,120		251,266		234,170		263,098
Effect of dilutive securities:
Dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance stock units, and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) (1)(2)	2,680		2,450		2,423		2,967
Weighted average shares used to compute diluted EPS	228,800		253,716		236,593		266,065
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.11	$	0.29	$	1.71	$	2.05
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.11	$	0.29	$	1.69	$	2.03

(1)     Includes the potential dilutive effect of additional common shares that are issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance stock units, and the outstanding commitment to issue shares under the ESPP, determined by the treasury stock method.

(2)      For the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, securities covering approximately 1 million shares and 1 million shares, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, securities covering approximately 1 million and 1 million shares, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because they were anti-dilutive.

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Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements

We use estimates of fair value in applying various accounting standards for our consolidated financial statements.

We categorize our fair value estimates based on a hierarchical framework associated with three levels of price transparency utilized in measuring financial instruments at fair value. For additional information regarding our policies for determining fair value and the hierarchical framework, see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies - Fair Value Measurement” in our 2022 Form 10-K.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, there were no significant transfers of financial instruments between levels or changes in our methodology or assumptions used to value our financial instruments.

The following table summarizes the valuation of our financial instruments that are marked-to-fair value on a recurring basis.

	Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis
	September 30, 2023								December 31, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:
Trading investments	$	—	$	—	$	52,561	$	52,561	$	—	$	—	$	55,903	$	55,903
Available-for-sale investments	—		2,315,978		—		2,315,978		—		2,342,089		—		2,342,089
Derivative instruments	—		17		—		17		—		972		—		972
Total	$	—	$	2,315,995	$	52,561	$	2,368,556	$	—	$	2,343,061	$	55,903	$	2,398,964
Liabilities:
Derivative instruments	$	—	$	(268)	$	—	$	(268)	$	—	$	(567)	$	—	$	(567)
Total	$	—	$	(268)	$	—	$	(268)	$	—	$	(567)	$	—	$	(567)

The following table summarizes the fair values of our financial assets and liabilities, including derivative financial instruments.

	September 30, 2023						December 31, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Fair Value		Carrying Value		Difference		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Difference
Earning assets:
Loans held for investment, net:
Private Education Loans	$	22,370,679	$	20,348,308	$	2,022,371	$	21,062,548	$	19,019,713	$	2,042,835
FFELP Loans	559,852		550,873		8,979		618,186		607,155		11,031
Loans held for sale	—		—		—		29,448		29,448		—
Cash and cash equivalents	3,548,225		3,548,225		—		4,616,117		4,616,117		—
Trading investments	52,561		52,561		—		55,903		55,903		—
Available-for-sale investments	2,315,978		2,315,978		—		2,342,089		2,342,089		—
Accrued interest receivable	1,498,156		1,457,323		40,833		1,237,074		1,202,059		35,015
Tax indemnification receivable	2,945		2,945		—		2,816		2,816		—
Derivative instruments	17		17		—		972		972		—
Total earning assets	$	30,348,413	$	28,276,230	$	2,072,183	$	29,965,153	$	27,876,272	$	2,088,881
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Money-market and savings accounts	$	11,060,884	$	11,171,822	$	110,938	$	11,854,849	$	11,959,828	$	104,979
Certificates of deposit	10,201,927		10,378,286		176,359		9,175,339		9,486,819		311,480
Long-term borrowings	5,133,657		5,515,532		381,875		4,813,233		5,235,114		421,881
Accrued interest payable	99,415		99,415		—		71,586		71,586		—
Derivative instruments	268		268		—		567		567		—
Total interest-bearing liabilities	$	26,496,151	$	27,165,323	$	669,172	$	25,915,574	$	26,753,914	$	838,340
Excess of net asset fair value over carrying value					$	2,741,355					$	2,927,221

Please refer to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 17, “Fair Value Measurements” in our 2022 Form 10-K for a full discussion of the methods and assumptions used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments.

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Regulatory Capital

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Banking and Thrift, Other Disclosure [Abstract]

Regulatory Capital

Regulatory Capital

Sallie Mae Bank (the “Bank”) is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the FDIC and the Utah Department of Financial Institutions. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial position. Under the FDIC’s regulations implementing the Basel III capital framework (“U.S. Basel III”) and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Bank must meet specific capital standards that involve quantitative measures of its assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Bank’s capital amounts and its classification under the prompt corrective action framework are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components of capital, risk weightings, and other factors.

The Bank is subject to the following minimum capital ratios under U.S. Basel III: a Common Equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4.5 percent, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0 percent, a Total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0 percent, and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4.0 percent. In addition, the Bank is subject to a Common Equity Tier 1 capital conservation buffer of greater than 2.5 percent. Failure to maintain the buffer will result in restrictions on the Bank’s ability to make capital distributions, including the payment of dividends, and to pay discretionary bonuses to executive officers. Including the buffer, the Bank is required to maintain the following capital ratios under U.S. Basel III in order to avoid such restrictions: a Common Equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of greater than 7.0 percent, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of greater than 8.5 percent, and a Total risk-based capital ratio of greater than 10.5 percent.

To qualify as “well capitalized” under the prompt corrective action framework for insured depository institutions, the Bank must maintain a Common Equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 6.5 percent, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 8.0 percent, a Total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10.0 percent, and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of at least 5.0 percent.

Under regulations issued by the FDIC and other federal banking agencies, banking organizations that adopted CECL during the 2020 calendar year, including the Bank, could elect to delay for two years, and then phase in over the following three years, the effects on regulatory capital of CECL relative to the incurred loss methodology. The Bank elected to use this option. Therefore, the regulatory capital impact of the Bank’s transition adjustments recorded on January 1, 2020 from the adoption of CECL, and 25 percent of the ongoing impact of CECL on the Bank’s allowance for credit losses, retained earnings, and average total consolidated assets, each as reported for regulatory capital purposes (collectively, the “adjusted transition amounts”), were deferred for the two-year period ending January 1, 2022. On January 1, 2022, 25 percent of the adjusted transition amounts was phased in for regulatory capital purposes. On January 1, 2023, an additional 25 percent of the adjusted transition amounts was phased in for regulatory capital purposes. On January 1 of 2024 and 2025, the adjusted transition amounts will continue to be phased in for regulatory capital purposes at a rate of 25 percent per year, with the phased-in amounts included in regulatory capital at the beginning of each year. The Bank’s January 1, 2020 CECL transition amounts increased our allowance for credit losses by $1.1 billion, increased the liability representing our off-balance sheet exposure for unfunded commitments by $116 million, and increased our deferred tax asset by $306 million, resulting in a cumulative effect adjustment that reduced retained earnings by $953 million. This transition adjustment was inclusive of qualitative adjustments incorporated into our CECL allowance as necessary, to address any limitations in the models used.

At September 30, 2023, the adjusted transition amounts that were deferred and are being phased in for regulatory capital purposes are as follows:

	Adjusted Transition Amounts		Phase-In Amounts for the Year Ended		Phase-In Amounts for the Nine Months Ended		Remaining Adjusted Transition Amounts to be Phased-In
(Dollars in thousands)	December 31, 2021		December 31, 2022		September 30, 2023		September 30, 2023
Retained earnings	$	836,351	$	(209,088)	$	(209,088)	$	418,175
Allowance for credit losses	1,038,145		(259,536)		(259,536)		519,073
Liability for unfunded commitments	104,377		(26,094)		(26,094)		52,189
Deferred tax asset	306,171		(76,542)		(76,542)		153,087

The Bank’s required and actual regulatory capital amounts and ratios under U.S. Basel III are shown in the following table. The following capital amounts and ratios are based upon the Bank’s average assets and risk-weighted assets, as indicated. The Bank has elected to exclude accumulated other comprehensive income related to both available-for-sale investments and swap valuations from Common Equity Tier 1 Capital. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the unrealized loss on available-for-sale investments included in other comprehensive income totaled $158 million and $160 million, net of tax of $51 million and $52 million, respectively. The capital ratios would remain above the well capitalized thresholds if the unrealized loss became fully recognized into capital.

(Dollars in thousands)	Actual				U.S. Basel III Minimum Requirements Plus Buffer(1)(2)
	Amount		Ratio		Amount			Ratio
As of September 30, 2023(3):
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	2,935,903	11.7	%	$	1,763,562	>	7.0	%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	2,935,903	11.7	%	$	2,141,468	>	8.5	%
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	3,258,771	12.9	%	$	2,645,343	>	10.5	%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)	$	2,935,903	10.1	%	$	1,166,116	>	4.0	%
As of December 31, 2022(3):
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	3,040,662	12.9	%	$	1,645,807	>	7.0	%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	3,040,662	12.9	%	$	1,998,480	>	8.5	%
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	3,338,645	14.2	%	$	2,468,711	>	10.5	%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)	$	3,040,662	10.3	%	$	1,185,280	>	4.0	%

(1)    Reflects the U.S. Basel III minimum required ratio plus the applicable capital conservation buffer.

(2)    The Bank’s regulatory capital ratios also exceeded all applicable standards for the Bank to qualify as “well capitalized” under the prompt corrective action framework.

(3)    For both September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the actual amounts and the actual ratios include the adjusted transition amounts discussed above that were phased in at the beginning of 2022 and 2023.

Bank Dividends

The Bank is chartered under the laws of the State of Utah and its deposits are insured by the FDIC. The Bank’s ability to pay dividends is subject to the laws of Utah and the regulations of the FDIC. Generally, under Utah’s industrial bank laws and regulations as well as FDIC regulations, the Bank may pay dividends from its net profits without regulatory approval if, following the payment of the dividend, the Bank’s capital and surplus would not be impaired. The Bank declared $100 million and $400 million in dividends to the Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, and $241 million and $642 million in dividends to the Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, with the proceeds primarily used to fund share repurchase programs and stock dividends. In the future, we expect that the Bank will pay dividends to the Company as may be necessary to enable the Company to pay any declared dividends on its Series B Preferred Stock and common stock and to consummate any common share repurchases by the Company under its share repurchase programs.

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Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees

Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees

Commitments

When we approve a Private Education Loan at the beginning of an academic year, that approval may cover the borrowing for the entire academic year. As such, we do not always disburse the full amount of the loan at the time of such approval, but instead have a commitment to fund a portion of the loan at a later date (usually at the start of the second semester or subsequent trimesters). We estimate expected credit losses over the contractual period that we are exposed to credit risk via a contractual obligation to extend credit, unless that obligation is unconditionally cancellable by us. At September 30, 2023, we had $2.4 billion of outstanding contractual loan commitments which we expect to fund during the remainder of the 2023/2024 academic year. At September 30, 2023, we had a $114 million reserve recorded in “Other Liabilities” to cover expected losses that may occur during the one-year loss emergence period on these unfunded commitments. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies - Allowance for Credit Losses — Off-Balance Sheet Exposure for Contractual Loan Commitments” in our 2022 Form 10-K and Note 6, “Unfunded Loan Commitments” in this Form 10-Q for additional information.

Regulatory Matters

For additional information regarding our regulatory matters, see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 21, “Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees” in our 2022 Form 10-K.

Contingencies

In the ordinary course of business, we and our subsidiaries are routinely defendants in or parties to pending and threatened legal actions and proceedings, including actions brought on behalf of various classes of claimants. These actions and proceedings may be based on alleged violations of consumer protection, securities, employment, and other laws. In certain of these actions and proceedings, claims for substantial monetary damage may be asserted against us and our subsidiaries.

It is common for the Company, our subsidiaries, and affiliates to receive information and document requests and investigative demands from state attorneys general, legislative committees, and administrative agencies. These requests may be for informational or regulatory purposes and may relate to our business practices, the industries in which we operate, or other companies with whom we conduct business. Our practice has been and continues to be to cooperate with these bodies and be responsive to any such requests.

We are required to establish reserves for litigation and regulatory matters where those matters present loss contingencies that are both probable and estimable. When loss contingencies are not both probable and estimable, we do not establish reserves.

Based on current knowledge, management does not believe there are loss contingencies, if any, arising from pending investigations, litigation, or regulatory matters for which reserves should be established.

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Subsequent Event

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Subsequent Events [Abstract]

Subsequent Event

Subsequent Event

Fourth-Quarter 2023 Loan Sales

On October 13, 2023, we sold approximately $1 billion of our Private Education Loans, including approximately $921 million in principal and approximately $78 million in capitalized interest to an unaffiliated third party. The gain on sale of loans sold expressed as a percentage was in the low to mid single-digits and will be recognized in the fourth-quarter 2023 consolidated statements of income. The transaction qualified for sale treatment and removed the balance of the loans from our balance sheet on the settlement date. We will continue to service these loans pursuant to the terms of the applicable transaction documents.

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Pay vs Performance Disclosure - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Pay vs Performance Disclosure
Net income	$ 29,365	$ 75,172	$ 412,948	$ 546,057

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Insider Trading Arrangements	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023
Trading Arrangements, by Individual
Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted	false
Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Terminated	false

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Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited, consolidated financial statements of SLM Corporation (“Sallie Mae,” “SLM,” the “Company,” “we,” or “us”) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete consolidated financial statements. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SLM Corporation and its majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries after eliminating the effects of intercompany accounts and transactions. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods have been included. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2023 or for any other period. These unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 (the “2022 Form 10-K”).

Consolidation

Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries after eliminating the effects of intercompany accounts and transactions.

We consolidate any variable interest entity (“VIE”) where we have determined we are the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary is the entity which has both: (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance; and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE.

Business Combination

The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB’s”) Accounting Standard Codification 805, “Business Combinations,” whereby as of the acquisition date, the acquired tangible assets and liabilities were recorded at their estimated fair values. The identifiable intangible assets were recorded at fair values as determined by an independent appraiser.

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Investments (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

Schedule of Amortized Cost and Fair Value of Securities Available-for-Sale

The amortized cost and fair value of securities available for sale are as follows:

As of September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	Amortized Cost		Allowance for credit losses(1)		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value
Available-for-sale:
Mortgage-backed securities	$	438,527	$	—	$	—	$	(87,399)	$	351,128
Utah Housing Corporation bonds	3,408		—		—		(555)		2,853
U.S. government-sponsored enterprises and Treasuries	1,669,748		—		—		(96,757)		1,572,991
Other securities	412,951		—		595		(24,540)		389,006
Total	$	2,524,634	$	—	$	595	$	(209,251)	$	2,315,978
As of December 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	Amortized Cost		Allowance for credit losses(1)		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value
Available-for-sale:
Mortgage-backed securities	$	389,067	$	—	$	2	$	(68,705)	$	320,364
Utah Housing Corporation bonds	3,584		—		—		(357)		3,227
U.S. government-sponsored enterprises and Treasuries	1,804,726		—		—		(115,416)		1,689,310
Other securities	356,955		—		33		(27,800)		329,188
Total	$	2,554,332	$	—	$	35	$	(212,278)	$	2,342,089

(1) Represents the amount of impairment that has resulted from credit-related factors and that was recognized in the consolidated balance sheets (as a credit loss expense on available-for-sale securities). The amount excludes unrealized losses related to non-credit factors.

Schedule of Available-for-Sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value

The following table summarizes the amount of gross unrealized losses for our available-for-sale securities and the estimated fair value for securities having gross unrealized loss positions, categorized by length of time the securities have been in an unrealized loss position:

(Dollars in thousands)	Less than 12 months				12 months or more				Total
	Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value
As of September 30, 2023:
Mortgage-backed securities	$	(3,342)	$	67,737	$	(84,057)	$	283,391	$	(87,399)	$	351,128
Utah Housing Corporation bonds	—		—		(555)		2,853		(555)		2,853
U.S. government-sponsored enterprises and Treasuries	—		—		(96,757)		1,572,991		(96,757)		1,572,991
Other securities	(2,051)		81,109		(22,489)		236,226		(24,540)		317,335
Total	$	(5,393)	$	148,846	$	(203,858)	$	2,095,461	$	(209,251)	$	2,244,307
As of December 31, 2022:
Mortgage-backed securities	$	(13,956)	$	99,598	$	(54,749)	$	220,576	$	(68,705)	$	320,174
Utah Housing Corporation bonds	(357)		3,227		—		—		(357)		3,227
U.S. government-sponsored enterprises and Treasuries	(28,128)		689,300		(87,288)		1,000,010		(115,416)		1,689,310
Other securities	(15,852)		232,546		(11,948)		92,883		(27,800)		325,429
Total	$	(58,293)	$	1,024,671	$	(153,985)	$	1,313,469	$	(212,278)	$	2,338,140

Schedule of Amortized Cost and Fair Value of Securities by Contractual Maturities

As of September 30, 2023, the amortized cost and fair value of securities, by contractual maturities, are summarized below. Contractual maturities versus actual maturities may differ due to the effect of prepayments.

As of September 30, 2023 Year of Maturity (dollars in thousands)	Amortized Cost		Estimated Fair Value
2023	$	25,000	$	24,767
2024	699,111		677,812
2025	298,564		285,252
2026	548,563		492,182
2027	98,511		92,979
2038	69		68
2039	663		622
2042	2,439		2,008
2043	4,209		3,573
2044	4,945		4,302
2045	5,163		4,337
2046	7,841		6,540
2047	7,917		6,658
2048	2,032		1,790
2049	15,899		13,366
2050	109,845		82,601
2051	156,133		116,543
2052	54,219		44,328
2053	163,617		150,202
2054	75,509		67,142
2055	90,148		86,125
2056	105,584		104,292
2058	48,653		48,489
Total	$	2,524,634	$	2,315,978

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Loans Held for Investment (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Receivables [Abstract]

Schedule of Loans Held for Investment

Loans held for investment are summarized as follows:

	September 30,		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023		2022
Private Education Loans:
Fixed-rate	$	14,000,110	$	11,108,079
Variable-rate	7,680,757		9,195,609
Total Private Education Loans, gross	21,680,867		20,303,688
Deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)	78,673		69,656
Allowance for credit losses	(1,411,232)		(1,353,631)
Total Private Education Loans, net	20,348,308		19,019,713
FFELP Loans	554,309		609,050
Deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)	1,380		1,549
Allowance for credit losses	(4,816)		(3,444)
Total FFELP Loans, net	550,873		607,155
Loans held for investment, net	$	20,899,181	$	19,626,868

The average balance (net of unamortized premium/(discount)) and the respective weighted average interest rates of loans held for investment in our portfolio are summarized as follows:

	2023				2022
Three Months Ended September 30, (dollars in thousands)	Average Balance		Weighted Average Interest Rate		Average Balance		Weighted Average Interest Rate
Private Education Loans	$	20,649,663	10.96	%	$	19,958,763	9.43	%
FFELP Loans	563,502		7.35		655,724		5.03
Total portfolio	$	21,213,165			$	20,614,487

	2023				2022
Nine Months Ended September 30, (dollars in thousands)	Average Balance		Weighted Average Interest Rate		Average Balance		Weighted Average Interest Rate
Private Education Loans	$	21,032,541	10.80	%	$	20,685,372	8.82	%
FFELP Loans	583,427		7.10		673,654		4.18
Total portfolio	$	21,615,968			$	21,359,026

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Allowance for Credit Losses (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Receivables [Abstract]

Schedule of Allowance for Credit Losses and Recorded Investments in Loans

Allowance for Credit Losses Metrics

Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	FFELP Loans			Private Education Loans			Total
Allowance for Credit Losses
Beginning balance	$	4,422		$	1,360,294		$	1,364,716
Transfer from unfunded commitment liability(1)	—			101,687			101,687
Provisions:
Provision for current period	666			44,423			45,089
Total provisions(2)	666			44,423			45,089
Net charge-offs:
Charge-offs	(272)			(104,865)			(105,137)
Recoveries	—			9,693			9,693
Net charge-offs	(272)			(95,172)			(95,444)
Ending Balance	$	4,816		$	1,411,232		$	1,416,048
Allowance(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	4,816		$	1,411,232		$	1,416,048
Loans(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	554,309		$	21,680,867		$	22,235,176
Accrued interest to be capitalized(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	—		$	1,283,388		$	1,283,388
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(4)	0.25		%	2.53		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance and accrued interest to be capitalized(5)	0.87		%	6.15		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment and accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(4)(5)	1.15		%	8.84		%
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)	4.43			3.71
Ending total loans, gross	$	554,309		$	21,680,867
Average loans in repayment(4)	$	428,028		$	15,023,993
Ending loans in repayment(4)	$	418,022		$	15,505,145
Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(6)	$	—		$	464,807

(1) See Note 6, “Unfunded Loan Commitments,” for a summary of the activity in the allowance for and balance of unfunded loan commitments, respectively.

(2) Below is a reconciliation of the provisions for credit losses reported in the consolidated statements of income. When a new loan commitment is made, we record the CECL allowance as a liability for unfunded loan commitments by recording a provision for credit losses. When the loan is funded, we transfer that liability to the allowance for credit losses.

Consolidated Statements of Income Provisions for Credit Losses Reconciliation
Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)
Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses:
Provisions for loan losses	$	44,423
Provisions for unfunded loan commitments	152,934
Total Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses	197,357
Other impacts to the provisions for credit losses:
FFELP Loans	666
Total	666
Provisions for credit losses reported in consolidated statements of income	$	198,023

(3) For the three months ended September 30, 2023, there were no allowance for credit losses, loans, or accrued interest to be capitalized balances that were individually evaluated for impairment.

(4) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

(5) Accrued interest to be capitalized on Private Education Loans only.

(6) Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment includes interest on loans that are in repayment but have not yet entered into full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, does not include the interest on those loans while they are in forbearance).

Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	FFELP  Loans			Private  Education Loans			Credit Cards			Total
Allowance for Credit Losses
Beginning balance	$	3,929		$	1,074,744		$	2,393		$	1,081,066
Transfer from unfunded commitment liability(1)	—			168,377			—			168,377
Provisions:
Provision for current period	29			95,482			2,039			97,550
Loan sale reduction to provision	—			(50,226)			—			(50,226)
Loans transferred from held-for-sale	—			—			(2,372)			(2,372)
Total provisions(2)	29			45,256			(333)			44,952
Net charge-offs:
Charge-offs	(147)			(109,350)			(2,062)			(111,559)
Recoveries	—			11,400			2			11,402
Net charge-offs	(147)			(97,950)			(2,060)			(100,157)
Ending Balance	$	3,811		$	1,190,427		$	—		$	1,194,238
Allowance(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	3,811		$	1,190,427		$	—		$	1,194,238
Loans(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	643,614		$	20,104,463		$	—		$	20,748,077
Accrued interest to be capitalized(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	—		$	1,056,983		$	—		$	1,056,983
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(4)	0.11		%	2.67		%	—		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance and accrued interest to be capitalized(5)	0.59		%	5.63		%	—		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment and accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(4)(5)	0.78		%	7.98		%	—		%
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)	6.48			3.04			—
Ending total loans, gross	$	643,614		$	20,104,463		$	—
Average loans in repayment(4)	$	518,226		$	14,674,437		$	—
Ending loans in repayment(4)	$	489,920		$	14,546,556		$	—
Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(6)	$	—		$	371,388		$	—

(1) See Note 6, “Unfunded Loan Commitments,” for a summary of the activity in the allowance for and balance of unfunded loan commitments, respectively.

(2) Below is a reconciliation of the provisions for credit losses reported in the consolidated statements of income. When a new loan commitment is made, we record the CECL allowance as a liability for unfunded loan commitments by recording a provision for credit losses. When the loan is funded, we transfer that liability to the allowance for credit losses.

Consolidated Statements of Income Provisions for Credit Losses Reconciliation
Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)
Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses:
Provisions for loan losses	$	45,256
Provisions for unfunded loan commitments	162,646
Total Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses	207,902
Other impacts to the provisions for credit losses:
FFELP Loans	29
Credit Cards	(333)
Total	(304)
Provisions for credit losses reported in consolidated statements of income	$	207,598

(3) For the three months ended September 30, 2022, there were no allowance for credit losses, loans, or accrued interest to be capitalized balances that were individually evaluated for impairment.

(4) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

(5) Accrued interest to be capitalized on Private Education Loans only.

(6) Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment includes interest on loans that are in repayment but have not yet entered into full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, does not include the interest on those loans while they are in forbearance).

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	FFELP Loans			Private Education Loans			Total
Allowance for Credit Losses
Beginning balance	$	3,444		$	1,353,631		$	1,357,075
Transfer from unfunded commitment liability(1)	—			278,388			278,388
Provisions:
Provision for current period	2,225			196,859			199,084
Loan sale reduction to provision	—			(136,531)			(136,531)
Total provisions(2)	2,225			60,328			62,553
Net charge-offs:
Charge-offs	(853)			(314,500)			(315,353)
Recoveries	—			33,385			33,385
Net charge-offs	(853)			(281,115)			(281,968)
Ending Balance	$	4,816		$	1,411,232		$	1,416,048
Allowance(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	4,816		$	1,411,232		$	1,416,048
Loans(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	554,309		$	21,680,867		$	22,235,176
Accrued interest to be capitalized(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	—		$	1,283,388		$	1,283,388
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(4)	0.26		%	2.44		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance and accrued interest to be capitalized(5)	0.87		%	6.15		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment and accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(4)(5)	1.15		%	8.84		%
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)	4.23			3.77
Ending total loans, gross	$	554,309		$	21,680,867
Average loans in repayment(4)	$	440,716		$	15,358,596
Ending loans in repayment(4)	$	418,022		$	15,505,145
Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(6)	$	—		$	464,807

(1) See Note 6, “Unfunded Loan Commitments,” for a summary of the activity in the allowance for and balance of unfunded loan commitments, respectively.

(2) Below is a reconciliation of the provisions for credit losses reported in the consolidated statements of income. When a new loan commitment is made, we record the CECL allowance as a liability for unfunded loan commitments by recording a provision for credit losses. When the loan is funded, we transfer that liability to the allowance for credit losses.

Consolidated Statements of Income Provisions for Credit Losses Reconciliation
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)
Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses:
Provisions for loan losses	$	60,328
Provisions for unfunded loan commitments	267,311
Total Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses	327,639
Other impacts to the provisions for credit losses:
FFELP Loans	2,225
Total	2,225
Provisions for credit losses reported in consolidated statements of income	$	329,864

(3) For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, there were no allowance for credit losses, loans, or accrued interest to be capitalized balances that were individually evaluated for impairment.

(4) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

(5) Accrued interest to be capitalized on Private Education Loans only.

(6) Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment includes interest on loans that are in repayment but have not yet entered into full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, does not include the interest on those loans while they are in forbearance).

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	FFELP  Loans			Private  Education Loans			Credit Cards			Total
Allowance for Credit Losses
Beginning balance	$	4,077		$	1,158,977		$	2,281		$	1,165,335
Transfer from unfunded commitment liability(1)	—			303,591			—			303,591
Provisions:
Provision for current period	110			168,473			2,635			171,218
Loan sale reduction to provision	—			(171,325)			—			(171,325)
Loans transferred from held-for-sale	—			—			(2,372)			(2,372)
Total provisions(2)	110			(2,852)			263			(2,479)
Net charge-offs:
Charge-offs	(376)			(299,699)			(2,549)			(302,624)
Recoveries	—			30,410			5			30,415
Net charge-offs	(376)			(269,289)			(2,544)			(272,209)
Ending Balance	$	3,811		$	1,190,427		$	—		$	1,194,238
Allowance(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	3,811		$	1,190,427		$	—		$	1,194,238
Loans(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	643,614		$	20,104,463		$	—		$	20,748,077
Accrued interest to be capitalized(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	—		$	1,056,983		$	—		$	1,056,983
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(4)	0.09		%	2.37		%	—		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance and accrued interest to be capitalized(5)	0.59		%	5.63		%	—		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment and accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(4)(5)	0.78		%	7.98		%	—		%
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)	7.60			3.32			—
Ending total loans, gross	$	643,614		$	20,104,463		$	—
Average loans in repayment(4)	$	532,275		$	15,173,465		$	—
Ending loans in repayment(4)	$	489,920		$	14,546,556		$	—
Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(6)	$	—		$	371,388		$	—

(1) See Note 6, “Unfunded Loan Commitments,” for a summary of the activity in the allowance for and balance of unfunded loan commitments, respectively.

(2) Below is a reconciliation of the provisions for credit losses reported in the consolidated statements of income. When a new loan commitment is made, we record the CECL allowance as a liability for unfunded loan commitments by recording a provision for credit losses. When the loan is funded, we transfer that liability to the allowance for credit losses.

Consolidated Statements of Income Provisions for Credit Losses Reconciliation
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)
Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses:
Provisions for loan losses	$	(2,852)
Provisions for unfunded loan commitments	338,672
Total Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses	335,820
Other impacts to the provisions for credit losses:
FFELP Loans	110
Credit Cards	263
Total	373
Provisions for credit losses reported in consolidated statements of income	$	336,193

(3) For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, there were no allowance for credit losses, loans, or accrued interest to be capitalized balances that were individually evaluated for impairment.

(4) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

(5) Accrued interest to be capitalized on Private Education Loans only.

(6) Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment includes interest on loans that are in repayment but have not yet entered into full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, does not include the interest on those loans while they are in forbearance).

The tables below summarize the activity in the allowance recorded to cover lifetime expected credit losses on the unfunded commitments, which is recorded in “Other Liabilities” on the consolidated balance sheets, as well as the activity in the unfunded commitments balance.

	2023				2022
Three Months Ended September 30, (dollars in thousands)	Allowance		Unfunded Commitments		Allowance		Unfunded Commitments
Beginning Balance	$	62,600	$	1,562,856	$	113,525	$	1,413,840
Provision/New commitments - net(1)	115,605		3,258,234		192,559		3,148,434
Other provision items	37,329		—		(29,913)		—
Transfer - funded loans(2)	(101,687)		(2,451,203)		(168,377)		(2,345,348)
Ending Balance	$	113,847	$	2,369,887	$	107,794	$	2,216,926
	2023				2022
Nine Months Ended September 30, (dollars in thousands)	Allowance		Unfunded Commitments		Allowance		Unfunded Commitments
Beginning Balance	$	124,924	$	1,995,808	$	72,713	$	1,776,976
Provision/New commitments - net(1)	220,303		5,912,418		339,705		5,584,129
Other provision items	47,008		—		(1,033)		—
Transfer - funded loans(2)	(278,388)		(5,538,339)		(303,591)		(5,144,179)
Ending Balance	$	113,847	$	2,369,887	$	107,794	$	2,216,926

(1)     Net of expirations of commitments unused.

(2)     When a loan commitment is funded, its related liability for credit losses (which originally was recorded as a provision for unfunded commitments) is transferred to the allowance for credit losses.

Schedule of Amortized Cost Basis of Financing Receivables

The following tables show the amortized cost basis at the end of the respective reporting periods of the loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty that were modified during the period, disaggregated by class of financing receivable and type of modification. When we approve a Private Education Loan at the beginning of an academic year, we do not always disburse the full amount of the loan at the time of approval, but instead have a commitment to fund a portion of the loan at a later date (usually at the start of the second semester or subsequent trimesters). We consider borrowers to be in financial difficulty after they have exited school and have difficulty making their scheduled principal and interest payments.

	Loan Modifications Made to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty
Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	Interest Rate Reduction				Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type:	Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable		Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable
Private Education Loans	$	16,620	0.07	%	$	90,193	0.39	%
Total	$	16,620	0.07	%	$	90,193	0.39	%

	Loan Modifications Made to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty
Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	Interest Rate Reduction				Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type:	Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable		Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable
Private Education Loans	$	9,750	0.05	%	$	79,765	0.40	%
Total	$	9,750	0.05	%	$	79,765	0.40	%

	Loan Modifications Made to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	Interest Rate Reduction				Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type:	Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable		Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable
Private Education Loans	$	39,263	0.17	%	$	254,639	1.10	%
Total	$	39,263	0.17	%	$	254,639	1.10	%

	Loan Modifications Made to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	Interest Rate Reduction				Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type:	Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable		Amortized Cost Basis		% of Total Class of Financing Receivable
Private Education Loans	$	25,065	0.12	%	$	237,588	1.18	%
Total	$	25,065	0.12	%	$	237,588	1.18	%

The following tables describe the financial effect of the modifications made to loans whose borrowers are experiencing financial difficulty:

Three Months Ended September 30, 2023
Interest Rate Reduction		Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type	Financial Effect	Loan Type	Financial Effect
Private Education Loans	Reduced average contractual rate from 13.57% to 4.00%	Private Education Loans	Added a weighted average 10.22 years to the life of loans Reduced average contractual rate from 13.12% to 4.00%

Three Months Ended September 30, 2022
Interest Rate Reduction		Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type	Financial Effect	Loan Type	Financial Effect
Private Education Loans	Reduced average contractual rate from 11.31% to 4.00%	Private Education Loans	Added a weighted average 10.24 years to the life of loans Reduced average contractual rate from 10.87% to 4.00%

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
Interest Rate Reduction		Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type	Financial Effect	Loan Type	Financial Effect
Private Education Loans	Reduced average contractual rate from 13.29% to 4.00%	Private Education Loans	Added a weighted average 10.24 years to the life of loans Reduced average contractual rate from 12.84% to 4.00%

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022
Interest Rate Reduction		Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Loan Type	Financial Effect	Loan Type	Financial Effect
Private Education Loans	Reduced average contractual rate from 10.76% to 4.00%	Private Education Loans	Added a weighted average 10.38 years to the life of loans Reduced average contractual rate from 10.17% to 4.00%

We define payment default as 60 days or more past due for purposes of this disclosure.

	Three Months Ended September 30, 2023						Three Months Ended September 30, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Modified Loans(1)(2)		Payment Default(4)		Charge-Offs(5)		Modified Loans(1)(2)		Payment Default(4)		Charge-Offs(5)
Loan Type:
Private Education Loans	$	14,546	$	14,129	$	4,534	$	9,467	$	9,289	$	1,801
Total	$	14,546	$	14,129	$	4,534	$	9,467	$	9,289	$	1,801

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023						Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Modified Loans(1)(3)		Payment Default(4)		Charge-Offs(5)		Modified Loans(1)(3)		Payment Default(4)		Charge-Offs(5)
Loan Type:
Private Education Loans	$	26,449	$	27,672	$	6,428	$	12,660	$	12,463	$	1,861
Total	$	26,449	$	27,672	$	6,428	$	12,660	$	12,463	$	1,861

(1) Represents period-end amortized cost basis of loans that have been modified and for which a payment default occurred in the relevant period presented and within 12 months of receiving a modification (or within the reporting period, for the loans shown in in the year-ago period, as the case may be).

(2) For the three months ended September 30, 2023, the modified loans include $12.4 million of interest rate reduction and term extension loan modifications and $2.1 million of interest rate reduction only loan modifications. For the three months ended September 30, 2022, the modified loans include $8.5 million of interest rate reduction and term extension loan modifications and $1.0 million of interest rate reduction only loan modifications.

(3) For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the modified loans include $23.0 million of interest rate reduction and term extension loan modifications and $3.4 million of interest rate reduction only loan modifications. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the modified loans include $11.4 million of interest rate reduction and term extension loan modifications and $1.2 million of interest rate reduction only loan modifications.

(4) Represents the unpaid principal balance at the time of payment default.

(5) Represents the unpaid principal balance at the time of charge off.

Age Analysis of Past Due Loans Delinquencies

The following tables depict the performance of loans that have been modified during the respective reporting periods (first nine months of 2023 and full year 2022, respectively).

	Payment Status (Amortized Cost Basis)
At September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	Deferment(1)		Current(2)(3)		30-59 Days Past Due(2)(3)		60-89 Days Past Due(2)(3)		90 Days or Greater  Past Due(2)(3)		Total
Loan Type:
Private Education Loans	$	5,140	$	266,090	$	10,137	$	5,565	$	6,970	$	293,902
Total	$	5,140	$	266,090	$	10,137	$	5,565	$	6,970	$	293,902

	Payment Status (Amortized Cost Basis)
At December 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	Deferment(1)		Current(2)(3)		30-59 Days Past Due(2)(3)		60-89 Days Past Due(2)(3)		90 Days or Greater  Past Due(2)(3)		Total
Loan Type:
Private Education Loans	$	7,698	$	289,134	$	13,859	$	8,809	$	6,616	$	326,116
Total	$	7,698	$	289,134	$	13,859	$	8,809	$	6,616	$	326,116

(1) Deferment includes customers who have returned to school or are engaged in other permitted educational activities and are not yet required to make full principal and interest payments on the loans (e.g., residency periods for medical students or a grace period for bar exam preparation). Deferment also includes loans that have entered a forbearance after the loan modification was granted.

(2) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making full principal and interest payments after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

(3) The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.

The following tables provide information regarding the loan status of our Private Education Loans held for investment, by year of origination approval. Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the following tables, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

	Private Education Loans Held for Investment - Delinquencies by Origination Vintage
As of September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	2023			2022			2021			2020			2019			2018 and Prior			Total
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)	$	1,713,896		$	2,118,976		$	925,728		$	410,375		$	280,963		$	511,941		$	5,961,879
Loans in forbearance(2)	4,584			28,747			29,129			21,854			24,555			104,974			213,843
Loans in repayment:
Loans current	2,005,363			3,218,301			2,327,629			1,500,801			1,382,249			4,504,119			14,938,462
Loans delinquent 30-59 days(3)	4,272			32,282			41,945			28,901			30,468			145,753			283,621
Loans delinquent 60-89 days(3)	1,788			15,013			22,612			16,566			16,311			81,159			153,449
Loans 90 days or greater past due(3)	582			8,219			16,660			12,936			14,521			76,695			129,613
Total Private Education Loans in repayment	2,012,005			3,273,815			2,408,846			1,559,204			1,443,549			4,807,726			15,505,145
Total Private Education Loans, gross	3,730,485			5,421,538			3,363,703			1,991,433			1,749,067			5,424,641			21,680,867
Private Education Loans deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)	26,268			21,367			11,090			6,555			3,993			9,400			78,673
Total Private Education Loans	3,756,753			5,442,905			3,374,793			1,997,988			1,753,060			5,434,041			21,759,540
Private Education Loans allowance for losses	(220,113)			(361,902)			(227,021)			(134,487)			(111,946)			(355,763)			(1,411,232)
Private Education Loans, net	$	3,536,640		$	5,081,003		$	3,147,772		$	1,863,501		$	1,641,114		$	5,078,278		$	20,348,308
Percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment	53.9		%	60.4		%	71.6		%	78.3		%	82.5		%	88.6		%	71.5		%
Delinquent Private Education Loans in repayment as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment	0.3		%	1.7		%	3.4		%	3.7		%	4.2		%	6.3		%	3.7		%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance	0.2		%	0.9		%	1.2		%	1.4		%	1.7		%	2.1		%	1.4		%

(1)Deferment includes customers who have returned to school or are engaged in other permitted educational activities and are not yet required to make payments on the loans (e.g., residency periods for medical students or a grace period for bar exam preparation).

(2)Loans for customers who have requested extension of grace period generally during employment transition or who have temporarily ceased making full payments due to hardship or other factors, consistent with established loan program servicing policies and procedures.

(3)The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.

	Private Education Loans Held for Investment - Delinquencies by Origination Vintage
As of December 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	2022			2021			2020			2019			2018			2017 and Prior			Total
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)	$	1,827,649		$	1,433,322		$	578,253		$	380,639		$	219,280		$	455,910		$	4,895,053
Loans in forbearance(2)	16,046			64,360			38,613			37,802			30,583			91,681			279,085
Loans in repayment:
Loans current	2,411,441			2,991,839			1,907,574			1,683,986			1,301,809			4,262,698			14,559,347
Loans delinquent 30-59 days(3)	14,164			30,740			30,877			35,213			31,366			144,948			287,308
Loans delinquent 60-89 days(3)	5,523			15,056			14,433			18,201			16,697			77,595			147,505
Loans 90 days or greater past due(3)	1,710			11,842			14,872			16,819			16,107			74,040			135,390
Total Private Education Loans in repayment	2,432,838			3,049,477			1,967,756			1,754,219			1,365,979			4,559,281			15,129,550
Total Private Education Loans, gross	4,276,533			4,547,159			2,584,622			2,172,660			1,615,842			5,106,872			20,303,688
Private Education Loans deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)	26,714			15,933			9,062			5,496			3,575			8,876			69,656
Total Private Education Loans	4,303,247			4,563,092			2,593,684			2,178,156			1,619,417			5,115,748			20,373,344
Private Education Loans allowance for losses	(304,943)			(323,506)			(181,915)			(141,424)			(101,023)			(300,820)			(1,353,631)
Private Education Loans, net	$	3,998,304		$	4,239,586		$	2,411,769		$	2,036,732		$	1,518,394		$	4,814,928		$	19,019,713
Percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment	56.9		%	67.1		%	76.1		%	80.7		%	84.5		%	89.3		%	74.5		%
Delinquent Private Education Loans in repayment as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment	0.9		%	1.9		%	3.1		%	4.0		%	4.7		%	6.5		%	3.8		%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance	0.7		%	2.1		%	1.9		%	2.1		%	2.2		%	2.0		%	1.8		%

(1)Deferment includes customers who have returned to school or are engaged in other permitted educational activities and are not yet required to make payments on the loans (e.g., residency periods for medical students or a grace period for bar exam preparation).

(2)Loans for customers who have requested extension of grace period generally during employment transition or who have temporarily ceased making full payments due to hardship or other factors, consistent with established loan program servicing policies and procedures.

(3)The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.

Schedule of Private Education Loan Portfolio Stratified by Key Credit Quality Indicators

The following tables highlight the gross principal balance of our Private Education Loan portfolio (held for investment), by year of origination approval, stratified by key credit quality indicators.

As of September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	Private Education Loans Held for Investment - Credit Quality Indicators
Year of Origination Approval	2023(1)		2022(1)		2021(1)		2020(1)		2019(1)		2018 and Prior(1)		Total(1)		% of Balance
Cosigners:
With cosigner	$	3,262,857	$	4,710,256	$	2,894,829	$	1,686,843	$	1,480,270	$	4,860,436	$	18,895,491	87	%
Without cosigner	467,628		711,282		468,874		304,590		268,797		564,205		2,785,376		13
Total	$	3,730,485	$	5,421,538	$	3,363,703	$	1,991,433	$	1,749,067	$	5,424,641	$	21,680,867	100	%
FICO at Origination Approval(2):
Less than 670	$	278,407	$	418,966	$	236,903	$	127,660	$	146,011	$	481,014	$	1,688,961	8	%
670-699	530,255		752,093		455,895		278,207		275,056		929,262		3,220,768		15
700-749	1,150,877		1,690,871		1,067,755		645,549		584,322		1,830,206		6,969,580		32
Greater than or equal to 750	1,770,946		2,559,608		1,603,150		940,017		743,678		2,184,159		9,801,558		45
Total	$	3,730,485	$	5,421,538	$	3,363,703	$	1,991,433	$	1,749,067	$	5,424,641	$	21,680,867	100	%
FICO Refreshed(2)(3):
Less than 670	$	353,491	$	605,817	$	387,375	$	218,261	$	214,908	$	807,495	$	2,587,347	12	%
670-699	528,071		733,990		422,792		211,964		187,283		607,515		2,691,615		12
700-749	1,144,110		1,602,766		980,859		553,576		486,058		1,469,715		6,237,084		29
Greater than or equal to 750	1,704,813		2,478,965		1,572,677		1,007,632		860,818		2,539,916		10,164,821		47
Total	$	3,730,485	$	5,421,538	$	3,363,703	$	1,991,433	$	1,749,067	$	5,424,641	$	21,680,867	100	%
Seasoning(4):
1-12 payments	$	2,016,589	$	2,187,876	$	414,530	$	232,959	$	201,057	$	379,107	$	5,432,118	25	%
13-24 payments	—		1,114,686		1,380,064		183,885		186,471		459,239		3,324,345		15
25-36 payments	—		—		643,381		753,256		120,744		487,209		2,004,590		9
37-48 payments	—		—		—		410,918		696,040		471,110		1,578,068		7
More than 48 payments	—		—		—		40		263,792		3,116,035		3,379,867		16
Not yet in repayment	1,713,896		2,118,976		925,728		410,375		280,963		511,941		5,961,879		28
Total	$	3,730,485	$	5,421,538	$	3,363,703	$	1,991,433	$	1,749,067	$	5,424,641	$	21,680,867	100	%
2023 Current period(5) gross charge-offs	$	(614)	$	(17,832)	$	(52,861)	$	(38,251)	$	(39,710)	$	(165,232)	$	(314,500)
2023 Current period(5) recoveries	76		1,278		4,802		3,522		3,923		19,784		33,385
2023 Current period(5) net charge-offs	$	(538)	$	(16,554)	$	(48,059)	$	(34,729)	$	(35,787)	$	(145,448)	$	(281,115)
Total accrued interest by origination vintage	$	94,292	$	407,226	$	328,076	$	186,063	$	150,655	$	262,913	$	1,429,225
(1)Balance represents gross Private Education Loans held for investment. (2)Represents the higher credit score of the cosigner or the borrower. (3)Represents the FICO score updated as of the third-quarter 2023. (4)Number of months in active repayment (whether interest only payment, fixed payment, or full principal and interest payment status) for which a scheduled payment was due. (5)Current period refers to period from January 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023.

As of December 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	Private Education Loans Held for Investment - Credit Quality Indicators
Year of Origination Approval	2022(1)		2021(1)		2020(1)		2019(1)		2018(1)		2017 and Prior(1)		Total(1)		% of Balance
Cosigners:
With cosigner	$	3,656,111	$	3,941,921	$	2,208,033	$	1,853,619	$	1,402,828	$	4,626,491	$	17,689,003	87	%
Without cosigner	620,422		605,238		376,589		319,041		213,014		480,381		2,614,685		13
Total	$	4,276,533	$	4,547,159	$	2,584,622	$	2,172,660	$	1,615,842	$	5,106,872	$	20,303,688	100	%
FICO at Origination Approval(2):
Less than 670	$	326,991	$	307,646	$	158,606	$	177,098	$	143,674	$	439,587	$	1,553,602	8	%
670-699	593,216		611,649		356,541		339,685		259,142		878,426		3,038,659		15
700-749	1,336,765		1,440,510		834,819		719,777		537,680		1,722,068		6,591,619		32
Greater than or equal to 750	2,019,561		2,187,354		1,234,656		936,100		675,346		2,066,791		9,119,808		45
Total	$	4,276,533	$	4,547,159	$	2,584,622	$	2,172,660	$	1,615,842	$	5,106,872	$	20,303,688	100	%
FICO Refreshed(2)(3):
Less than 670	$	443,868	$	461,589	$	242,310	$	237,105	$	204,894	$	773,324	$	2,363,090	12	%
670-699	594,118		579,784		284,244		240,999		173,754		564,344		2,437,243		12
700-749	1,322,558		1,378,910		748,368		628,060		449,701		1,388,090		5,915,687		29
Greater than or equal to 750	1,915,989		2,126,876		1,309,700		1,066,496		787,493		2,381,114		9,587,668		47
Total	$	4,276,533	$	4,547,159	$	2,584,622	$	2,172,660	$	1,615,842	$	5,106,872	$	20,303,688	100	%
Seasoning(4):
1-12 payments	$	2,448,884	$	636,073	$	384,334	$	330,316	$	235,878	$	424,636	$	4,460,121	22	%
13-24 payments	—		2,477,764		255,510		195,753		166,045		455,782		3,550,854		18
25-36 payments	—		—		1,366,398		257,534		126,223		489,157		2,239,312		11
37-48 payments	—		—		127		1,008,418		224,805		451,102		1,684,452		8
More than 48 payments	—		—		—		—		643,611		2,830,285		3,473,896		17
Not yet in repayment	1,827,649		1,433,322		578,253		380,639		219,280		455,910		4,895,053		24
Total	$	4,276,533	$	4,547,159	$	2,584,622	$	2,172,660	$	1,615,842	$	5,106,872	$	20,303,688	100	%
2022 Current period(5) gross charge-offs	$	(2,224)	$	(25,698)	$	(48,271)	$	(62,071)	$	(57,505)	$	(231,647)	$	(427,416)
2022 Current period(5) recoveries	124		1,841		4,170		5,556		5,407		24,639		41,737
2022 Current period(5) net charge-offs	$	(2,100)	$	(23,857)	$	(44,101)	$	(56,515)	$	(52,098)	$	(207,008)	$	(385,679)
Total accrued interest by origination vintage	$	142,915	$	315,308	$	207,858	$	184,832	$	116,211	$	210,438	$	1,177,562

(1)Balance represents gross Private Education Loans held for investment.

(2)Represents the higher credit score of the cosigner or the borrower.

(3)Represents the FICO score updated as of the fourth-quarter 2022.

(4)Number of months in active repayment (whether interest only payment, fixed payment, or full principal and interest payment status) for which a scheduled payment was due.

(5)Current period refers to January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022.

Schedule of Accrued Interest Receivable

The following table provides information regarding accrued interest receivable on our Private Education Loans. The table also discloses the amount of accrued interest on loans 90 days or greater past due as compared to our allowance for uncollectible interest on loans making full interest payments. The majority of the total accrued interest receivable represents accrued interest on deferred loans where no payments are due while the borrower is in school and fixed-pay loans where the borrower makes a $25 monthly payment that is smaller than the interest accruing on the loan in that month. The accrued interest on these loans will be capitalized to the balance of the loans when the borrower exits the grace period after separation from school, and the current expected credit losses on accrued interest that will be capitalized is included in our allowance for credit losses.

	Private Education Loans
	Accrued Interest Receivable
(Dollars in thousands)	Total Interest Receivable		90 Days or Greater Past Due		Allowance for Uncollectible Interest(1)(2)
September 30, 2023	$	1,429,225	$	6,756	$	8,516
December 31, 2022	$	1,177,562	$	6,609	$	8,121

(1)The allowance for uncollectible interest at September 30, 2023 represents the expected losses related to the portion of accrued interest receivable on those loans that are in repayment ($146 million of accrued interest receivable) that is not expected to be capitalized. The accrued interest receivable that is expected to be capitalized ($1.3 billion) is reserved in the allowance for credit losses.

(2)The allowance for uncollectible interest at December 31, 2022 represents the expected losses related to the portion of accrued interest receivable on those loans in repayment ($240 million of accrued interest receivable) that was not expected to be capitalized. The accrued interest receivable that was expected to be capitalized ($937 million) was reserved in the allowance for credit losses.

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Unfunded Loan Commitments (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Credit Loss [Abstract]

Schedule of Allowance for Credit Losses and Recorded Investments in Loans

Allowance for Credit Losses Metrics

Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	FFELP Loans			Private Education Loans			Total
Allowance for Credit Losses
Beginning balance	$	4,422		$	1,360,294		$	1,364,716
Transfer from unfunded commitment liability(1)	—			101,687			101,687
Provisions:
Provision for current period	666			44,423			45,089
Total provisions(2)	666			44,423			45,089
Net charge-offs:
Charge-offs	(272)			(104,865)			(105,137)
Recoveries	—			9,693			9,693
Net charge-offs	(272)			(95,172)			(95,444)
Ending Balance	$	4,816		$	1,411,232		$	1,416,048
Allowance(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	4,816		$	1,411,232		$	1,416,048
Loans(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	554,309		$	21,680,867		$	22,235,176
Accrued interest to be capitalized(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	—		$	1,283,388		$	1,283,388
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(4)	0.25		%	2.53		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance and accrued interest to be capitalized(5)	0.87		%	6.15		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment and accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(4)(5)	1.15		%	8.84		%
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)	4.43			3.71
Ending total loans, gross	$	554,309		$	21,680,867
Average loans in repayment(4)	$	428,028		$	15,023,993
Ending loans in repayment(4)	$	418,022		$	15,505,145
Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(6)	$	—		$	464,807

(1) See Note 6, “Unfunded Loan Commitments,” for a summary of the activity in the allowance for and balance of unfunded loan commitments, respectively.

(2) Below is a reconciliation of the provisions for credit losses reported in the consolidated statements of income. When a new loan commitment is made, we record the CECL allowance as a liability for unfunded loan commitments by recording a provision for credit losses. When the loan is funded, we transfer that liability to the allowance for credit losses.

Consolidated Statements of Income Provisions for Credit Losses Reconciliation
Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)
Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses:
Provisions for loan losses	$	44,423
Provisions for unfunded loan commitments	152,934
Total Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses	197,357
Other impacts to the provisions for credit losses:
FFELP Loans	666
Total	666
Provisions for credit losses reported in consolidated statements of income	$	198,023

(3) For the three months ended September 30, 2023, there were no allowance for credit losses, loans, or accrued interest to be capitalized balances that were individually evaluated for impairment.

(4) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

(5) Accrued interest to be capitalized on Private Education Loans only.

(6) Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment includes interest on loans that are in repayment but have not yet entered into full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, does not include the interest on those loans while they are in forbearance).

Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	FFELP  Loans			Private  Education Loans			Credit Cards			Total
Allowance for Credit Losses
Beginning balance	$	3,929		$	1,074,744		$	2,393		$	1,081,066
Transfer from unfunded commitment liability(1)	—			168,377			—			168,377
Provisions:
Provision for current period	29			95,482			2,039			97,550
Loan sale reduction to provision	—			(50,226)			—			(50,226)
Loans transferred from held-for-sale	—			—			(2,372)			(2,372)
Total provisions(2)	29			45,256			(333)			44,952
Net charge-offs:
Charge-offs	(147)			(109,350)			(2,062)			(111,559)
Recoveries	—			11,400			2			11,402
Net charge-offs	(147)			(97,950)			(2,060)			(100,157)
Ending Balance	$	3,811		$	1,190,427		$	—		$	1,194,238
Allowance(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	3,811		$	1,190,427		$	—		$	1,194,238
Loans(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	643,614		$	20,104,463		$	—		$	20,748,077
Accrued interest to be capitalized(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	—		$	1,056,983		$	—		$	1,056,983
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(4)	0.11		%	2.67		%	—		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance and accrued interest to be capitalized(5)	0.59		%	5.63		%	—		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment and accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(4)(5)	0.78		%	7.98		%	—		%
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)	6.48			3.04			—
Ending total loans, gross	$	643,614		$	20,104,463		$	—
Average loans in repayment(4)	$	518,226		$	14,674,437		$	—
Ending loans in repayment(4)	$	489,920		$	14,546,556		$	—
Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(6)	$	—		$	371,388		$	—

(1) See Note 6, “Unfunded Loan Commitments,” for a summary of the activity in the allowance for and balance of unfunded loan commitments, respectively.

(2) Below is a reconciliation of the provisions for credit losses reported in the consolidated statements of income. When a new loan commitment is made, we record the CECL allowance as a liability for unfunded loan commitments by recording a provision for credit losses. When the loan is funded, we transfer that liability to the allowance for credit losses.

Consolidated Statements of Income Provisions for Credit Losses Reconciliation
Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)
Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses:
Provisions for loan losses	$	45,256
Provisions for unfunded loan commitments	162,646
Total Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses	207,902
Other impacts to the provisions for credit losses:
FFELP Loans	29
Credit Cards	(333)
Total	(304)
Provisions for credit losses reported in consolidated statements of income	$	207,598

(3) For the three months ended September 30, 2022, there were no allowance for credit losses, loans, or accrued interest to be capitalized balances that were individually evaluated for impairment.

(4) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

(5) Accrued interest to be capitalized on Private Education Loans only.

(6) Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment includes interest on loans that are in repayment but have not yet entered into full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, does not include the interest on those loans while they are in forbearance).

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	FFELP Loans			Private Education Loans			Total
Allowance for Credit Losses
Beginning balance	$	3,444		$	1,353,631		$	1,357,075
Transfer from unfunded commitment liability(1)	—			278,388			278,388
Provisions:
Provision for current period	2,225			196,859			199,084
Loan sale reduction to provision	—			(136,531)			(136,531)
Total provisions(2)	2,225			60,328			62,553
Net charge-offs:
Charge-offs	(853)			(314,500)			(315,353)
Recoveries	—			33,385			33,385
Net charge-offs	(853)			(281,115)			(281,968)
Ending Balance	$	4,816		$	1,411,232		$	1,416,048
Allowance(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	4,816		$	1,411,232		$	1,416,048
Loans(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	554,309		$	21,680,867		$	22,235,176
Accrued interest to be capitalized(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	—		$	1,283,388		$	1,283,388
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(4)	0.26		%	2.44		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance and accrued interest to be capitalized(5)	0.87		%	6.15		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment and accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(4)(5)	1.15		%	8.84		%
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)	4.23			3.77
Ending total loans, gross	$	554,309		$	21,680,867
Average loans in repayment(4)	$	440,716		$	15,358,596
Ending loans in repayment(4)	$	418,022		$	15,505,145
Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(6)	$	—		$	464,807

(1) See Note 6, “Unfunded Loan Commitments,” for a summary of the activity in the allowance for and balance of unfunded loan commitments, respectively.

(2) Below is a reconciliation of the provisions for credit losses reported in the consolidated statements of income. When a new loan commitment is made, we record the CECL allowance as a liability for unfunded loan commitments by recording a provision for credit losses. When the loan is funded, we transfer that liability to the allowance for credit losses.

Consolidated Statements of Income Provisions for Credit Losses Reconciliation
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)
Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses:
Provisions for loan losses	$	60,328
Provisions for unfunded loan commitments	267,311
Total Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses	327,639
Other impacts to the provisions for credit losses:
FFELP Loans	2,225
Total	2,225
Provisions for credit losses reported in consolidated statements of income	$	329,864

(3) For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, there were no allowance for credit losses, loans, or accrued interest to be capitalized balances that were individually evaluated for impairment.

(4) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

(5) Accrued interest to be capitalized on Private Education Loans only.

(6) Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment includes interest on loans that are in repayment but have not yet entered into full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, does not include the interest on those loans while they are in forbearance).

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	FFELP  Loans			Private  Education Loans			Credit Cards			Total
Allowance for Credit Losses
Beginning balance	$	4,077		$	1,158,977		$	2,281		$	1,165,335
Transfer from unfunded commitment liability(1)	—			303,591			—			303,591
Provisions:
Provision for current period	110			168,473			2,635			171,218
Loan sale reduction to provision	—			(171,325)			—			(171,325)
Loans transferred from held-for-sale	—			—			(2,372)			(2,372)
Total provisions(2)	110			(2,852)			263			(2,479)
Net charge-offs:
Charge-offs	(376)			(299,699)			(2,549)			(302,624)
Recoveries	—			30,410			5			30,415
Net charge-offs	(376)			(269,289)			(2,544)			(272,209)
Ending Balance	$	3,811		$	1,190,427		$	—		$	1,194,238
Allowance(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	3,811		$	1,190,427		$	—		$	1,194,238
Loans(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	643,614		$	20,104,463		$	—		$	20,748,077
Accrued interest to be capitalized(3):
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$	—		$	1,056,983		$	—		$	1,056,983
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(4)	0.09		%	2.37		%	—		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance and accrued interest to be capitalized(5)	0.59		%	5.63		%	—		%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment and accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(4)(5)	0.78		%	7.98		%	—		%
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)	7.60			3.32			—
Ending total loans, gross	$	643,614		$	20,104,463		$	—
Average loans in repayment(4)	$	532,275		$	15,173,465		$	—
Ending loans in repayment(4)	$	489,920		$	14,546,556		$	—
Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment(6)	$	—		$	371,388		$	—

(1) See Note 6, “Unfunded Loan Commitments,” for a summary of the activity in the allowance for and balance of unfunded loan commitments, respectively.

(2) Below is a reconciliation of the provisions for credit losses reported in the consolidated statements of income. When a new loan commitment is made, we record the CECL allowance as a liability for unfunded loan commitments by recording a provision for credit losses. When the loan is funded, we transfer that liability to the allowance for credit losses.

Consolidated Statements of Income Provisions for Credit Losses Reconciliation
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 (dollars in thousands)
Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses:
Provisions for loan losses	$	(2,852)
Provisions for unfunded loan commitments	338,672
Total Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses	335,820
Other impacts to the provisions for credit losses:
FFELP Loans	110
Credit Cards	263
Total	373
Provisions for credit losses reported in consolidated statements of income	$	336,193

(3) For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, there were no allowance for credit losses, loans, or accrued interest to be capitalized balances that were individually evaluated for impairment.

(4) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, do not include those loans while they are in forbearance).

(5) Accrued interest to be capitalized on Private Education Loans only.

(6) Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment includes interest on loans that are in repayment but have not yet entered into full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period (but, for purposes of the table, does not include the interest on those loans while they are in forbearance).

The tables below summarize the activity in the allowance recorded to cover lifetime expected credit losses on the unfunded commitments, which is recorded in “Other Liabilities” on the consolidated balance sheets, as well as the activity in the unfunded commitments balance.

	2023				2022
Three Months Ended September 30, (dollars in thousands)	Allowance		Unfunded Commitments		Allowance		Unfunded Commitments
Beginning Balance	$	62,600	$	1,562,856	$	113,525	$	1,413,840
Provision/New commitments - net(1)	115,605		3,258,234		192,559		3,148,434
Other provision items	37,329		—		(29,913)		—
Transfer - funded loans(2)	(101,687)		(2,451,203)		(168,377)		(2,345,348)
Ending Balance	$	113,847	$	2,369,887	$	107,794	$	2,216,926
	2023				2022
Nine Months Ended September 30, (dollars in thousands)	Allowance		Unfunded Commitments		Allowance		Unfunded Commitments
Beginning Balance	$	124,924	$	1,995,808	$	72,713	$	1,776,976
Provision/New commitments - net(1)	220,303		5,912,418		339,705		5,584,129
Other provision items	47,008		—		(1,033)		—
Transfer - funded loans(2)	(278,388)		(5,538,339)		(303,591)		(5,144,179)
Ending Balance	$	113,847	$	2,369,887	$	107,794	$	2,216,926

(1)     Net of expirations of commitments unused.

(2)     When a loan commitment is funded, its related liability for credit losses (which originally was recorded as a provision for unfunded commitments) is transferred to the allowance for credit losses.

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Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Acquired Intangible Assets

Acquired intangible assets include the following:

		September 30, 2023						December 31, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Weighted Average Useful Life (in years)(1)	Cost Basis		Accumulated Amortization		Net		Cost Basis		Accumulated Amortization		Net
Tradename and trademarks(2)	9.5	$	74,510	$	(11,093)	$	63,417	$	68,470	$	(5,706)	$	62,764
Customer relationships(2)	4.6	8,920		(3,268)		5,652		5,670		(1,723)		3,947
Developed technology(2)	3.5	2,590		(720)		1,870		1,260		(350)		910
Partner relationships	2.5	730		(49)		681		—		—		—
Total acquired intangible assets		$	86,750	$	(15,130)	$	71,620	$	75,400	$	(7,779)	$	67,621

(1)     The weighted average useful life of acquired intangible assets is at acquisition; 9.5 years is the weighted average useful life of the acquired intangible assets related to the Nitro acquisition and 3.9 years is related to the Scholly acquisition.

(2) Tradename and trademarks, customer relationships, and developed technology at September 30, 2023 include $6 million, $3 million, and $1 million, respectively related to the Scholly acquisition.

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Deposits (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Banking and Thrift, Other Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Deposits

The following table summarizes total deposits at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

	September 30,		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023		2022
Deposits - interest-bearing	$	21,550,108	$	21,446,647
Deposits - non-interest-bearing	637		1,424
Total deposits	$	21,550,745	$	21,448,071

Schedule of Interest Bearing Deposits

Interest bearing deposits at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 are summarized as follows:

 

	September 30, 2023				December 31, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Amount		Qtr.-End Weighted Average Stated Rate(1)		Amount		Year-End Weighted Average Stated Rate(1)
Money market	$	10,241,232	4.75	%	$	10,977,242	3.75	%
Savings	930,590		4.35		982,586		3.15
Certificates of deposit	10,378,286		3.58		9,486,819		2.57
Deposits - interest bearing	$	21,550,108			$	21,446,647

    (1) Includes the effect of interest rate swaps in effective hedge relationships.

Schedule of Certificates of Deposit Maturities

Certificates of deposit remaining maturities are summarized as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)	September 30, 2023		December 31, 2022
One year or less	$	3,436,186	$	3,224,573
After one year to two years	4,079,381		2,954,257
After two years to three years	2,359,064		1,904,919
After three years to four years	248,301		1,031,881
After four years to five years	255,354		324,375
After five years	—		46,814
Total	$	10,378,286	$	9,486,819

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Borrowings (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Debt

The following table summarizes our borrowings at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

	September 30, 2023						December 31, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Short-Term		Long-Term		Total		Short-Term		Long-Term		Total
Unsecured borrowings:
Unsecured debt (fixed-rate)	$	—	$	991,396	$	991,396	$	—	$	988,986	$	988,986
Total unsecured borrowings	—		991,396		991,396		—		988,986		988,986
Secured borrowings:
Private Education Loan term securitizations:
Fixed-rate	—		3,807,493		3,807,493		—		3,462,363		3,462,363
Variable-rate	—		716,643		716,643		—		783,765		783,765
Total Private Education Loan term securitizations	—		4,524,136		4,524,136		—		4,246,128		4,246,128
Secured Borrowing Facility	—		—		—		—		—		—
Total secured borrowings	—		4,524,136		4,524,136		—		4,246,128		4,246,128
Total	$	—	$	5,515,532	$	5,515,532	$	—	$	5,235,114	$	5,235,114

Schedule of Securities Financing Transactions

The following table summarizes our secured financings issued in the year ended December 31, 2022 and in the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

Issue	Date Issued	Total Issued		Weighted Average Cost of Funds(1)	Weighted Average Life  (in years)
(Dollars in thousands)
Private Education Loans:
2022-C	August 2022	$	575,000	SOFR plus 1.76%	4.69
Total notes issued in 2022		$	575,000
Total loan and accrued interest amount securitized at inception in 2022(2)		$	674,387
2023-A	March 2023	$	579,000	SOFR plus 1.53%	5.06
2023-C	August 2023	568,000		SOFR plus 1.69%	4.93
Total notes issued in 2023		$	1,147,000
Total loan and accrued interest amount securitized at inception in 2023(3)		$	1,292,507

(1) Represents SOFR equivalent cost of funds for floating and fixed-rate bonds, excluding issuance costs.

(2) At September 30, 2023, $565 million of our Private Education Loans, including $527 million of principal and $38 million in capitalized interest, were encumbered related to these transactions.

(3) At September 30, 2023, $1.24 billion of our Private Education Loans, including $1.15 billion of principal and $94 million in capitalized interest, were encumbered related to these transactions.

Schedule of Variable Interest Entities

We consolidate our financing entities that are VIEs as a result of our being the entities’ primary beneficiary. As a result, these financing VIEs are accounted for as secured borrowings.

As of September 30, 2023 (dollars in thousands)	Debt Outstanding						Carrying Amount of Assets Securing Debt Outstanding
	Short-Term		Long-Term		Total		Loans		Restricted Cash		Other Assets(1)		Total
Secured borrowings:
Private Education Loan term securitizations	$	—	$	4,524,136	$	4,524,136	$	5,776,779	$	174,757	$	358,220	$	6,309,756
Secured Borrowing Facility	—		—		—		—		—		1,767		1,767
Total	$	—	$	4,524,136	$	4,524,136	$	5,776,779	$	174,757	$	359,987	$	6,311,523

As of December 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands)	Debt Outstanding						Carrying Amount of Assets Securing Debt Outstanding
	Short-Term		Long-Term		Total		Loans		Restricted Cash		Other Assets(1)		Total
Secured borrowings:
Private Education Loan term securitizations	$	—	$	4,246,128	$	4,246,128	$	5,433,602	$	156,719	$	286,093	$	5,876,414
Secured Borrowing Facility	—		—		—		—		—		1,066		1,066
Total	$	—	$	4,246,128	$	4,246,128	$	5,433,602	$	156,719	$	287,159	$	5,877,480

(1) Other assets primarily represent accrued interest receivable.

The table below provides a summary of our exposure related to our unconsolidated VIEs.

	September 30, 2023						December 31, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Debt Interests(1)		Equity Interests(2)		Total Exposure		Debt Interests(1)		Equity Interests(2)		Total Exposure
Private Education Loan term securitizations	$	389,006	$	52,561	$	441,567	$	329,188	$	50,786	$	379,974

(1) Vertical risk retention interest classified as available-for-sale investment.

(2) Vertical risk retention interest classified as trading investment.

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Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Impact of Derivatives on the Consolidated Balance Sheet

The following tables summarize the fair values and notional amounts of all derivative instruments at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, and their impact on earnings and other comprehensive income for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022. Please refer to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 13, “Derivative Financial Instruments” in our 2022 Form 10-K for a full discussion of cash flow hedges, fair value hedges, and trading activities.

Impact of Derivatives on the Consolidated Balance Sheets
		Cash Flow Hedges				Fair Value Hedges				Trading				Total
		September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)		2023		2022		2023		2022		2023		2022		2023		2022
Fair Values(1)	Hedged Risk Exposure
Derivative Assets:(2)
Interest rate swaps	Interest rate	$	—	$	972	$	17	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	17	$	972
Derivative Liabilities:(2)
Interest rate swaps	Interest rate	(268)		—		—		(567)		—		—		(268)		(567)
Total net derivatives		$	(268)	$	972	$	17	$	(567)	$	—	$	—	$	(251)	$	405

(1)    Fair values reported include variation margin as legal settlement of the derivative contract. Assets and liabilities are presented without consideration of master netting agreements. Derivatives are carried on the balance sheet based on net position by counterparty under master netting agreements and classified in other assets or other liabilities depending on whether in a net positive or negative position.

(2)    The following table reconciles gross positions with the impact of master netting agreements to the balance sheet classification:

	Other Assets				Other Liabilities
	September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Gross position(1)	$	17	$	972	$	(268)	$	(567)
Impact of master netting agreement	(17)		(567)		17		567
Derivative values with impact of master netting agreements (as carried on balance sheet)	—		405		(251)		—
Cash collateral pledged(2)	11,087		11,162		—		—
Net position	$	11,087	$	11,567	$	(251)	$	—

(1)Gross position amounts include accrued interest and variation margin as legal settlement of the derivative contract.

(2)Cash collateral pledged excludes amounts that represent legal settlement of the derivative contracts.

Schedule of Offsetting Assets

The following table reconciles gross positions with the impact of master netting agreements to the balance sheet classification:

	Other Assets				Other Liabilities
	September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Gross position(1)	$	17	$	972	$	(268)	$	(567)
Impact of master netting agreement	(17)		(567)		17		567
Derivative values with impact of master netting agreements (as carried on balance sheet)	—		405		(251)		—
Cash collateral pledged(2)	11,087		11,162		—		—
Net position	$	11,087	$	11,567	$	(251)	$	—

(1)Gross position amounts include accrued interest and variation margin as legal settlement of the derivative contract.

(2)Cash collateral pledged excludes amounts that represent legal settlement of the derivative contracts.

Schedule of Offsetting Liabilities

The following table reconciles gross positions with the impact of master netting agreements to the balance sheet classification:

	Other Assets				Other Liabilities
	September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Gross position(1)	$	17	$	972	$	(268)	$	(567)
Impact of master netting agreement	(17)		(567)		17		567
Derivative values with impact of master netting agreements (as carried on balance sheet)	—		405		(251)		—
Cash collateral pledged(2)	11,087		11,162		—		—
Net position	$	11,087	$	11,567	$	(251)	$	—

(1)Gross position amounts include accrued interest and variation margin as legal settlement of the derivative contract.

(2)Cash collateral pledged excludes amounts that represent legal settlement of the derivative contracts.

Schedule of Notional Amounts of Outstanding Derivative Positions

Notional Values
	Cash Flow				Fair Value				Trading				Total
(Dollars in thousands)	September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
	2023		2022		2023		2022		2023		2022		2023		2022
Interest rate swaps	$	1,229,011	$	1,314,660	$	702,309	$	1,528,186	$	—	$	—	$	1,931,320	$	2,842,846
Net total notional	$	1,229,011	$	1,314,660	$	702,309	$	1,528,186	$	—	$	—	$	1,931,320	$	2,842,846

Schedule of Cumulative Basis Adjustments for Fair Value Hedges

As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the following amounts were recorded on the consolidated balance sheet related to cumulative basis adjustments for fair value hedges:

(Dollars in thousands)	Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets/(Liabilities)				Cumulative Amount of Fair Value Hedging Adjustment Included in the Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets/(Liabilities)
Line Item in the Balance Sheet in Which the Hedged Item is Included:	September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Deposits	$	(681,292)	$	(1,494,087)	$	20,755	$	31,259

Schedule of Impact of Derivatives on the Consolidated Statements of Income

Impact of Derivatives on the Consolidated Statements of Income
	Three Months Ended   September 30,				Nine Months Ended   September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Fair Value Hedges
Interest rate swaps:
Interest recognized on derivatives	$	(6,701)	$	(1,783)	$	(19,086)	$	24,418
Hedged items recorded in interest expense	(4,346)		14,143		(10,504)		86,899
Derivatives recorded in interest expense	4,265		(14,425)		10,596		(86,896)
Total	$	(6,782)	$	(2,065)	$	(18,994)	$	24,421
Cash Flow Hedges
Interest rate swaps:
Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into interest expense	$	12,813	$	2,771	$	34,917	$	(4,033)
Total	$	12,813	$	2,771	$	34,917	$	(4,033)
Trading
Interest rate swaps:
Change in fair value of future interest payments recorded in earnings	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	(248)
Total	—		—		—		(248)
Total	$	6,031	$	706	$	15,923	$	20,140

Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Effect on Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Impact of Derivatives on the Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)	$	7,046	$	32,594	$	21,726	$	94,215
Less: amount of gain (loss) reclassified in interest expense	12,813		2,771		34,917		(4,033)
Total change in other comprehensive income (loss) for unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives, before income tax (expense) benefit	$	(5,767)	$	29,823	$	(13,191)	$	98,248

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Stockholders' Equity (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Equity [Abstract]

Schedule of Common Share Repurchases

The following table summarizes our common share repurchases and issuances.

 

	Three Months Ended   September 30,				Nine Months Ended   September 30,
(Shares and per share amounts in actuals)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Common stock repurchased under repurchase programs(1)	—		1,191,544		16,389,696		30,721,944
Average purchase price per share(2)	$	—	$	14.14	$	15.71	$	18.00
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans(3)	10,687		448		1,088,330		1,131,351
Average purchase price per share	$	16.14	$	13.99	$	15.45	$	18.36
Common shares issued(4)	200,886		4,682		3,073,639		3,093,392

(1) Common shares purchased under our share repurchase programs. We have utilized all capacity under our 2021 Share Repurchase Program. There was $326 million of capacity remaining under the 2022 Share Repurchase Program at September 30, 2023.

(2) Average purchase price per share includes purchase commission costs and excise taxes.

(3) Comprised of shares withheld from stock option exercises and vesting of restricted stock for employees’ tax withholding obligations and shares tendered by employees to satisfy option exercise costs.

(4)  Common shares issued under our various compensation and benefit plans.

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Earnings per Common Share (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted

A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted EPS calculations follows.

	Three Months Ended   September 30,				Nine Months Ended   September 30,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	2023		2022		2023		2022
Numerator:
Net income	$	29,365	$	75,172	$	412,948	$	546,057
Preferred stock dividends	4,642		2,531		12,979		5,563
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	$	24,723	$	72,641	$	399,969	$	540,494
Denominator:
Weighted average shares used to compute basic EPS	226,120		251,266		234,170		263,098
Effect of dilutive securities:
Dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance stock units, and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) (1)(2)	2,680		2,450		2,423		2,967
Weighted average shares used to compute diluted EPS	228,800		253,716		236,593		266,065
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.11	$	0.29	$	1.71	$	2.05
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.11	$	0.29	$	1.69	$	2.03

(1)     Includes the potential dilutive effect of additional common shares that are issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance stock units, and the outstanding commitment to issue shares under the ESPP, determined by the treasury stock method.

(2)      For the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, securities covering approximately 1 million shares and 1 million shares, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, securities covering approximately 1 million and 1 million shares, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because they were anti-dilutive.

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Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Valuation of Financial Instruments that are Marked-to-Market on Recurring Basis

The following table summarizes the valuation of our financial instruments that are marked-to-fair value on a recurring basis.

	Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis
	September 30, 2023								December 31, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:
Trading investments	$	—	$	—	$	52,561	$	52,561	$	—	$	—	$	55,903	$	55,903
Available-for-sale investments	—		2,315,978		—		2,315,978		—		2,342,089		—		2,342,089
Derivative instruments	—		17		—		17		—		972		—		972
Total	$	—	$	2,315,995	$	52,561	$	2,368,556	$	—	$	2,343,061	$	55,903	$	2,398,964
Liabilities:
Derivative instruments	$	—	$	(268)	$	—	$	(268)	$	—	$	(567)	$	—	$	(567)
Total	$	—	$	(268)	$	—	$	(268)	$	—	$	(567)	$	—	$	(567)

Fair Values of Financial Assets and Liabilities, Including Derivative Financial Instruments

The following table summarizes the fair values of our financial assets and liabilities, including derivative financial instruments.

	September 30, 2023						December 31, 2022
(Dollars in thousands)	Fair Value		Carrying Value		Difference		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Difference
Earning assets:
Loans held for investment, net:
Private Education Loans	$	22,370,679	$	20,348,308	$	2,022,371	$	21,062,548	$	19,019,713	$	2,042,835
FFELP Loans	559,852		550,873		8,979		618,186		607,155		11,031
Loans held for sale	—		—		—		29,448		29,448		—
Cash and cash equivalents	3,548,225		3,548,225		—		4,616,117		4,616,117		—
Trading investments	52,561		52,561		—		55,903		55,903		—
Available-for-sale investments	2,315,978		2,315,978		—		2,342,089		2,342,089		—
Accrued interest receivable	1,498,156		1,457,323		40,833		1,237,074		1,202,059		35,015
Tax indemnification receivable	2,945		2,945		—		2,816		2,816		—
Derivative instruments	17		17		—		972		972		—
Total earning assets	$	30,348,413	$	28,276,230	$	2,072,183	$	29,965,153	$	27,876,272	$	2,088,881
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Money-market and savings accounts	$	11,060,884	$	11,171,822	$	110,938	$	11,854,849	$	11,959,828	$	104,979
Certificates of deposit	10,201,927		10,378,286		176,359		9,175,339		9,486,819		311,480
Long-term borrowings	5,133,657		5,515,532		381,875		4,813,233		5,235,114		421,881
Accrued interest payable	99,415		99,415		—		71,586		71,586		—
Derivative instruments	268		268		—		567		567		—
Total interest-bearing liabilities	$	26,496,151	$	27,165,323	$	669,172	$	25,915,574	$	26,753,914	$	838,340
Excess of net asset fair value over carrying value					$	2,741,355					$	2,927,221

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Regulatory Capital (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Banking and Thrift, Other Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements Under Banking Regulations

At September 30, 2023, the adjusted transition amounts that were deferred and are being phased in for regulatory capital purposes are as follows:

	Adjusted Transition Amounts		Phase-In Amounts for the Year Ended		Phase-In Amounts for the Nine Months Ended		Remaining Adjusted Transition Amounts to be Phased-In
(Dollars in thousands)	December 31, 2021		December 31, 2022		September 30, 2023		September 30, 2023
Retained earnings	$	836,351	$	(209,088)	$	(209,088)	$	418,175
Allowance for credit losses	1,038,145		(259,536)		(259,536)		519,073
Liability for unfunded commitments	104,377		(26,094)		(26,094)		52,189
Deferred tax asset	306,171		(76,542)		(76,542)		153,087

The Bank’s required and actual regulatory capital amounts and ratios under U.S. Basel III are shown in the following table. The following capital amounts and ratios are based upon the Bank’s average assets and risk-weighted assets, as indicated. The Bank has elected to exclude accumulated other comprehensive income related to both available-for-sale investments and swap valuations from Common Equity Tier 1 Capital. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the unrealized loss on available-for-sale investments included in other comprehensive income totaled $158 million and $160 million, net of tax of $51 million and $52 million, respectively. The capital ratios would remain above the well capitalized thresholds if the unrealized loss became fully recognized into capital.

(Dollars in thousands)	Actual				U.S. Basel III Minimum Requirements Plus Buffer(1)(2)
	Amount		Ratio		Amount			Ratio
As of September 30, 2023(3):
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	2,935,903	11.7	%	$	1,763,562	>	7.0	%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	2,935,903	11.7	%	$	2,141,468	>	8.5	%
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	3,258,771	12.9	%	$	2,645,343	>	10.5	%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)	$	2,935,903	10.1	%	$	1,166,116	>	4.0	%
As of December 31, 2022(3):
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	3,040,662	12.9	%	$	1,645,807	>	7.0	%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	3,040,662	12.9	%	$	1,998,480	>	8.5	%
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$	3,338,645	14.2	%	$	2,468,711	>	10.5	%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)	$	3,040,662	10.3	%	$	1,185,280	>	4.0	%

(1)    Reflects the U.S. Basel III minimum required ratio plus the applicable capital conservation buffer.

(2)    The Bank’s regulatory capital ratios also exceeded all applicable standards for the Bank to qualify as “well capitalized” under the prompt corrective action framework.

(3)    For both September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the actual amounts and the actual ratios include the adjusted transition amounts discussed above that were phased in at the beginning of 2022 and 2023.

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Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		2 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jul. 21, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill		$ 56	$ 56
Scholly, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 5
Acquisition transaction costs		$ 1
Identifiable intangible assets aggregate fair value at acquisition date	$ 11
Weighted average useful life of acquired intangible assets			3 years 10 months 24 days
Scholly, Inc. | Minimum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted average useful life of acquired intangible assets	2 years
Scholly, Inc. | Maximum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted average useful life of acquired intangible assets	4 years

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Investments - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($) security	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($) security	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($) security Rate	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) security	Mar. 31, 2023 USD ($)
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Vertical risk retention interest		5.00%	5.00%
Trading investments	$ 52,561	$ 52,561	$ 52,561	$ 55,903
Number of government sponsored securities with unrealized losses | security	226	226	226	191
Number of mortgage-backed securities | security	230	230	230	194
Par value of mortgage-backed securities pledged to FRB	$ 582,000	$ 582,000	$ 582,000	$ 547,000
Non-marketable securities investment	14,000	14,000	14,000	8,000
Low income housing tax credit investments	74,000	74,000	74,000	80,000
Liability for unfunded commitments	34,000	$ 34,000	$ 34,000	46,000
Low income housing tax credit investments, tax credits and benefits (less than)	$ 1,000			9,000
Low income housing tax credit investments, expected tax benefits recognized		25.00%
Convertible Debt Securities
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Trading investments				$ 5,000
Equity Securities
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Non-marketable securities investment					$ 5,000

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Investments - Amortized Cost and Fair Value of Securities Available for Sale (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	$ 2,524,634	$ 2,554,332
Allowance for credit losses	0	0
Gross Unrealized Gains	595	35
Gross Unrealized Losses	(209,251)	(212,278)
Estimated Fair Value	2,315,978	2,342,089
Mortgage-backed securities
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	438,527	389,067
Allowance for credit losses	0	0
Gross Unrealized Gains	0	2
Gross Unrealized Losses	(87,399)	(68,705)
Estimated Fair Value	351,128	320,364
Utah Housing Corporation bonds
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	3,408	3,584
Allowance for credit losses	0	0
Gross Unrealized Gains	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses	(555)	(357)
Estimated Fair Value	2,853	3,227
U.S. government-sponsored enterprises and Treasuries
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	1,669,748	1,804,726
Allowance for credit losses	0	0
Gross Unrealized Gains	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses	(96,757)	(115,416)
Estimated Fair Value	1,572,991	1,689,310
Other securities
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	412,951	356,955
Allowance for credit losses	0	0
Gross Unrealized Gains	595	33
Gross Unrealized Losses	(24,540)	(27,800)
Estimated Fair Value	$ 389,006	$ 329,188

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Investments - Gross Unrealized Losses and Fair Value for Mortgage-Backed in Unrealized Loss Position (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Less than 12 months
Gross Unrealized Losses	$ (5,393)	$ (58,293)
Estimated Fair Value	148,846	1,024,671
12 months or more
Gross Unrealized Losses	(203,858)	(153,985)
Estimated Fair Value	2,095,461	1,313,469
Total
Gross Unrealized Losses	(209,251)	(212,278)
Estimated Fair Value	2,244,307	2,338,140
Mortgage-backed securities
Less than 12 months
Gross Unrealized Losses	(3,342)	(13,956)
Estimated Fair Value	67,737	99,598
12 months or more
Gross Unrealized Losses	(84,057)	(54,749)
Estimated Fair Value	283,391	220,576
Total
Gross Unrealized Losses	(87,399)	(68,705)
Estimated Fair Value	351,128	320,174
Utah Housing Corporation bonds
Less than 12 months
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	(357)
Estimated Fair Value	0	3,227
12 months or more
Gross Unrealized Losses	(555)	0
Estimated Fair Value	2,853	0
Total
Gross Unrealized Losses	(555)	(357)
Estimated Fair Value	2,853	3,227
U.S. government-sponsored enterprises and Treasuries
Less than 12 months
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	(28,128)
Estimated Fair Value	0	689,300
12 months or more
Gross Unrealized Losses	(96,757)	(87,288)
Estimated Fair Value	1,572,991	1,000,010
Total
Gross Unrealized Losses	(96,757)	(115,416)
Estimated Fair Value	1,572,991	1,689,310
Other securities
Less than 12 months
Gross Unrealized Losses	(2,051)	(15,852)
Estimated Fair Value	81,109	232,546
12 months or more
Gross Unrealized Losses	(22,489)	(11,948)
Estimated Fair Value	236,226	92,883
Total
Gross Unrealized Losses	(24,540)	(27,800)
Estimated Fair Value	$ 317,335	$ 325,429

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Investments - Maturity Table (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	$ 2,524,634	$ 2,554,332
Estimated Fair Value	2,315,978	$ 2,342,089
2023
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	25,000
Estimated Fair Value	24,767
2024
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	699,111
Estimated Fair Value	677,812
2025
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	298,564
Estimated Fair Value	285,252
2026
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	548,563
Estimated Fair Value	492,182
2027
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	98,511
Estimated Fair Value	92,979
2038
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	69
Estimated Fair Value	68
2039
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	663
Estimated Fair Value	622
2042
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	2,439
Estimated Fair Value	2,008
2043
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	4,209
Estimated Fair Value	3,573
2044
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	4,945
Estimated Fair Value	4,302
2045
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	5,163
Estimated Fair Value	4,337
2046
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	7,841
Estimated Fair Value	6,540
2047
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	7,917
Estimated Fair Value	6,658
2048
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	2,032
Estimated Fair Value	1,790
2049
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	15,899
Estimated Fair Value	13,366
2050
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	109,845
Estimated Fair Value	82,601
2051
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	156,133
Estimated Fair Value	116,543
2052
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	54,219
Estimated Fair Value	44,328
2053
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	163,617
Estimated Fair Value	150,202
2054
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	75,509
Estimated Fair Value	67,142
2055
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	90,148
Estimated Fair Value	86,125
2056
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	105,584
Estimated Fair Value	104,292
2058
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	48,653
Estimated Fair Value	$ 48,489

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Loans Held for Investment - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2022	Jul. 01, 2006	Jun. 30, 2006	Sep. 30, 1993
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Percent of private loans indexed to LIBOR	35.00%		35.00%		45.00%
Tier 1 of government guarantee (at least)	97.00%		97.00%			97.00%
Tier 2 of government guarantee							98.00%
Tier 3 of government guarantee								100.00%
Gain on sales of loans, net	$ (5)	$ 74,978	$ 124,740	$ 324,856
Estimated weighted average life of student loans			5 years		5 years
Private Education Loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Gain on sales of loans, net			$ 128,000	325,000
Proceeds from sale of loans receivable			2,100,000	3,290,000
Net proceeds from sales of loans held for investment, principal			1,960,000	3,080,000
Net proceeds from sales of loans held for investment, capitalized interest			$ 144,000	$ 213,000

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Loans Held for Investment - Student Loan Portfolio by Program (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Sep. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Allowance for credit losses	$ (1,416,048)	$ (1,364,716)	$ (1,357,075)	$ (1,194,238)	$ (1,081,066)	$ (1,165,335)
Private Education Loans, net	20,899,181		19,626,868
Private Education Loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan type	21,680,867		20,303,688
Deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)	78,673		69,656
Allowance for credit losses	(1,411,232)		(1,353,631)
Private Education Loans, net	20,348,308		19,019,713
Private Education Loans | Fixed-rate
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan type	14,000,110		11,108,079
Private Education Loans | Variable-rate
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan type	7,680,757		9,195,609
FFELP Loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loan type	554,309		609,050
Deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)	1,380		1,549
Allowance for credit losses	(4,816)		(3,444)
Private Education Loans, net	$ 550,873		$ 607,155

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Loans Held for Investment - Student Loan Portfolio Average Balances (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Average Balance	$ 21,213,165	$ 20,614,487	$ 21,615,968	$ 21,359,026
Private Education Loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Average Balance	$ 20,649,663	$ 19,958,763	$ 21,032,541	$ 20,685,372
Weighted Average Interest Rate	10.96%	9.43%	10.80%	8.82%
FFELP Loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Average Balance	$ 563,502	$ 655,724	$ 583,427	$ 673,654
Weighted Average Interest Rate	7.35%	5.03%	7.10%	4.18%

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Loans Held for Sale (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2022
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans held for sale	$ 0			$ 0		$ 29,448
Loss on sale of loan	5		$ (74,978)	(124,740)	$ (324,856)
Credit Cards
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans held for sale	$ 0			$ 0		$ 29,000
Financing receivable allowance for credit loss, transfer to held-to-sale					2,400
Charge-off					$ 1,500
Loss on sale of loan		$ 4,000

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Allowance for Credit Losses - Allowance and Recorded Investments in Loans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2022
Allowance for Credit Losses
Beginning balance	$ 1,364,716	$ 1,081,066	$ 1,357,075	$ 1,165,335	$ 1,165,335
Transfer from unfunded commitment liability	101,687	168,377	278,388	303,591
Provision for current period	45,089	97,550	199,084	171,218
Loan sale reduction to provision		(50,226)	(136,531)	(171,325)
Loans transferred from held-for-sale		(2,372)		(2,372)
Total provisions	45,089	44,952	62,553	(2,479)
Net charge-offs:
Charge-offs	(105,137)	(111,559)	(315,353)	(302,624)
Recoveries	9,693	11,402	33,385	30,415
Net charge-offs	(95,444)	(100,157)	(281,968)	(272,209)
Ending Balance	1,416,048	1,194,238	1,416,048	1,194,238	1,357,075
Allowance
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	1,416,048	1,194,238	1,416,048	1,194,238
Loans
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	22,235,176	20,748,077	22,235,176	20,748,077
Accrued Interest to be Capitalized
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	1,283,388	1,056,983	1,283,388	1,056,983
Other impacts to the provisions for credit losses	666	(304)	2,225	373
Provisions for credit losses reported in consolidated statements of income	198,023	207,598	329,864	336,193
FFELP Loans
Allowance for Credit Losses
Beginning balance	4,422	3,929	3,444	4,077	4,077
Transfer from unfunded commitment liability	0	0	0	0
Provision for current period	666	29	2,225	110
Loan sale reduction to provision		0	0	0
Loans transferred from held-for-sale		0		0
Total provisions	666	29	2,225	110
Net charge-offs:
Charge-offs	(272)	(147)	(853)	(376)
Recoveries	0	0	0	0
Net charge-offs	(272)	(147)	(853)	(376)
Ending Balance	4,816	3,811	4,816	3,811	3,444
Allowance
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	4,816	3,811	4,816	3,811
Loans
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	554,309	643,614	554,309	643,614
Accrued Interest to be Capitalized
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)	0.25%	0.11%	0.26%	0.09%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance and accrued interest to be capitalized	0.87%	0.59%	0.87%	0.59%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment and accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment	1.15%	0.78%	1.15%	0.78%
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)	4.43	6.48	4.23	7.60
Ending total loans, gross	$ 554,309	$ 643,614	$ 554,309	$ 643,614
Average loans in repayment	428,028	518,226	440,716	532,275
Ending loans in repayment	418,022	489,920	418,022	489,920
Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment	0	0	0	0
Other impacts to the provisions for credit losses	666	29	2,225	110
Private Education Loans
Allowance for Credit Losses
Beginning balance	1,360,294	1,074,744	1,353,631	1,158,977	1,158,977
Transfer from unfunded commitment liability	101,687	168,377	278,388	303,591
Provision for current period	44,423	95,482	196,859	168,473
Loan sale reduction to provision		(50,226)	(136,531)	(171,325)
Loans transferred from held-for-sale		0		0
Total provisions	44,423	45,256	60,328	(2,852)
Net charge-offs:
Charge-offs	(104,865)	(109,350)	(314,500)	(299,699)
Recoveries	9,693	11,400	33,385	30,410
Net charge-offs	(95,172)	(97,950)	(281,115)	(269,289)
Ending Balance	1,411,232	1,190,427	1,411,232	1,190,427	1,353,631
Allowance
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	1,411,232	1,190,427	1,411,232	1,190,427
Loans
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	21,680,867	20,104,463	21,680,867	20,104,463
Accrued Interest to be Capitalized
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	$ 1,283,388	$ 1,056,983	$ 1,283,388	$ 1,056,983
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)	2.53%	2.67%	2.44%	2.37%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance and accrued interest to be capitalized	6.15%	5.63%	6.15%	5.63%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment and accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment	8.84%	7.98%	8.84%	7.98%
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)	3.71	3.04	3.77	3.32
Ending total loans, gross	$ 21,680,867	$ 20,104,463	$ 21,680,867	$ 20,104,463
Average loans in repayment	15,023,993	14,674,437	15,358,596	15,173,465
Ending loans in repayment	15,505,145	14,546,556	15,505,145	14,546,556
Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment	464,807	371,388	464,807	371,388
Provisions for loan losses	44,423	45,256	60,328	(2,852)
Provisions for unfunded loan commitments	152,934	162,646	267,311	338,672
Total Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses	$ 197,357	207,902	$ 327,639	335,820
Credit Cards
Allowance for Credit Losses
Beginning balance		2,393		2,281	$ 2,281
Transfer from unfunded commitment liability		0		0
Provision for current period		2,039		2,635
Loan sale reduction to provision		0		0
Loans transferred from held-for-sale		(2,372)		(2,372)
Total provisions		(333)		263
Net charge-offs:
Charge-offs		(2,062)		(2,549)
Recoveries		2		5
Net charge-offs		(2,060)		(2,544)
Ending Balance		0		0
Allowance
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment		0		0
Loans
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment		0		0
Accrued Interest to be Capitalized
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment		$ 0		$ 0
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)		0.00%		0.00%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance and accrued interest to be capitalized		0.00%		0.00%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment and accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment		0.00%		0.00%
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)		0		0
Ending total loans, gross		$ 0		$ 0
Average loans in repayment		0		0
Ending loans in repayment		0		0
Accrued interest to be capitalized on loans in repayment		0		0
Other impacts to the provisions for credit losses		$ (333)		$ 263

XML

Allowance for Credit Losses - Narrative (Details)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($) termChange payment	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($)	Jul. 01, 2006
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing receivable allowance period decrease		$ 6,000,000
Negative provisions for loan sale	$ 50,226,000	$ 136,531,000	$ 171,325,000
Interest rate offered to borrowers facing financial difficulty, period		2 years
Number of term changes | termChange		2
Criteria for loans to be considered as nonperforming (greater than)		90 days
Tier 1 of government guarantee (at least)		97.00%		97.00%
Maximum amount of forbearance granted		12 months
Number of monthly payments required by a borrower between successive grants of forbearance | payment		12
Threshold period for payment default		60 days
Period of loans past due that have accrued interest		90 days
Monthly payment that is smaller than the interest accrued on the loan in that month		$ 25
Private Education Loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Negative provisions for loan sale	50,226,000	136,531,000	171,325,000
Loans sold		$ 2,100,000,000	3,290,000,000
Threshold period when delinquent loans are written off		120 days
FFELP Loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Negative provisions for loan sale	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Percentage of FFELP loans insured and guaranteed (at least)		97.00%
Maximum
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Interest rate offered to borrowers facing financial difficulty		4.00%
Increments in which forbearance is granted		2 months
Minimum
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Increments in which forbearance is granted		1 month

XML

Allowance for Credit Losses - Amortized Cost Basis of Financing Receivables with Loan Modifications (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Interest Rate Reduction
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans	$ 16,620	$ 9,750	$ 39,263	$ 25,065
% of Total Class of Financing Receivable	0.07%	0.05%	0.17%	0.12%
Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans	$ 90,193	$ 79,765	$ 254,639	$ 237,588
% of Total Class of Financing Receivable	0.39%	0.40%	1.10%	1.18%
Private Education Loans | Interest Rate Reduction
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans	$ 16,620	$ 9,750	$ 39,263	$ 25,065
% of Total Class of Financing Receivable	0.07%	0.05%	0.17%	0.12%
Private Education Loans | Interest Rate Reduction | Maximum
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Average contractual rate	13.57%	11.31%	13.29%	10.76%
Private Education Loans | Interest Rate Reduction | Minimum
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Average contractual rate	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%
Private Education Loans | Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans	$ 90,193	$ 79,765	$ 254,639	$ 237,588
% of Total Class of Financing Receivable	0.39%	0.40%	1.10%	1.18%
Weighted average life of loans	10 years 2 months 19 days	10 years 2 months 26 days	10 years 2 months 26 days	10 years 4 months 17 days
Private Education Loans | Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension | Maximum
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Average contractual rate	13.12%	10.87%	12.84%	10.17%
Private Education Loans | Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension | Minimum
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Average contractual rate	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%

XML

Allowance for Credit Losses - Amortized Cost Basis of Financing Receivables that Subsequently Defaulted (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2022
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Modified Loans			$ 293,902		$ 326,116
60 Days or Greater Past Due
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Modified Loans	$ 14,546	$ 9,467	26,449	$ 12,660
Payment Default	14,129	9,289	27,672	12,463
Charge-Offs	4,534	1,801	6,428	1,861
Combination - Interest Rate Reduction and Term Extension
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Modified Loans	12,400	8,500	23,000	11,400
Interest Rate Reduction
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Modified Loans	2,100	1,000	3,400	1,200
Private Education Loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Modified Loans			293,902		$ 326,116
Private Education Loans | 60 Days or Greater Past Due
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Modified Loans	14,546	9,467	26,449	12,660
Payment Default	14,129	9,289	27,672	12,463
Charge-Offs	$ 4,534	$ 1,801	$ 6,428	$ 1,861

XML

Allowance for Credit Losses - Payment Status (Amortized Cost Basis) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Payment Status (Amortized Cost Basis)	$ 293,902	$ 326,116
Deferment
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Payment Status (Amortized Cost Basis)	5,140	7,698
Current
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Payment Status (Amortized Cost Basis)	266,090	289,134
30-59 Days Past Due
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Payment Status (Amortized Cost Basis)	10,137	13,859
60-89 Days Past Due
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Payment Status (Amortized Cost Basis)	5,565	8,809
90 Days or Greater Past Due
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Payment Status (Amortized Cost Basis)	6,970	6,616
Private Education Loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Payment Status (Amortized Cost Basis)	293,902	326,116
Private Education Loans | Deferment
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Payment Status (Amortized Cost Basis)	5,140	7,698
Private Education Loans | Current
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Payment Status (Amortized Cost Basis)	266,090	289,134
Private Education Loans | 30-59 Days Past Due
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Payment Status (Amortized Cost Basis)	10,137	13,859
Private Education Loans | 60-89 Days Past Due
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Payment Status (Amortized Cost Basis)	5,565	8,809
Private Education Loans | 90 Days or Greater Past Due
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Payment Status (Amortized Cost Basis)	$ 6,970	$ 6,616

XML

Allowance for Credit Losses - Loan Portfolio Stratified by Key Credit Quality Indicators (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2022
% of Balance
Current period gross charge-offs, total	$ 105,137	$ 111,559	$ 315,353	$ 302,624
Current period recoveries, total	9,693	11,402	33,385	30,415
Current period net charge-offs, total	95,444	$ 100,157	281,968	$ 272,209
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan
% of Balance
Current period gross charge-offs, Year 1			(614)		$ (2,224)
Current period gross charge-offs, Year 2			(17,832)		(25,698)
Current period gross charge-offs, Year 3			(52,861)		(48,271)
Current period gross charge-offs, Year 4			(38,251)		(62,071)
Current period gross charge-offs, Year 5			(39,710)		(57,505)
Current period gross charge-offs, After Year 5			(165,232)		(231,647)
Current period gross charge-offs, total			314,500		427,416
Current period recoveries, Year 1			76		124
Current period recoveries, Year 2			1,278		1,841
Current period recoveries, Year 3			4,802		4,170
Current period recoveries, Year 4			3,522		5,556
Current period recoveries, Year 5			3,923		5,407
Current period recoveries, After Year 5			19,784		24,639
Current period recoveries, total			33,385		41,737
Current period net charge-offs, Year 1			(538)		(2,100)
Current period net charge-offs, Year 2			(16,554)		(23,857)
Current period recoveries, Year 3			(48,059)		(44,101)
Current period recoveries, Year 4			(34,729)		(56,515)
Current period recoveries, Year 5			(35,787)		(52,098)
Current period recoveries, After Year 5			(145,448)		(207,008)
Current period net charge-offs, total			281,115		385,679
Total accrued interest by origination vintage, Year 1	94,292		94,292		142,915
Total accrued interest by origination vintage, Year 2	407,226		407,226		315,308
Total accrued interest by origination vintage, Year 3	328,076		328,076		207,858
Total accrued interest by origination vintage, Year 4	186,063		186,063		184,832
Total accrued interest by origination vintage, Year 5	150,655		150,655		116,211
Total accrued interest by origination vintage, After Year 5	262,913		262,913		210,438
Total accrued interest by origination vintage	1,429,225		1,429,225		1,177,562
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | With and without cosigners
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	3,730,485		3,730,485		4,276,533
Year 2	5,421,538		5,421,538		4,547,159
Year 3	3,363,703		3,363,703		2,584,622
Year 4	1,991,433		1,991,433		2,172,660
Year 5	1,749,067		1,749,067		1,615,842
After Year 5	5,424,641		5,424,641		5,106,872
Loan type	$ 21,680,867		$ 21,680,867		$ 20,303,688
% of Balance
Total in percent	100.00%		100.00%		100.00%
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | With cosigner
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	$ 3,262,857		$ 3,262,857		$ 3,656,111
Year 2	4,710,256		4,710,256		3,941,921
Year 3	2,894,829		2,894,829		2,208,033
Year 4	1,686,843		1,686,843		1,853,619
Year 5	1,480,270		1,480,270		1,402,828
After Year 5	4,860,436		4,860,436		4,626,491
Loan type	$ 18,895,491		$ 18,895,491		$ 17,689,003
% of Balance
Private education loans	87.00%		87.00%		87.00%
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | Without cosigner
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	$ 467,628		$ 467,628		$ 620,422
Year 2	711,282		711,282		605,238
Year 3	468,874		468,874		376,589
Year 4	304,590		304,590		319,041
Year 5	268,797		268,797		213,014
After Year 5	564,205		564,205		480,381
Loan type	$ 2,785,376		$ 2,785,376		$ 2,614,685
% of Balance
Private education loans	13.00%		13.00%		13.00%
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | FICO at Origination
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	$ 3,730,485		$ 3,730,485		$ 4,276,533
Year 2	5,421,538		5,421,538		4,547,159
Year 3	3,363,703		3,363,703		2,584,622
Year 4	1,991,433		1,991,433		2,172,660
Year 5	1,749,067		1,749,067		1,615,842
After Year 5	5,424,641		5,424,641		5,106,872
Loan type	$ 21,680,867		$ 21,680,867		$ 20,303,688
% of Balance
Total in percent	100.00%		100.00%		100.00%
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | FICO at Origination | Less than 670
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	$ 278,407		$ 278,407		$ 326,991
Year 2	418,966		418,966		307,646
Year 3	236,903		236,903		158,606
Year 4	127,660		127,660		177,098
Year 5	146,011		146,011		143,674
After Year 5	481,014		481,014		439,587
Loan type	$ 1,688,961		$ 1,688,961		$ 1,553,602
% of Balance
Private education loans at origination	8.00%		8.00%		8.00%
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | FICO at Origination | 670-699
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	$ 530,255		$ 530,255		$ 593,216
Year 2	752,093		752,093		611,649
Year 3	455,895		455,895		356,541
Year 4	278,207		278,207		339,685
Year 5	275,056		275,056		259,142
After Year 5	929,262		929,262		878,426
Loan type	$ 3,220,768		$ 3,220,768		$ 3,038,659
% of Balance
Private education loans at origination	15.00%		15.00%		15.00%
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | FICO at Origination | 700-749
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	$ 1,150,877		$ 1,150,877		$ 1,336,765
Year 2	1,690,871		1,690,871		1,440,510
Year 3	1,067,755		1,067,755		834,819
Year 4	645,549		645,549		719,777
Year 5	584,322		584,322		537,680
After Year 5	1,830,206		1,830,206		1,722,068
Loan type	$ 6,969,580		$ 6,969,580		$ 6,591,619
% of Balance
Private education loans at origination	32.00%		32.00%		32.00%
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | FICO at Origination | Greater than or equal to 750
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	$ 1,770,946		$ 1,770,946		$ 2,019,561
Year 2	2,559,608		2,559,608		2,187,354
Year 3	1,603,150		1,603,150		1,234,656
Year 4	940,017		940,017		936,100
Year 5	743,678		743,678		675,346
After Year 5	2,184,159		2,184,159		2,066,791
Loan type	$ 9,801,558		$ 9,801,558		$ 9,119,808
% of Balance
Private education loans at origination	45.00%		45.00%		45.00%
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | FICO Refreshed
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	$ 3,730,485		$ 3,730,485		$ 4,276,533
Year 2	5,421,538		5,421,538		4,547,159
Year 3	3,363,703		3,363,703		2,584,622
Year 4	1,991,433		1,991,433		2,172,660
Year 5	1,749,067		1,749,067		1,615,842
After Year 5	5,424,641		5,424,641		5,106,872
Loan type	$ 21,680,867		$ 21,680,867		$ 20,303,688
% of Balance
Total in percent	100.00%		100.00%		100.00%
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | FICO Refreshed | Less than 670
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	$ 353,491		$ 353,491		$ 443,868
Year 2	605,817		605,817		461,589
Year 3	387,375		387,375		242,310
Year 4	218,261		218,261		237,105
Year 5	214,908		214,908		204,894
After Year 5	807,495		807,495		773,324
Loan type	$ 2,587,347		$ 2,587,347		$ 2,363,090
% of Balance
Private education loans at origination	12.00%		12.00%		12.00%
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | FICO Refreshed | 670-699
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	$ 528,071		$ 528,071		$ 594,118
Year 2	733,990		733,990		579,784
Year 3	422,792		422,792		284,244
Year 4	211,964		211,964		240,999
Year 5	187,283		187,283		173,754
After Year 5	607,515		607,515		564,344
Loan type	$ 2,691,615		$ 2,691,615		$ 2,437,243
% of Balance
Private education loans at origination	12.00%		12.00%		12.00%
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | FICO Refreshed | 700-749
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	$ 1,144,110		$ 1,144,110		$ 1,322,558
Year 2	1,602,766		1,602,766		1,378,910
Year 3	980,859		980,859		748,368
Year 4	553,576		553,576		628,060
Year 5	486,058		486,058		449,701
After Year 5	1,469,715		1,469,715		1,388,090
Loan type	$ 6,237,084		$ 6,237,084		$ 5,915,687
% of Balance
Private education loans at origination	29.00%		29.00%		29.00%
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | FICO Refreshed | Greater than or equal to 750
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	$ 1,704,813		$ 1,704,813		$ 1,915,989
Year 2	2,478,965		2,478,965		2,126,876
Year 3	1,572,677		1,572,677		1,309,700
Year 4	1,007,632		1,007,632		1,066,496
Year 5	860,818		860,818		787,493
After Year 5	2,539,916		2,539,916		2,381,114
Loan type	$ 10,164,821		$ 10,164,821		$ 9,587,668
% of Balance
Private education loans at origination	47.00%		47.00%		47.00%
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | Seasoning
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	$ 3,730,485		$ 3,730,485		$ 4,276,533
Year 2	5,421,538		5,421,538		4,547,159
Year 3	3,363,703		3,363,703		2,584,622
Year 4	1,991,433		1,991,433		2,172,660
Year 5	1,749,067		1,749,067		1,615,842
After Year 5	5,424,641		5,424,641		5,106,872
Loan type	$ 21,680,867		$ 21,680,867		$ 20,303,688
% of Balance
Total in percent	100.00%		100.00%		100.00%
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | Seasoning | 1-12 payments
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	$ 2,016,589		$ 2,016,589		$ 2,448,884
Year 2	2,187,876		2,187,876		636,073
Year 3	414,530		414,530		384,334
Year 4	232,959		232,959		330,316
Year 5	201,057		201,057		235,878
After Year 5	379,107		379,107		424,636
Loan type	$ 5,432,118		$ 5,432,118		$ 4,460,121
% of Balance
Seasoning based on monthly scheduled payments due from 1-12 payments	25.00%		25.00%		22.00%
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | Seasoning | 13-24 payments
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0
Year 2	1,114,686		1,114,686		2,477,764
Year 3	1,380,064		1,380,064		255,510
Year 4	183,885		183,885		195,753
Year 5	186,471		186,471		166,045
After Year 5	459,239		459,239		455,782
Loan type	$ 3,324,345		$ 3,324,345		$ 3,550,854
% of Balance
Seasoning based on monthly scheduled payments due from 13 - 24 payments	15.00%		15.00%		18.00%
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | Seasoning | 25-36 payments
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0
Year 2	0		0		0
Year 3	643,381		643,381		1,366,398
Year 4	753,256		753,256		257,534
Year 5	120,744		120,744		126,223
After Year 5	487,209		487,209		489,157
Loan type	$ 2,004,590		$ 2,004,590		$ 2,239,312
% of Balance
Seasoning based on monthly scheduled payments due from 25 - 36 payments	9.00%		9.00%		11.00%
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | Seasoning | 37-48 payments
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0
Year 2	0		0		0
Year 3	0		0		127
Year 4	410,918		410,918		1,008,418
Year 5	696,040		696,040		224,805
After Year 5	471,110		471,110		451,102
Loan type	$ 1,578,068		$ 1,578,068		$ 1,684,452
% of Balance
Seasoning based on monthly scheduled payments due from 37 - 48 payments	7.00%		7.00%		8.00%
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | Seasoning | More than 48 payments
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0
Year 2	0		0		0
Year 3	0		0		0
Year 4	40		40		0
Year 5	263,792		263,792		643,611
After Year 5	3,116,035		3,116,035		2,830,285
Loan type	$ 3,379,867		$ 3,379,867		$ 3,473,896
% of Balance
Seasoning based on monthly scheduled payments due from more than 48 payments	16.00%		16.00%		17.00%
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | Seasoning | Not yet in repayment
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	$ 1,713,896		$ 1,713,896		$ 1,827,649
Year 2	2,118,976		2,118,976		1,433,322
Year 3	925,728		925,728		578,253
Year 4	410,375		410,375		380,639
Year 5	280,963		280,963		219,280
After Year 5	511,941		511,941		455,910
Loan type	$ 5,961,879		$ 5,961,879		$ 4,895,053
% of Balance
Seasoning based on monthly scheduled payments due from not yet in repayment	28.00%		28.00%		24.00%

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Allowance for Credit Losses - Age Analysis of Past Due Loans Delinquencies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Sep. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Private Education Loans allowance for losses	$ (1,416,048)	$ (1,364,716)	$ (1,357,075)	$ (1,194,238)	$ (1,081,066)	$ (1,165,335)
Private Education Loans, net	$ 20,899,181		$ 19,626,868
Percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment, Year 1	53.90%		56.90%
Percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment, Year 2	60.40%		67.10%
Percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment, Year 3	71.60%		76.10%
Percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment, Year 4	78.30%		80.70%
Percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment, Year 5	82.50%		84.50%
Percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment, After Year 5	88.60%		89.30%
Percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment	71.50%		74.50%
Delinquent Private Education Loans in repayment as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment, Year 1	0.30%		0.90%
Delinquent Private Education Loans in repayment as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment, Year 2	1.70%		1.90%
Delinquent Private Education Loans in repayment as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment, Year 3	3.40%		3.10%
Delinquent Private Education Loans in repayment as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment, Year 4	3.70%		4.00%
Delinquent Private Education Loans in repayment as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment, Year 5	4.20%		4.70%
Delinquent Private Education Loans in repayment as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment, After Year 5	6.30%		6.50%
Delinquent Private Education Loans in repayment as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment	3.70%		3.80%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance, Year 1	0.20%		0.70%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance, Year 2	0.90%		2.10%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance, Year 3	1.20%		1.90%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance, Year 4	1.40%		2.10%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance, Year 5	1.70%		2.20%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance, After Year 5	2.10%		2.00%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance	1.40%		1.80%
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total Private Education Loans in Repayment, Year 1	$ 2,012,005		$ 2,432,838
Total Private Education Loans in Repayment, Year 2	3,273,815		3,049,477
Total Private Education Loans in Repayment, Year 3	2,408,846		1,967,756
Total Private Education Loans in Repayment, Year 4	1,559,204		1,754,219
Total Private Education Loans in Repayment, Year 5	1,443,549		1,365,979
Total Private Education Loans in Repayment, After Year 5	4,807,726		4,559,281
Total Private Education Loans in repayment	15,505,145		15,129,550
Total Private Education Loans, gross, Year 1	3,730,485		4,276,533
Total Private Education Loans, gross, Year 2	5,421,538		4,547,159
Total Private Education Loans, gross, Year 3	3,363,703		2,584,622
Total Private Education Loans, gross, Year 4	1,991,433		2,172,660
Total Private Education Loans, gross, Year 5	1,749,067		1,615,842
Total Private Education Loans, gross, After Year 5	5,424,641		5,106,872
Total Private Education Loans, gross	21,680,867		20,303,688
Private Education Loans deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount), Year 1	26,268		26,714
Private Education Loans deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount), Year 2	21,367		15,933
Private Education Loans deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount), Year 3	11,090		9,062
Private Education Loans deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount), Year 4	6,555		5,496
Private Education Loans deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount), Year 5	3,993		3,575
Private Education Loans deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount), After Year 5	9,400		8,876
Private Education Loans deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)	78,673		69,656
Total Private Education Loans, Year 1	3,756,753		4,303,247
Total Private Education Loans, Year 2	5,442,905		4,563,092
Total Private Education Loans, Year 3	3,374,793		2,593,684
Total Private Education Loans, Year 4	1,997,988		2,178,156
Total Private Education Loans, Year 5	1,753,060		1,619,417
Total Private Education Loans, After Year 5	5,434,041		5,115,748
Total Private Education Loans	21,759,540		20,373,344
Private Education Loans allowance for losses, Year 1	(220,113)		(304,943)
Private Education Loans allowance for losses, Year 2	(361,902)		(323,506)
Private Education Loans allowance for losses, Year 3	(227,021)		(181,915)
Private Education Loans allowance for losses, Year 4	(134,487)		(141,424)
Private Education Loans allowance for losses, Year 5	(111,946)		(101,023)
Private Education Loans allowance for losses, After Year 5	(355,763)		(300,820)
Private Education Loans allowance for losses	(1,411,232)		(1,353,631)
Private Education Loans, net, Year 1	3,536,640		3,998,304
Private Education Loans, net, Year 2	5,081,003		4,239,586
Private Education Loans, net, Year 3	3,147,772		2,411,769
Private Education Loans, net, Year 4	1,863,501		2,036,732
Private Education Loans, net, Year 5	1,641,114		1,518,394
Private Education Loans, net, After Year 5	5,078,278		4,814,928
Private Education Loans, net	20,348,308		19,019,713
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | Loan delinquent, current
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	2,005,363		2,411,441
Year 2	3,218,301		2,991,839
Year 3	2,327,629		1,907,574
Year 4	1,500,801		1,683,986
Year 5	1,382,249		1,301,809
After Year 5	4,504,119		4,262,698
Loan type	14,938,462		14,559,347
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | Loan delinquent 30-59 days
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	4,272		14,164
Year 2	32,282		30,740
Year 3	41,945		30,877
Year 4	28,901		35,213
Year 5	30,468		31,366
After Year 5	145,753		144,948
Loan type	283,621		287,308
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | Loan delinquent 60-89 days
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	1,788		5,523
Year 2	15,013		15,056
Year 3	22,612		14,433
Year 4	16,566		18,201
Year 5	16,311		16,697
After Year 5	81,159		77,595
Loan type	153,449		147,505
Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan | Loan delinquent 90 days or greater past due
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	582		1,710
Year 2	8,219		11,842
Year 3	16,660		14,872
Year 4	12,936		16,819
Year 5	14,521		16,107
After Year 5	76,695		74,040
Loan type	129,613		135,390
Loans In-School/Grace/Deferment | Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Year 1	1,713,896		1,827,649
Year 2	2,118,976		1,433,322
Year 3	925,728		578,253
Year 4	410,375		380,639
Year 5	280,963		219,280
After Year 5	511,941		455,910
Loan type	5,961,879		4,895,053
Loans In Forbearance | Consumer Portfolio Segment | Student Loan
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total Private Education Loans in forbearance, Year 1	4,584		16,046
Total Private Education Loans in forbearance, Year 2	28,747		64,360
Total Private Education Loans in forbearance, Year 3	29,129		38,613
Total Private Education Loans in forbearance, Year 4	21,854		37,802
Total Private Education Loans in forbearance, Year 5	24,555		30,583
Total Private Education Loans in forbearance, After Year 5	104,974		91,681
Total Private Education Loans in forbearance	$ 213,843		$ 279,085

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Allowance for Credit Losses - Accrued Interest Receivable (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Receivables [Abstract]
Total Interest Receivable	$ 1,429,225	$ 1,177,562
90 Days or Greater Past Due	6,756	6,609
Allowance for Uncollectible Interest	8,516	8,121
Accrued interest receivable not expected to be capitalized	146,000	240,000
Accrued interest receivable expected to be capitalized reserved	$ 1,300,000	$ 937,000

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Unfunded Loan Commitments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Credit Loss [Abstract]
Contractual obligation	$ 2,400,000		$ 2,400,000
Allowance
Beginning balance	62,600	$ 113,525	124,924	$ 72,713
Provision/New commitments - net	115,605	192,559	220,303	339,705
Other provision items	37,329	(29,913)	47,008	(1,033)
Transfer - funded loans	(101,687)	(168,377)	(278,388)	(303,591)
Ending balance	113,847	107,794	113,847	107,794
Unfunded Commitments
Beginning balance	1,562,856	1,413,840	1,995,808	1,776,976
Provision/New commitments - net	3,258,234	3,148,434	5,912,418	5,584,129
Other provision items	0	0	0	0
Transfer - funded loans	(2,451,203)	(2,345,348)	(5,538,339)	(5,144,179)
Ending balance	$ 2,369,887	$ 2,216,926	$ 2,369,887	$ 2,216,926

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Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill	$ 56,000		$ 56,000
Acquired intangible assets amortization expense	2,834	$ 2,328	7,351	$ 5,478
Expected amortization, remainder of 2023	10,000		10,000
Expected amortization of 2024	12,000		12,000
Expected amortization of 2025	11,000		11,000
Expected amortization of 2026	10,000		10,000
Expected amortization of 2027	$ 8,000		$ 8,000

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Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets - Schedule of Acquired Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Cost Basis	$ 86,750	$ 75,400
Accumulated Amortization	(15,130)	(7,779)
Net	$ 71,620	67,621
Nitro
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted average useful life of acquired intangible assets	9 years 6 months
Scholly, Inc.
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted average useful life of acquired intangible assets	3 years 10 months 24 days
Tradename and trademarks
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful Life (in years)	9 years 6 months
Cost Basis	$ 74,510	68,470
Accumulated Amortization	(11,093)	(5,706)
Net	63,417	62,764
Tradename and trademarks | Scholly, Inc.
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Net	$ 6,000
Customer relationships
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful Life (in years)	4 years 7 months 6 days
Cost Basis	$ 8,920	5,670
Accumulated Amortization	(3,268)	(1,723)
Net	5,652	3,947
Customer relationships | Scholly, Inc.
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Net	$ 3,000
Developed technology
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful Life (in years)	3 years 6 months
Cost Basis	$ 2,590	1,260
Accumulated Amortization	(720)	(350)
Net	1,870	910
Developed technology | Scholly, Inc.
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Net	$ 1,000
Partner relationships
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful Life (in years)	2 years 6 months
Cost Basis	$ 730	0
Accumulated Amortization	(49)	0
Net	$ 681	$ 0

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Deposits - Summary of Total Deposits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Banking and Thrift, Other Disclosure [Abstract]
Deposits - interest-bearing	$ 21,550,108	$ 21,446,647
Deposits - non-interest-bearing	637	1,424
Total deposits	$ 21,550,745	$ 21,448,071

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Deposits - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2022
Banking and Thrift, Other Disclosure [Abstract]
Deposits	$ 21,550,745		$ 21,550,745		$ 21,448,071
Brokered deposits	10,400,000		10,400,000		9,900,000
Retail and other deposits	11,200,000		11,200,000		11,500,000
Stable interest-bearing deposits, total	7,500,000		7,500,000		8,000,000
Brokered deposit placement fee	3,000	$ 3,000	9,000	$ 10,000
Third party broker fees paid	4,000	$ 4,000	7,000	$ 8,000
Deposits exceeding FDIC insurance limits	494,000		494,000		615,000
Accrued interest on deposits	$ 73,000		$ 73,000		$ 59,000

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Deposits - Interest Bearing Deposits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Amount
Money market	$ 10,241,232	$ 10,977,242
Savings	930,590	982,586
Certificates of deposit	10,378,286	9,486,819
Deposits - interest bearing	$ 21,550,108	$ 21,446,647
Qtr.-End Weighted Average Stated Rate
Money market	4.75%	3.75%
Savings	4.35%	3.15%
Certificates of deposit	3.58%	2.57%

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Deposits - Schedule of Remaining Maturities of Certificates of Deposit (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Banking and Thrift, Other Disclosure [Abstract]
One year or less	$ 3,436,186	$ 3,224,573
After one year to two years	4,079,381	2,954,257
After two years to three years	2,359,064	1,904,919
After three years to four years	248,301	1,031,881
After four years to five years	255,354	324,375
After five years	0	46,814
Total	$ 10,378,286	$ 9,486,819

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Borrowings - Company Borrowings (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-Term	$ 0	$ 0
Long-Term	5,515,532	5,235,114
Total	5,515,532	5,235,114
Unsecured borrowings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-Term	0	0
Long-Term	991,396	988,986
Total	991,396	988,986
Secured Borrowings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-Term	0	0
Long-Term	4,524,136	4,246,128
Total	4,524,136	4,246,128
Secured Borrowings | Private Education Loan term securitizations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-Term	0	0
Long-Term	4,524,136	4,246,128
Total	4,524,136	4,246,128
Secured Borrowings | Secured Borrowing Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-Term	0	0
Long-Term	0	0
Total	0	0
Secured Borrowings | Fixed-rate | Private Education Loan term securitizations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-Term	0	0
Long-Term	3,807,493	3,462,363
Total	3,807,493	3,462,363
Secured Borrowings | Variable-rate | Private Education Loan term securitizations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-Term	0	0
Long-Term	716,643	783,765
Total	$ 716,643	$ 783,765

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Borrowings - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)				9 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Aug. 16, 2023	May 24, 2023	Mar. 15, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	May 16, 2023
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Estimated weighted average life of student loans				5 years			5 years
Vertical risk retention interest					5.00%	5.00%
Uncommitted federal funds				$ 125,000,000	$ 125,000,000	$ 125,000,000
Lendable value of collateral				1,600,000,000	1,600,000,000	1,600,000,000	$ 2,200,000,000
ABCP borrowings | Secured Borrowings
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Secured borrowing facility maximum borrowing capacity								$ 2,000,000,000
Residual interest percentage of facility trust								100.00%
Secured borrowings outstanding				0	0	0	$ 0
2023-A
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Private education loan term accounted for as a secured financing			$ 579,000,000
Loans sold to third parties			$ 579,000,000
Ownership interest percentage on asset-backed financing			100.00%
Unsecured debt issued			$ 572,000,000
Estimated weighted average life of student loans			5 years 21 days
Loans pledged as collateral				609,000,000	609,000,000	609,000,000
Principal amount of collateral				563,000,000	563,000,000	563,000,000
Capitalized interest				46,000,000	46,000,000	46,000,000
2023-A | Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap Rate
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate			1.53%
2023-C
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Private education loan term accounted for as a secured financing	$ 568,000,000
Loans sold to third parties	$ 568,000,000
Ownership interest percentage on asset-backed financing	100.00%
Unsecured debt issued	$ 568,000,000
Estimated weighted average life of student loans	4 years 11 months 4 days
Loans pledged as collateral				637,000,000	637,000,000	637,000,000
Principal amount of collateral				590,000,000	590,000,000	590,000,000
Capitalized interest				$ 47,000,000	$ 47,000,000	$ 47,000,000
2023-C | Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap Rate
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	1.69%
2023-B
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Vertical risk retention interest					5.00%
2023-B | Student Loan
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Private education loans sold		$ 2,000,000,000
Additional proceeds from sale		105,000,000
Gain on sale		$ 5,000,000

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Borrowings - Secured Financing (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023	Aug. 31, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total Issued				$ 1,147,000,000	$ 575,000,000
Total loans and accrued interest amount securitized at inception				1,292,507,000	$ 674,387,000
2022-C
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total Issued			$ 575,000,000
Weighted Average Life (in years)			4 years 8 months 8 days
2022-C | Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap Rate
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Weighted Average Cost of Funds (as a percent)			1.76%
2023-A
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total Issued		$ 579,000,000
Weighted Average Life (in years)		5 years 21 days
Principal amount of collateral				563,000,000
Capitalized interest				46,000,000
2023-A | Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap Rate
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Weighted Average Cost of Funds (as a percent)		1.53%
2023-C
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total Issued	$ 568,000,000
Weighted Average Life (in years)	4 years 11 months 4 days
Principal amount of collateral				590,000,000
Capitalized interest				47,000,000
2023-C | Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap Rate
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Weighted Average Cost of Funds (as a percent)	1.69%
Private Education Loans Securitized in 2022
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Loans				565,000,000
Principal amount of collateral				527,000,000
Capitalized interest				38,000,000
Private Education Loans Securitized In 2023
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Loans				1,240,000,000
Principal amount of collateral				1,150,000,000
Capitalized interest				$ 94,000,000

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Borrowings - Financing VIEs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Sep. 30, 2022
Debt Outstanding
Short-Term	$ 0	$ 0
Long-Term	5,515,532	5,235,114
Total	5,515,532	5,235,114
Carrying Amount of Assets Securing Debt Outstanding
Restricted Cash	175,061	156,719	$ 177,917
Other Assets	46,787	34,073
Total assets	29,273,219	28,811,029
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Debt Outstanding
Short-Term	0	0
Long-Term	4,524,136	4,246,128
Total	4,524,136	4,246,128
Carrying Amount of Assets Securing Debt Outstanding
Loans	5,776,779	5,433,602
Restricted Cash	174,757	156,719
Other Assets	359,987	287,159
Total assets	6,311,523	5,877,480
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Private Education Loan term securitizations
Debt Outstanding
Short-Term	0	0
Long-Term	4,524,136	4,246,128
Total	4,524,136	4,246,128
Carrying Amount of Assets Securing Debt Outstanding
Loans	5,776,779	5,433,602
Restricted Cash	174,757	156,719
Other Assets	358,220	286,093
Total assets	6,309,756	5,876,414
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Secured Borrowing Facility
Debt Outstanding
Short-Term	0	0
Long-Term	0	0
Total	0	0
Carrying Amount of Assets Securing Debt Outstanding
Loans	0	0
Restricted Cash	0	0
Other Assets	1,767	1,066
Total assets	$ 1,767	$ 1,066

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Borrowings - Summary of Exposure Related To Unconsolidated VIEs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Sep. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value	$ 2,315,978		$ 2,342,089
Total Exposure	113,847	$ 62,600	124,924	$ 107,794	$ 113,525	$ 72,713
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary | Private Education Loan term securitizations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value	389,006		329,188
Equity Interests	52,561		50,786
Total Exposure	$ 441,567		$ 379,974

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Derivative Financial Instruments - Narrative (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($) counterparty	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)
Derivative [Line Items]
Number of central counterparties | counterparty	2
Notional value	$ 1,931,320,000	$ 2,842,846,000
Derivative, fair value, amount offset against collateral, net	11,000,000	12,000,000
Estimated accumulated other comprehensive income to be reclassified in next 12 months	46,000,000
Cash collateral held relative to derivative exposure	0	0
Cash collateral pledged	11,000,000	$ 11,000,000
CME
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional value	$ 1,800,000,000
Percent of total notional derivative contracts	91.70%
Amount of variation margin included as settlement	$ (50,000,000)
LCH
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional value	$ 100,000,000
Percent of total notional derivative contracts	8.30%
Amount of variation margin included as settlement	$ (6,000,000)

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Derivative Financial Instruments - Impact of Derivatives on Consolidated Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative assets	$ 0	$ 405
Derivative liabilities	(251)	0
Total net derivatives	(251)	405
Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Total net derivatives	0	0
Cash Flow Hedges | Designated as Hedging Instrument
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Total net derivatives	(268)	972
Fair Value Hedges | Designated as Hedging Instrument
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Total net derivatives	17	(567)
Interest rate swaps
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative assets	17	972
Derivative liabilities	(268)	(567)
Interest rate swaps | Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative assets	0	0
Derivative liabilities	0	0
Interest rate swaps | Cash Flow Hedges | Designated as Hedging Instrument
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative assets	0	972
Derivative liabilities	(268)	0
Interest rate swaps | Fair Value Hedges | Designated as Hedging Instrument
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative assets	17	0
Derivative liabilities	$ 0	$ (567)

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Derivative Financial Instruments - Offsetting Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Other Assets
Gross position	$ 17	$ 972
Impact of master netting agreement	(17)	(567)
Derivative values with impact of master netting agreements (as carried on balance sheet)	0	405
Cash collateral pledged	11,087	11,162
Net position	11,087	11,567
Other Liabilities
Gross position	(268)	(567)
Impact of master netting agreement	17	567
Derivative values with impact of master netting agreements (as carried on balance sheet)	(251)	0
Cash collateral pledged	0	0
Net position	$ (251)	$ 0

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Derivative Financial Instruments - Notional Values (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional Values	$ 1,931,320	$ 2,842,846
Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional Values	0	0
Cash Flow | Designated as Hedging Instrument
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional Values	1,229,011	1,314,660
Fair Value | Designated as Hedging Instrument
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional Values	702,309	1,528,186
Interest rate swaps
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional Values	1,931,320	2,842,846
Interest rate swaps | Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional Values	0	0
Interest rate swaps | Cash Flow | Designated as Hedging Instrument
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional Values	1,229,011	1,314,660
Interest rate swaps | Fair Value | Designated as Hedging Instrument
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional Values	$ 702,309	$ 1,528,186

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Derivative Financial Instruments - Schedule of Hedged Items Recorded in Statement of Financial Position (Details) - Deposits - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets/(Liabilities)	$ (681,292)	$ (1,494,087)
Cumulative Amount of Fair Value Hedging Adjustment Included in the Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets/(Liabilities)	$ 20,755	$ 31,259

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Derivative Financial Instruments - Impact of Derivatives on Consolidated Statements of Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Cash Flow Hedges
Interest expense	$ 267,622	$ 150,401	$ 747,426	$ 340,630
Trading
Total	$ 6,031	$ 706	$ 15,923	$ 20,140
Derivative, Gain (Loss), Statement of Income or Comprehensive Income [Extensible Enumeration]	Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net	Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net	Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net	Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net
Designated as Hedging Instrument
Fair Value Hedges
Interest recognized on derivatives	$ (6,701)	$ (1,783)	$ (19,086)	$ 24,418
Hedged items recorded in interest expense	(4,346)	14,143	(10,504)	86,899
Derivatives recorded in interest expense	4,265	(14,425)	10,596	(86,896)
Trading
Total	(6,782)	(2,065)	(18,994)	24,421
Designated as Hedging Instrument | Accumulated Gain (Loss), Net, Cash Flow Hedge, Parent | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Cash Flow Hedges
Interest expense	12,813	2,771	34,917	(4,033)
Trading
Trading
Change in fair value of future interest payments recorded in earnings	0	0	0	(248)
Total	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ (248)

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Derivative Financial Instruments - Impact of Derivatives on Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)	$ 7,046	$ 32,594	$ 21,726	$ 94,215
Less: amount of gain (loss) reclassified in interest expense	12,813	2,771	34,917	(4,033)
Total change in other comprehensive income (loss) for unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives, before income tax (expense) benefit	$ (5,767)	$ 29,823	$ (13,191)	$ 98,248

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Stockholders' Equity - Common Stock Repurchased (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Equity [Abstract]
Common stock repurchased (in shares)	0	1,191,544	16,389,696	30,721,944
Average purchase price per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 14.14	$ 15.71	$ 18.00
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans (in shares)	10,687	448	1,088,330	1,131,351
Average purchase price per share (in dollars per share)	$ 16.14	$ 13.99	$ 15.45	$ 18.36
Common shares issued (in shares)	200,886	4,682	3,073,639	3,093,392
Remaining authority under the share repurchase program	$ 326		$ 326

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Stockholders' Equity - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Jan. 26, 2022	Oct. 31, 2021	Jan. 27, 2021
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock dividend (in dollars per share)	$ 0.11	$ 0.11
Common stock repurchased (in shares)			0	1,191,544	16,389,696	30,721,944
Remaining authority under the share repurchase program	$ 326		$ 326		$ 326
Common Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock closing price (in dollars per share)	$ 13.62		$ 13.62		$ 13.62
Common Stock | 2021 Share Repurchase Program
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Aggregate purchase price (not to exceed)								$ 1,500	$ 1,250
Increase in amount of common stock that may be repurchased								$ 250
Common stock repurchased (in shares)						2,000,000
Common stock repurchased, amount						$ 38
Common Stock | 2022 Share Repurchase Program
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Aggregate purchase price (not to exceed)							$ 1,250
Common stock repurchased (in shares)			0	1,200,000	16,400,000	28,700,000
Common stock repurchased, amount				$ 17	$ 257	$ 515
Remaining authority under the share repurchase program	$ 326		$ 326		$ 326
Common Stock | Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock repurchased (in shares)			0	1,200,000	16,400,000	30,700,000
Common stock repurchased, amount				$ 17	$ 257	$ 553

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Earnings per Common Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Numerator:
Net income	$ 29,365	$ 75,172	$ 412,948	$ 546,057
Preferred stock dividends	4,642	2,531	12,979	5,563
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	24,723	72,641	399,969	540,494
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	$ 24,723	$ 72,641	$ 399,969	$ 540,494
Denominator:
Weighted average shares used to compute basic EPS (in shares)	226,120	251,266	234,170	263,098
Effect of dilutive securities:
Dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) (in shares)	2,680	2,450	2,423	2,967
Weighted average shares used to compute diluted EPS (in shares)	228,800	253,716	236,593	266,065
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.11	$ 0.29	$ 1.71	$ 2.05
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.11	$ 0.29	$ 1.69	$ 2.03
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	1,000	1,000	1,000	1,000

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Fair Value Measurements - Valuation of Financial Instruments That are Marked-to-Market on Recurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Assets:
Trading investments	$ 52,561	$ 55,903
Available-for-sale investments	2,315,978	2,342,089
Derivative instruments	$ 0	$ 405
Derivative Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible Enumeration]	Other Assets	Other Assets
Liabilities:
Derivative instruments	$ (251)	$ 0
Derivative Liability, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible Enumeration]	Other liabilities	Other liabilities
Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis
Assets:
Trading investments	$ 52,561	$ 55,903
Available-for-sale investments	2,315,978	2,342,089
Derivative instruments	17	972
Total earning assets	2,368,556	2,398,964
Liabilities:
Derivative instruments	(268)	(567)
Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis | Level 1
Assets:
Trading investments	0	0
Available-for-sale investments	0	0
Derivative instruments	0	0
Total earning assets	0	0
Liabilities:
Derivative instruments	0	0
Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis | Level 2
Assets:
Trading investments	0	0
Available-for-sale investments	2,315,978	2,342,089
Derivative instruments	17	972
Total earning assets	2,315,995	2,343,061
Liabilities:
Derivative instruments	(268)	(567)
Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis | Level 3
Assets:
Trading investments	52,561	55,903
Available-for-sale investments	0	0
Derivative instruments	0	0
Total earning assets	52,561	55,903
Liabilities:
Derivative instruments	$ 0	$ 0

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Fair Value Measurements - Fair Values of Financial Assets and Liabilities, Including Derivative Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Earning assets:
Loans held for sale	$ 0	$ 0
Trading investments	52,561	55,903
Accrued interest receivable, difference	40,833	35,015
Tax indemnification receivable	409,658	380,058
Derivative instruments	0	405
Total earning assets, difference	2,072,183	2,088,881
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Long-term borrowings, difference	381,875	421,881
Derivative instruments	251	0
Total interest-bearing liabilities, difference	669,172	838,340
Excess of net asset fair value over carrying value	2,741,355	2,927,221
Money-market and savings accounts
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Deposits, difference	110,938	104,979
Certificates of deposit
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Deposits, difference	176,359	311,480
Fair Value
Earning assets:
Loans held for sale	0	29,448
Cash and cash equivalents	3,548,225	4,616,117
Trading investments	52,561	55,903
Available-for-sale investments	2,315,978	2,342,089
Accrued interest receivable	1,498,156	1,237,074
Tax indemnification receivable	2,945	2,816
Derivative instruments	17	972
Total earning assets	30,348,413	29,965,153
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Long-term borrowings	5,133,657	4,813,233
Accrued interest payable	99,415	71,586
Derivative instruments	268	567
Total interest-bearing liabilities	26,496,151	25,915,574
Fair Value | Money-market and savings accounts
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Deposits	11,060,884	11,854,849
Fair Value | Certificates of deposit
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Deposits	10,201,927	9,175,339
Carrying Value
Earning assets:
Loans held for sale	0	29,448
Cash and cash equivalents	3,548,225	4,616,117
Trading investments	52,561	55,903
Available-for-sale investments	2,315,978	2,342,089
Accrued interest receivable	1,457,323	1,202,059
Tax indemnification receivable	2,945	2,816
Derivative instruments	17	972
Total earning assets	28,276,230	27,876,272
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Long-term borrowings	5,515,532	5,235,114
Accrued interest payable	99,415	71,586
Derivative instruments	268	567
Total interest-bearing liabilities	27,165,323	26,753,914
Carrying Value | Money-market and savings accounts
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Deposits	11,171,822	11,959,828
Carrying Value | Certificates of deposit
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Deposits	10,378,286	9,486,819
Private Education Loans
Earning assets:
Loans held for investment, net, difference	2,022,371	2,042,835
Private Education Loans | Fair Value
Earning assets:
Loans held for investment, net	22,370,679	21,062,548
Private Education Loans | Carrying Value
Earning assets:
Loans held for investment, net	20,348,308	19,019,713
FFELP Loans
Earning assets:
Loans held for investment, net, difference	8,979	11,031
FFELP Loans | Fair Value
Earning assets:
Loans held for investment, net	559,852	618,186
FFELP Loans | Carrying Value
Earning assets:
Loans held for investment, net	$ 550,873	$ 607,155

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Regulatory Capital - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2020	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jan. 01, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Jan. 01, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Line Items]
Allowance for credit losses		$ 1,416,048	$ 1,194,238	$ 1,416,048	$ 1,194,238	$ 1,357,075	$ 1,364,716		$ 1,081,066		$ 1,165,335
Liability for unfunded commitments		113,847	107,794	113,847	107,794	124,924	$ 62,600		$ 113,525		$ 72,713
Retained earnings		3,485,575		3,485,575		3,163,640
Unrealized loss				158,000		160,000
Unrealized loss, tax benefit				51,000		52,000
Dividends		100,000	$ 241,000	400,000	$ 642,000
Adjustments
Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Line Items]
Period of deferment	2 years
Percentage amount deferred per year	25.00%
Percentage amount phased in during year								25.00%		25.00%
Allowance for credit losses	$ 1,100,000	(259,536)		(259,536)		(259,536)
Liability for unfunded commitments	116,000	(26,094)		(26,094)		(26,094)
Deferred tax asset	306,000	(76,542)		(76,542)		(76,542)
Retained earnings	$ 953,000	$ (209,088)		$ (209,088)		$ (209,088)

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Regulatory Capital - Adjusted Transition Amounts (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Sep. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Jan. 01, 2020
Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Line Items]
Retained earnings	$ 3,485,575		$ 3,163,640
Allowance for credit losses	1,416,048	$ 1,364,716	1,357,075	$ 1,194,238	$ 1,081,066	$ 1,165,335
Liability for unfunded commitments	113,847	$ 62,600	124,924	$ 107,794	$ 113,525	72,713
Adjusted Phase-In Amounts Remaining
Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Line Items]
Retained earnings	418,175					836,351
Allowance for credit losses	519,073					1,038,145
Liability for unfunded commitments	52,189					104,377
Deferred tax asset	153,087					$ 306,171
Adjustments
Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Line Items]
Retained earnings	(209,088)		(209,088)				$ 953,000
Allowance for credit losses	(259,536)		(259,536)				1,100,000
Liability for unfunded commitments	(26,094)		(26,094)				116,000
Deferred tax asset	$ (76,542)		$ (76,542)				$ 306,000

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Regulatory Capital - U.S. Basel III Regulatory Requirements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Actual Amount
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$ 2,935,903	$ 3,040,662
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	2,935,903	3,040,662
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	3,258,771	3,338,645
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)	$ 2,935,903	$ 3,040,662
Actual Ratio
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	11.70%	12.90%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	0.117	0.129
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	0.129	0.142
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)	0.101	0.103
U.S. Basel III Regulatory Requirements, Amount
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	$ 1,763,562	$ 1,645,807
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	2,141,468	1,998,480
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	2,645,343	2,468,711
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)	$ 1,166,116	$ 1,185,280
U.S. Basel III Regulatory Requirements, Ratio
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	7.00%	7.00%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	0.085	0.085
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)	0.105	0.105
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)	0.040	0.040

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Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees (Details) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Contractual obligation	$ 2,400
Other liabilities reserve	$ 114
Loss emergence period	1 year

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Subsequent Events (Details) - Private Education Loans - Subsequent Event $ in Millions	Oct. 13, 2023 USD ($)
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Sale of financing receivables	$ 1,000
Principal amount of financing receivables sold	921
Capitalized interest amount of financing receivables sold	$ 78