CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
Interest income:
Loans	$ 596,607	$ 582,784
Investments	14,507	11,331
Cash and cash equivalents	52,444	43,483
Total interest income	663,558	637,598
Interest expense:
Deposits	220,445	183,531
Interest expense on short-term borrowings	3,562	3,018
Interest expense on long-term borrowings	52,535	45,981
Total interest expense	276,542	232,530
Net interest income	387,016	405,068
Less: provisions for credit losses	12,041	114,112
Net interest income after provisions for credit losses	374,975	290,956
Non-interest income:
Gains (losses) on sales of loans, net	143,039	(9)
Gains on securities, net	2,118	1,711
Other income	29,001	20,009
Total non-interest income	174,158	21,711
Operating expenses:
Compensation and benefits	96,476	87,649
FDIC assessment fees	13,312	11,529
Other operating expenses	50,645	55,361
Total operating expenses	160,433	154,539
Acquired intangible assets amortization expense	1,215	2,272
Total non-interest expenses	161,648	156,811
Income before income tax expense	387,485	155,856
Income tax expense	97,554	37,338
Net income	289,931	118,518
Preferred stock dividends	4,653	4,063
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	$ 285,278	$ 114,455
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.29	$ 0.47
Average common shares outstanding (in shares)	220,416	241,497
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.27	$ 0.47
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)	223,845	243,549
Declared dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.11	$ 0.11