CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023
Interest income:
Loans	$ 565,338	$ 568,342	$ 1,161,945	$ 1,151,126
Investments	15,139	12,037	29,646	23,368
Cash and cash equivalents	60,999	53,526	113,443	97,009
Total interest income	641,476	633,905	1,305,034	1,271,503
Interest expense:
Deposits	211,286	191,407	431,731	374,938
Interest expense on short-term borrowings	3,310	3,299	6,872	6,317
Interest expense on long-term borrowings	54,708	52,568	107,243	98,549
Total interest expense	269,304	247,274	545,846	479,804
Net interest income	372,172	386,631	759,188	791,699
Less: provisions for credit losses	16,830	17,729	28,871	131,841
Net interest income after provisions for credit losses	355,342	368,902	730,317	659,858
Non-interest income:
Gains on sales of loans, net	111,929	124,754	254,968	124,745
Gains (losses) on securities, net	2,103	(1,213)	4,221	498
Other income	27,773	20,513	56,774	40,522
Total non-interest income	141,805	144,054	315,963	165,765
Operating expenses:
Compensation and benefits	85,261	78,233	181,737	165,882
FDIC assessment fees	11,727	9,851	25,039	21,380
Other operating expenses	60,218	66,080	110,863	121,441
Total operating expenses	157,206	154,164	317,639	308,703
Acquired intangible assets amortization expense	1,394	2,245	2,609	4,517
Total non-interest expenses	158,600	156,409	320,248	313,220
Income before income tax expense	338,547	356,547	726,032	512,403
Income tax expense	86,554	91,482	184,108	128,820
Net income	251,993	265,065	541,924	383,583
Preferred stock dividends	4,628	4,274	9,281	8,337
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	$ 247,365	$ 260,791	$ 532,643	$ 375,246
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.13	$ 1.11	$ 2.42	$ 1.57
Average common shares outstanding (in shares)	218,924	235,061	219,670	238,261
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.11	$ 1.10	$ 2.39	$ 1.56
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)	222,467	237,592	223,156	240,554
Declared dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.11	$ 0.11	$ 0.22	$ 0.22