CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Interest income:
Loans	$ 565,046	$ 581,080	$ 1,726,991	$ 1,732,206
Investments	16,299	13,268	45,945	36,636
Cash and cash equivalents	71,294	57,902	184,737	154,911
Total interest income	652,639	652,250	1,957,673	1,923,753
Interest expense:
Deposits	225,749	209,921	657,480	584,859
Interest expense on short-term borrowings	3,467	3,576	10,339	9,893
Interest expense on long-term borrowings	64,020	54,125	171,263	152,674
Total interest expense	293,236	267,622	839,082	747,426
Net interest income	359,403	384,628	1,118,591	1,176,327
Less: provisions for credit losses	271,465	198,023	300,336	329,864
Net interest income after provisions for credit losses	87,938	186,605	818,255	846,463
Non-interest income:
Gains (losses) on sales of loans, net	(31)	(5)	254,937	124,740
Gains (losses) on securities, net	(3,836)	1,490	385	1,988
Other income	28,390	22,753	85,164	63,275
Total non-interest income	24,523	24,238	340,486	190,003
Operating expenses:
Compensation and benefits	87,566	83,577	269,303	249,459
FDIC assessment fees	12,973	12,283	38,012	33,663
Other operating expenses	70,259	71,542	181,122	192,983
Total operating expenses	170,798	167,402	488,437	476,105
Acquired intangible assets amortization expense	1,225	2,834	3,834	7,351
Total non-interest expenses	172,023	170,236	492,271	483,456
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)	(59,562)	40,607	666,470	553,010
Income tax expense (benefit)	(14,410)	11,242	169,698	140,062
Net income (loss)	(45,152)	29,365	496,772	412,948
Preferred stock dividends	4,648	4,642	13,929	12,979
Net income (loss) attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	$ (49,800)	$ 24,723	$ 482,843	$ 399,969
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.23)	$ 0.11	$ 2.21	$ 1.71
Average common shares outstanding (in shares)	214,873	226,120	218,059	234,170
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.23)	$ 0.11	$ 2.18	$ 1.69
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)	214,873	228,800	221,553	236,593
Declared dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.11	$ 0.11	$ 0.33	$ 0.33