CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2025	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 60,512	$ 50,853	$ 47,329
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Net unrealized depreciation (appreciation) on joint ventures and other investments	4,405	(10,712)	(3,219)
Net gain on loans accounted for under the fair value option	(61,157)	(5,200)	(18,008)
Net gain on residuals in securitizations	(30,015)	0	0
Net loss on loan servicing assets	16,692	12,665	4,282
Net unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on warrants and derivative transactions	(74)	(1,344)	699
Unrealized loss on assets classified as held for sale	0	616	0
Net gain on sales of loans	(47,555)	(97,183)	(51,467)
Net accretion of premium/discount on debt securities available-for-sale and loans	(1,319)	(836)	(675)
Loss on extinguishment of debt, deferred financing costs expensed	158	0	271
Amortization of deferred financing costs and deferred loan fees and costs	4,396	4,564	4,052
Provision for credit losses	38,729	26,216	11,704
Lower of cost or market adjustment on loans held for sale	(12)	(73)	0
Bad debt expense, net of recoveries	283	1,059	3,637
Stock compensation expense	4,097	4,062	2,828
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	8,482	10,403	(4,800)
Depreciation and amortization	668	1,784	2,884
Proceeds from sale of loans held for sale	404,547	817,869	695,461
Sale of loans held for sale from affiliate	0	140,009	(5,279)
Funding of loans held for sale	(1,062,896)	(1,125,131)	(783,035)
Principal received on loans held for sale	23,128	18,898	12,235
Other, net	(1,249)	0	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Settlement receivable	52,027	9,765	(62,230)
Dividends receivable	0	0	493
Other assets	(21,104)	(13,660)	7,432
Assets classified as held for sale	0	(1,497)	0
Liabilities directly associated with assets classified as held for sale	0	(174)	0
Dividends payable	0	441	4,776
Due to participants	30,857	(2,264)	(11,832)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(2,841)	6,086	(26,757)
Net cash used in operating activities	(579,241)	(153,014)	(169,219)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Principal received on loans held for investment, at fair value	71,830	71,576	39,601
Repurchases of loans held for investment, at fair value	(4,669)	(4,759)	(10,252)
Net increase in loans held for investment, at cost	(313,270)	(278,539)	(169,003)
Proceeds from sale of Newtek Technology Solutions, Inc.	4,000	0	0
Asset purchase of controlling interest in NCL JV, net of cash acquired	(10,120)	0	0
Contributions to joint ventures and other investments	(85)	(25,680)	(14,550)
Return of capital from joint ventures and other investments	14	20,301	564
Purchase of fixed assets	(106)	(439)	(458)
Sales of Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stock	361	1,071	1,330
Purchases of Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stock	(1,010)	(1,021)	(3,442)
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	(19,937)	(33,021)	(28,668)
Maturities of available-for-sale securities	27,700	41,460	1,501
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	0	11,142
Net cash used in investing activities	(245,292)	(209,051)	(172,235)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowing on bank notes payable	531,200	277,240	249,017
Repayment on bank notes payable	(353,803)	(205,627)	(327,680)
Net increase in deposits	444,352	508,577	324,705
Repayment of Federal Home Loan Bank advances	(8,026)	(7,959)	(4,895)
Proceeds from common shares sold, net of offering costs	5,091	13,818	0
Proceeds from preferred stock, net of offering costs	48,181	0	19,493
Securities purchase and exchange agreement	10,000	0	0
Repurchase of common shares under share repurchase plan	(1,491)	0	0
Payments on Notes Payable - Securitization Trusts	(60,404)	(106,992)	(90,780)
Proceeds related to residuals in securitizations	169,420		103,860
Dividends paid, net of dividend reinvestment plan	(28,044)	(20,252)	(14,147)
Payments of deferred financing costs	(3,056)	(6,039)	(4,650)
Proceeds from common stock issued under ESPP, net of discount	268	207	51
Purchase of vested stock for employee payroll tax withholding	(2,171)	(299)	0
Retirement of common shares	0	(402)	0
Net cash provided by financing activities	753,450	560,897	344,974
Net (decrease) increase in cash and restricted cash	(71,083)	198,832	3,520
Cash and restricted cash—beginning of period (NOTE 2)	381,374	184,006	125,606
Consolidation/(deconsolidation) of cash and restricted cash from controlled investments related to business combinations and dispositions, net of cash paid	0	(1,464)	54,880
Cash and restricted cash—end of period (NOTE 2)	310,291	381,374	184,006
Non-cash operating, investing and financing activities:
Foreclosed real estate acquired	11,423	4,569	2,978
Dividends declared but not paid during the period	0	5,237	4,363
Loans and accrued interest acquired through asset acquisition	26,213	0	0
Securities purchase and exchange agreement conversion	19,738	0	0
Issuance of common shares under dividend reinvestment plan	0	0	219
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid	97,479	79,192	66,471
Income taxes paid	12,502	7,429	6,884
Other Investments
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Net unrealized depreciation (appreciation) on joint ventures and other investments	763	(128)
Principal received on investments	0	(230)	0
Stock Acquired
Non-cash operating, investing and financing activities:
IPM	8,200	0	0
Earn Out Receivable
Non-cash operating, investing and financing activities:
IPM	2,268	0	0
2025 8.13% Notes
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Notes	0	0	50,000
8.00% Notes due 2028
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Notes	0	0	40,000
2024 Notes
Cash flows from financing activities:
Redemption of Notes	0	(38,250)	0
2025 5.00% Notes
Cash flows from financing activities:
Redemption of Notes	(30,000)	0	0
2029 8.50% Notes
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Notes	0	71,875	0
Purchase of 2029 8.50% Notes	(67)	0	0
2029 8.625% Notes
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Notes	0	75,000	0
2030 8.375% Notes
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Notes	$ 32,000	$ 0	$ 0