CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,210,084	$ 1,363,387
Loans:
Loans held for investment, at amortized cost	3,258,413	2,833,461
Loans held for investment in consolidated trusts, at amortized cost	708,111	692,478
Allowance for loan losses	(4,480)	(5,864)
Total loans, net of allowance	3,962,044	3,520,075
Real estate owned, at lower of cost or fair value	1,369	421
Financial derivatives, at fair value	3,816	4,177
Interest receivable (includes $7,938 and $9,509, respectively, related to consolidated trusts)	112,700	106,874
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	40,189	39,462
Deferred tax asset, net	42,916	33,391
Prepaid expenses and other assets	47,780	55,413
Total Assets	15,540,354	14,287,821
Notes payable:
Due within one year	9,111,461	7,353,953
Due after one year	4,967,036	5,471,186
Total notes payable	14,078,497	12,825,139
Debt securities of consolidated trusts held by third parties	713,536	424,214
Financial derivatives, at fair value	77,199	84,844
Accrued interest payable (includes $6,705 and $5,145, respectively, related to consolidated trusts)	47,621	48,355
Guarantee and commitment obligation	38,609	37,925
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	29,089	81,252
Reserve for losses	2,083	4,263
Total Liabilities	$ 14,986,634	$ 13,505,992
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 12)
Common stock:
Additional paid-in capital	$ 117,862	$ 113,559
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)/income, net of tax	(11,019)	15,533
Retained earnings	231,228	201,013
Total Stockholders' Equity	553,517	545,801
Non-controlling interest	203	236,028
Total Equity	553,720	781,829
Total Liabilities and Equity	15,540,354	14,287,821
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock:
Preferred stock	58,333	58,333
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock:
Preferred stock	73,044	73,044
Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock:
Preferred stock	73,382	73,382
Common Class A, Voting [Member]
Common stock:
Common Stock	1,031	1,031
Common Class B, Voting [Member]
Common stock:
Common Stock	500	500
Common Class C, Non-Voting [Member]
Common stock:
Common Stock	9,156	9,406
Investment Securities [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale, at fair value	2,775,025	1,938,499
Trading, at fair value	491	689
Marketable Securities	2,775,516	1,939,188
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
Assets:
Available-for-sale, at fair value	4,152,605	3,659,281
Held-to-maturity, at amortized cost	1,274,016	1,794,620
Marketable Securities	5,426,621	5,453,901
USDA Securities [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale, at fair value	1,888,344	1,731,222
Trading, at fair value	28,975	40,310
Marketable Securities	$ 1,917,319	$ 1,771,532