UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
Form 10-Q
 
(Mark One)
þQUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 20152016
or
¨TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from              to             
Commission File Number: 001-13251
 
SLM Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware52-2013874
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
  
300 Continental Drive, Newark, Delaware19713
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)
(302) 451-0200
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  þ    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer
  þ
 Accelerated filer
  ¨ 
     
Non-accelerated filer
  ¨ 
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)Smaller reporting company
  ¨ 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  þ    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes ¨ No þ 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:
 
Class
 
Outstanding at September 30, 20152016
Common Stock, $0.20 par value426,108,435428,267,726 shares
 
 








SLM CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
INDEX
 

Part I. Financial Information  
Item 1.Financial Statements 3
Item 1.Notes to the Financial Statements 10
Item 2.Management'sManagement’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 40
41
Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 65
67
Item 4.Controls and Procedures 68
71
PART II. Other Information  
Item 1.Legal Proceedings 69
72
Item 1A.Risk Factors 70
73
Item 2.Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 70
73
Item 3.Defaults Upon Senior Securities 70
73
Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures 70
74
Item 5.Other Information 70
74
Item 6.Exhibits 71
74



1




SLM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
 September 30, December 31, September 30, December 31,
 2015 2014 2016 2015
Assets        
Cash and cash equivalents $1,281,797
 $2,359,780
 $1,454,938
 $2,416,219
Available-for-sale investments at fair value (cost of $190,249 and $167,740, respectively) 190,944
 168,934
Loans held for investment (net of allowance for losses of $104,203 and $83,842, respectively) 11,909,148
 9,509,786
Available-for-sale investments at fair value (cost of $209,464 and $196,402, respectively) 213,176
 195,391
Loans held for investment (net of allowance for losses of $164,839 and $112,507, respectively) 14,760,504
 11,630,591
Restricted cash and investments 25,605
 4,804
 38,256
 27,980
Other interest-earning assets 47,604
 72,479
 47,283
 54,845
Accrued interest receivable 634,423
 469,697
 805,647
 564,496
Premises and equipment, net 80,224
 78,470
 86,721
 81,273
Acquired intangible assets, net 2,115
 3,225
Tax indemnification receivable 200,704
 240,311
 276,543
 186,076
Other assets 77,980
 64,757
 62,545
 57,227
Total assets $14,450,544
 $12,972,243
 $17,745,613
 $15,214,098
        
Liabilities        
Deposits $10,610,879
 $10,540,555
 $12,941,345
 $11,487,707
Short-term borrowings 710,005
 ���
 350,000
 500,175
Long-term borrowings 593,687
 
 1,577,689
 579,101
Income taxes payable, net 117,531
 191,499
 199,813
 166,662
Upromise related liabilities 283,688
 293,004
 259,290
 275,384
Other liabilities 137,420
 117,227
 157,980
 108,746
Total liabilities 12,453,210
 11,142,285
 15,486,117
 13,117,775
        
Commitments and contingencies 
 
 
 
        
Equity        
Preferred stock, par value $0.20 per share, 20 million shares authorized        
Series A: 3.3 million and 3.3 million shares issued, respectively, at stated value of $50 per share 165,000
 165,000
 165,000
 165,000
Series B: 4 million and 4 million shares issued, respectively, at stated value of $100 per share 400,000
 400,000
 400,000
 400,000
Common stock, par value $0.20 per share, 1.125 billion shares authorized: 430 million and 425 million shares issued, respectively 86,075
 84,961
Common stock, par value $0.20 per share, 1.125 billion shares authorized: 434.4 million and 430.7 million shares issued, respectively 86,881
 86,136
Additional paid-in capital 1,128,494
 1,090,511
 1,157,248
 1,135,860
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (net of tax benefit of $14,847 and $7,186, respectively) (23,515) (11,393)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (net of tax benefit of $17,253 and $9,949, respectively) (27,813) (16,059)
Retained earnings 281,761
 113,066
 530,594
 366,609
Total SLM Corporation stockholders' equity before treasury stock 2,037,815
 1,842,145
Less: Common stock held in treasury at cost: 4 million and 1 million shares, respectively (40,481) (12,187)
Total SLM Corporation stockholders’ equity before treasury stock 2,311,910
 2,137,546
Less: Common stock held in treasury at cost: 6.1 million and 4.4 million shares, respectively (52,414) (41,223)
Total equity 1,997,334
 1,829,958
 2,259,496
 2,096,323
Total liabilities and equity $14,450,544
 $12,972,243
 $17,745,613
 $15,214,098

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

2




SLM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
 September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30,
 2015 2014 2015 2014 2016 2015 2016 2015
Interest income:                
Loans $205,274
 $164,106
 $598,417
 $486,379
 $268,341
 $205,274
 $765,246
 $598,417
Investments 2,640
 2,917
 7,746
 6,121
 2,193
 2,640
 7,155
 7,746
Cash and cash equivalents 987
 1,180
 2,568
 3,145
 2,003
 987
 4,832
 2,568
Total interest income 208,901
 168,203
 608,731
 495,645
 272,537
 208,901
 777,233
 608,731
Interest expense:                
Deposits 29,110
 24,177
 86,961
 67,842
 38,210
 29,110
 107,633
 86,961
Interest expense on short-term borrowings 1,951
 
 4,719
 
 1,604
 1,951
 5,827
 4,719
Interest expense on long-term borrowings 2,398
 
 2,398
 
 9,448
 2,398
 17,869
 2,398
Total interest expense 33,459
 24,177
 94,078
 67,842
 49,262
 33,459
 131,329
 94,078
Net interest income 175,442
 144,026
 514,653
 427,803
 223,275
 175,442
 645,904
 514,653
Less: provisions for loan losses 27,497
 14,898
 59,673
 55,071
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses 147,945
 129,128
 454,980
 372,732
Noninterest income:        
Less: provisions for credit losses 41,784
 27,497
 116,179
 59,673
Net interest income after provisions for credit losses 181,491
 147,945
 529,725
 454,980
Non-interest income:        
Gains on sales of loans, net 
 85,147
 76,874
 120,963
 
 
 
 76,874
(Losses) gains on derivatives and hedging activities, net (547) 5,401
 4,347
 (4,821)
Other 10,455
 5,461
 29,374
 28,826
Total noninterest income 9,908
 96,009
 110,595
 144,968
Expenses:        
Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net 1,368
 (547) 3,156
 4,347
Other income 21,598
 10,455
 56,309
 29,374
Total non-interest income 22,966
 9,908
 59,465
 110,595
Non-interest expenses:        
Compensation and benefits 39,304
 31,597
 119,079
 92,931
 43,380
 39,304
 138,659
 119,079
FDIC assessment fees 5,095
 3,801
 13,548
 10,230
Other operating expenses 53,560
 40,482
 144,771
 103,226
 51,234
 49,759
 135,164
 134,541
Total operating expenses 92,864
 72,079
 263,850
 196,157
 99,709
 92,864
 287,371
 263,850
Acquired intangible asset amortization expense 370
 1,150
 1,110
 4,145
 226
 370
 747
 1,110
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses 910
 14,079
 6,311
 27,828
 
 910
 
 6,311
Total expenses 94,144
 87,308
 271,271
 228,130
Total non-interest expenses 99,935
 94,144
 288,118
 271,271
Income before income tax expense 63,709
 137,829
 294,304
 289,570
 104,522
 63,709
 301,072
 294,304
Income tax expense 17,985
 54,903
 109,865
 115,502
 47,557
 17,985
 120,987
 109,865
Net income 45,724
 82,926
 184,439
 174,068
 56,965
 45,724
 180,085
 184,439
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest 
 
 
 (434)
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation 45,724
 82,926
 184,439
 174,502
Preferred stock dividends 4,913
 4,850
 14,606
 8,078
 5,316
 4,913
 15,698
 14,606
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock $40,811
 $78,076
 $169,833
 $166,424
 $51,649
 $40,811
 $164,387
 $169,833
        
Basic earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation $0.10
 $0.18
 $0.40
 $0.39
 $0.12
 $0.10
 $0.38
 $0.40
Average common shares outstanding 426,019
 423,079
 425,384
 424,187
 428,077
 426,019
 427,711
 425,384
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation $0.09
 $0.18
 $0.39
 $0.38
 $0.12
 $0.09
 $0.38
 $0.39
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding 432,547
 431,604
 432,531
 432,324
 433,523
 432,547
 432,079
 432,531




See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

3




SLM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
  September 30, September 30,
  2015 2014 2015 2014
Net income $45,724
 $82,926
 $184,439
 $174,068
Other comprehensive income (loss):        
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments 2,008
 (525) (499) 3,629
Unrealized losses on cash flow hedges (21,751) (1,883) (19,284) (1,883)
Total unrealized (losses) gains (19,743) (2,408) (19,783) 1,746
Income tax benefit (expense) 7,676
 921
 7,661
 (574)
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax benefit (expense) (12,067) (1,487) (12,122) 1,172
Comprehensive income 33,657
 81,439
 172,317
 175,240
Less: comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest 
 
 
 (434)
Total comprehensive income attributable to SLM Corporation $33,657
 $81,439
 $172,317
 $175,674
  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
  September 30, September 30,
  2016 2015 2016 2015
Net income $56,965
 $45,724
 $180,085
 $184,439
Other comprehensive income (loss):        
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments 406
 2,008
 4,723
 (499)
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges 9,324
 (21,751) (23,782) (19,284)
Total unrealized gains (losses) 9,730
 (19,743) (19,059) (19,783)
Income tax (expense) benefit (3,690) 7,676
 7,305
 7,661
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (expense) benefit 6,040
 (12,067) (11,754) (12,122)
Total comprehensive income $63,005
 $33,657
 $168,331
 $172,317

















See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

4



SLM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
    Common Stock Shares                    
  Preferred Stock Shares Issued Treasury Outstanding Preferred Stock Common Stock Additional Paid-In Capital Navient's Subsidiary Investment 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 Retained Earnings Treasury Stock Total SLM Corporation Equity Non-controlling interest Total Equity
Balance at December 31, 2013 
 
 
 
 $
 $
 $
 $1,164,495
 $(3,024) $
 $
 $1,161,471
 $4,672
 $1,166,143
Net income (loss) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 68,173
 
 106,329
 
 174,502
 (434) 174,068
Other comprehensive income, net of tax 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1,172
 
 
 1,172
 
 1,172
Total comprehensive income (loss) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 175,674
 (434) 175,240
Net transfers from affiliate 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 479,409
 
 
 
 479,409
 
 479,409
Separation adjustments related to Spin-Off of Navient Corporation 7,300,000
 422,790,320
 
 422,790,320
 565,000
 84,558
 1,062,519
 (1,712,077) 
 
 
 
 
 
Sale of non-controlling interest 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (4,238) (4,238)
Cash dividends:                            
Preferred Stock, series A ($.87 per share) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (4,792) 
 (4,792) 
 (4,792)
Preferred Stock, series B ($.49 per share)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (3,286) 
 (3,286) 
 (3,286)
Dividend equivalent units related to employee stock-based compensation plans 
 
 
 
 
 
 41
 
 
 (41)   
 
 
Issuance of common shares 
 1,089,716
 
 1,089,716
 
 219
 4,391
 
 
 
 
 4,610
 
 4,610
Stock-based compensation expense 
 
 
 
 
 
 11,550
 
 
 
 
 11,550
 
 11,550
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans 
 
 (715,393) (715,393) 
 
 
 
 
 
 (6,208) (6,208) 
 (6,208)
Balance at September 30, 2014 7,300,000
 423,880,036
 (715,393) 423,164,643
 $565,000
 $84,777
 $1,078,501
 $
 $(1,852) $98,210
 $(6,208) $1,818,428
 $
 $1,818,428
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

5




SLM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)


   Common Stock Shares                 Common Stock Shares              
 Preferred Stock Shares Issued Treasury Outstanding Preferred Stock Common Stock Additional Paid-In Capital 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 Retained Earnings Treasury Stock Total SLM Corporation Equity Preferred Stock Shares Issued Treasury Outstanding Preferred Stock Common Stock Additional Paid-In Capital 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
 Retained Earnings Treasury Stock Total Equity
Balance at December 31, 2014 7,300,000
 424,804,125
 (1,365,277) 423,438,848
 $565,000
 $84,961
 $1,090,511
 $(11,393) $113,066
 $(12,187) $1,829,958
 7,300,000
 424,804,125
 (1,365,277) 423,438,848
 $565,000
 $84,961
 $1,090,511
 $(11,393) $113,066
 $(12,187) $1,829,958
Net income 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 184,439
 
 184,439
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 184,439
 
 184,439
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (12,122) 
 
 (12,122) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (12,122) 
 
 (12,122)
Total comprehensive income 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 172,317
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 172,317
Cash dividends:                                            
Preferred Stock, series A ($.87 per share) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (8,625) 
 (8,625) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (8,625) 
 (8,625)
Preferred Stock, series B ($.51 per share)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (5,981) 
 (5,981) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (5,981) 
 (5,981)
Dividend equivalent units related to employee stock-based compensation plans 
 
 
 
 
 
 1,138
 
 (1,138) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1,138
 
 (1,138)   
Issuance of common shares 
 5,569,853
 
 5,569,853
 
 1,114
 14,329
 
 
 
 15,443
 
 5,569,853
 
 5,569,853
 
 1,114
 14,329
 
 
 
 15,443
Tax benefit related to employee stock-based compensation 
 
 
 
 
 
 6,093
 
 
 
 6,093
 
 
 
 
 
 
 6,093
 
 
 
 6,093
Stock-based compensation expense 
 
 
 
 
 
 16,423
 
 
 
 16,423
 
 
 
 
 
 
 16,423
 
 
 
 16,423
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans 
 
 (2,900,266) (2,900,266) 
 
 
 
 
 (28,294) (28,294) 
 
 (2,900,266) (2,900,266) 
 
 
 
 
 (28,294) (28,294)
Balance at September 30, 2015 7,300,000
 430,373,978
 (4,265,543) 426,108,435
 $565,000
 $86,075
 $1,128,494
 $(23,515) $281,761
 $(40,481) $1,997,334
 7,300,000
 430,373,978
 (4,265,543) 426,108,435
 $565,000
 $86,075
 $1,128,494
 $(23,515) $281,761
 $(40,481) $1,997,334













See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


6
SLM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)



    Common Stock Shares              
  Preferred Stock Shares Issued Treasury Outstanding Preferred Stock Common Stock Additional Paid-In Capital 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
 Retained Earnings Treasury Stock Total Equity
Balance at December 31, 2015 7,300,000
 430,677,434
 (4,374,190) 426,303,244
 $565,000
 $86,136
 $1,135,860
 $(16,059) $366,609
 $(41,223) $2,096,323
Net income 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 180,085
 
 180,085
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (11,754) 
 
 (11,754)
Total comprehensive income 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 168,331
Cash dividends:                      
Preferred Stock, series A ($0.87 per share) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (8,625) 
 (8,625)
Preferred Stock, series B ($0.65 per share) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (7,073) 
 (7,073)
Dividend equivalent units related to employee stock-based compensation plans 
 
 
 
 
 
 402
 
 (402) 
 
Issuance of common shares 
 3,727,574
 
 3,727,574
 
 745
 5,493
 
 
 
 6,238
Tax deficiency related to employee stock-based compensation 
 
 
 
 
 
 (2,457) 
 
 
 (2,457)
Stock-based compensation expense 
 
 
 
 
 
 17,950
 
 
 
 17,950
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans 
 
 (1,763,092) (1,763,092) 
 
 
 
 
 (11,191) (11,191)
Balance at September 30, 2016 7,300,000
 434,405,008
 (6,137,282) 428,267,726
 $565,000
 $86,881
 $1,157,248
 $(27,813) $530,594
 $(52,414) $2,259,496












See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



SLM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)


 Nine Months Ended Nine Months Ended
 September September 30,
 2015 2014 2016 2015
Operating activities        
Net income $184,439
 $174,068
 $180,085
 $184,439
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:        
Provisions for loan losses 59,673
 55,071
Provisions for credit losses 116,179
 59,673
Income tax expense 109,865
 115,502
 120,987
 109,865
Amortization of brokered deposit placement fee 8,006
 7,548
 7,766
 8,006
Amortization of asset-backed commercial paper upfront fee 1,790
 
Amortization of ABCP Facility upfront fee 866
 1,790
Amortization of deferred loan origination costs and fees, net 2,563
 1,446
 4,304
 2,563
Net accretion of discount on borrowings 108
 
Net accretion of underwriter fees on borrowings 108
 
Net amortization of discount on investments 1,332
 433
 1,387
 1,332
Interest income on tax indemnification receivable (14,386) (5,118)
Depreciation of premises and equipment 5,427
 4,289
 6,896
 5,427
Amortization of acquired intangibles 1,110
 2,783
 747
 1,110
Stock-based compensation expense 16,423
 20,127
 17,950
 16,423
Unrealized (gains)/losses on derivative and hedging activities, net (1,985) 1,307
Unrealized gains on derivative and hedging activities, net (1,881) (1,985)
Gains on sale of loans, net (76,874) (120,963) 
 (76,874)
Other adjustments to net income, net 2,540
 216
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:        
Net decrease in loans held for sale 55
 6,448
 
 55
Origination of loans held for sale (55) (6,448) 
 (55)
Increase in accrued interest receivable (316,263) (220,273) (430,441) (316,263)
Increase in restricted cash and investments - other (2,596) (1,503)
Decrease (increase) in other interest-earning assets 24,875
 (46,333)
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash and investments - other 1,564
 (2,596)
Decrease in other interest-earning assets 7,562
 24,875
Decrease in tax indemnification receivable 39,607
 29,816
 44,725
 44,725
Increase in other assets (18,022) (18,918) (22,879) (18,022)
Decrease in income tax payable, net (176,172) (294,116)
Decrease in income taxes payable, net (201,338) (176,172)
Increase in accrued interest payable 7,227
 2,639
 10,202
 7,227
(Decrease) increase in payable due to entity that is a subsidiary of Navient (5,368) 18,114
Increase (decrease) in payable due to entity that is a subsidiary of Navient 658
 (5,368)
Increase in other liabilities 5,895
 30,741
 7,131
 5,895
Total adjustments (313,271) (412,290) (319,461) (313,271)
Total net cash used in operating activities (128,832) (238,222) (139,376) (128,832)
Investing activities        
Loans acquired and originated (3,786,946) (3,535,740) (4,072,631) (3,786,946)
Net proceeds from sales of loans held for investment 790,094
 1,994,017
 7,912
 790,094
Proceeds from claim payments 91,000
 88,251
 49,742
 91,000
Net decrease (increase) in loans held for investment 672,665
 476,955
Net decrease in loans held for investment 953,715
 672,665
Increase in restricted cash and investments - variable interest entities (18,205) 
 (11,840) (18,205)
Purchases of available-for-sale securities (50,062) (55,928) (40,767) (50,062)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of available-for-sale securities 26,222
 7,337
 26,318
 26,222
Total net cash used in investing activities (2,275,232) (1,025,108) (3,087,551) (2,275,232)
Financing activities        
Brokered deposit placement fee (477) (5,533) (3,953) (477)
Net increase (decrease) in certificates of deposit 161,096
 (614,953)
Net (decrease) increase in other deposits (129,412) 804,874
Net increase in certificates of deposit 481,623
 161,096
Net increase (decrease) in other deposits 961,123
 (129,412)
Issuance costs for collateralized borrowings (1,351) 
Borrowings collateralized by loans in securitization trusts - issued 620,681
 
 1,104,551
 620,681
Borrowings collateralized by loans in securitization trusts - repaid (27,195) 
 (106,567) (27,195)
Borrowings under ABCP facility 713,746
 

7




Repayment of borrowings under ABCP facility (3,741) 
Fees paid on ABCP facility (104) 
Net decrease in deposits with entity that is a subsidiary of Navient 
 (5,633)
Special cash contribution from Navient 
 472,718
Net capital contributions from entity that is a subsidiary of Navient 
 7,448
Excess tax benefit from the exercise of stock-based awards 6,093
 
Borrowings under ABCP Facility 376,325
 713,746
Repayment of borrowings under ABCP Facility (526,500) (3,741)
Fees paid on ABCP Facility (1,450) (104)
Excess tax (expense) benefit from the exercise of stock-based awards (2,457) 6,093
Preferred stock dividends paid (14,606) (8,078) (15,698) (14,606)
Net cash provided by financing activities 1,326,081
 650,843
 2,265,646
 1,326,081
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (1,077,983) (612,487) (961,281) (1,077,983)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 2,359,780
 2,182,865
 2,416,219
 2,359,780
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $1,281,797
 $1,570,378
 $1,454,938
 $1,281,797
Cash disbursements made for:        
Interest $79,917
 $64,987
 $119,812
 $79,917
Income taxes paid $171,114
 $294,116
 $201,218
 $171,194
Income taxes received $(86) $(80)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

89




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
   



1. Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited, consolidated financial statements of SLM Corporation (“we,” “us,” “our,” “SallieSallie Mae,” “SLM,” the “Company,” “we,” or the “Company”“us”) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete consolidated financial statements. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SLM Corporation and its majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries after eliminating the effects of intercompany accounts and transactions. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods have been included. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 20152016 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 20152016 or for any other period. These unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20142015 (the “2014“2015 Form 10-K”).
On April 30, 2014, we completed our plan
Correction Recorded in the Current Period
We recognized in the current period adjustments for tax positions relating to legally separate into two distinct publicly tradedhistorical transactions among entities - an education loan management, servicing and asset recovery business,that are now subsidiaries of Navient Corporation (“Navient”), and a consumer banking business, SLM Corporation. The that should have been recorded at the time of the separation of Navient from SLM Corporation (the “Spin-Off”) was preceded by an internal corporate reorganization,, which was the first step to separate the education loan management, servicing and asset recovery business from the consumer banking business.
For periods before the Spin-Off, the financial statements are presented on a basis of accounting that reflects a change in reporting entity and have been adjusted for the effects of the Spin-Off. These carved-out financial statements and selected financial information represent only those operations, assets, liabilities and equity that form Sallie Mae on a stand-alone basis. Because the Spin-Off occurred on April 30, 2014,2014. We have evaluated the balances beforequantitative and qualitative materiality of these errors to all of the relevant periods and concluded that date include the carved-outout of period correction to recognize the asset, liabilities and income statement impacts in the quarter ended September 30, 2016 is not material to our consolidated financial results.statements for any of the relevant periods. The adjustments increased our tax indemnification receivable and income taxes payable by $120 million and increased our other income and income tax expense by $9 million, as we believe we are indemnified by Navient for these additional tax liabilities. Accordingly, there was no effect on equity or net income as a result of these errors in the current or prior periods. Prospectively, these uncertain tax position liabilities and related assets will be accounted for consistent with our existing accounting policies for these kinds of assets and liabilities.
Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries after eliminating the effects of intercompany accounts and transactions.
Restricted CashWe consolidate any variable interest entity (“VIE”) where we have determined we are the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary is the entity which has both: (1) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and Investments(2) the obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE.
Restricted cashLoan Interest Income
For loans classified as “held for investment,” we recognize interest income as earned, adjusted for the amortization of deferred direct origination costs. This adjustment is recognized based upon the expected yield of the loan over its life after giving effect to prepayments and investments primarily includes amounts held in student loan securitization trusts and other secured borrowings. This cash must beextensions. We consider our constant prepayment rate (“CPR”) estimates a significant accounting assumption used to make payments relatedmeasure the expected prepayment activity in our education loan portfolio. The estimates are based on a number of factors such as historical prepayment rates for loans with similar loan characteristics, assumptions about portfolio composition and loan terms, and the prepayment curve’s tendency to trust obligations. Amountsfollow a ramp pattern (i.e., the prepayment rate typically increases during the in-school and early repayment periods, then stabilizes). The CPR measures the expected prepayment activity over the life of the loan and is applied as a flat-rate input assumption when used in forecasting.

10


SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
1.Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)



Our CPR estimates include the effect of voluntary prepayments, education loan defaults, and consolidation (if the loans are consolidated to third parties), all of which shorten the lives of loans. CPR estimates also consider the utilization of deferment, forbearance, and extended repayment plans, which lengthen the lives of loans. We regularly evaluate the assumptions used to estimate the CPRs. In instances where there are changes to the assumptions, amortization of deferred direct origination costs is adjusted on deposita cumulative basis to reflect the change since the origination of the loan. We also pay to the U.S. Department of Education (“ED”) an annual 105 basis point Consolidation Loan Rebate Fee on FFELP consolidation loans, which is netted against loan interest income. Additionally, interest earned on education loans reflects potential non-payment adjustments in these accountsaccordance with our uncollectible interest recognition policy. We do not amortize any adjustments to the basis of education loans when they are primarilyclassified as “held-for-sale.”
We recognize certain fee income (primarily late fees) on education loans when earned according to the resultcontractual provisions of timing differences betweenthe promissory notes, as well as our expectation of collectibility. Fee income is recorded when principal and interest is collected onearned in “other non-interest income” in the trust assets and when principal and interest is paid on trust liabilities.accompanying consolidated statements of income.
Recently Issued but Not Yet Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
On February 18, 2015,25, 2016, the FASBFinancial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2015-02, “Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments2016-02, “Leases,” a comprehensive new lease standard which will supersede previous lease guidance. The standard requires a lessee to recognize in its balance sheet assets and liabilities related to long-term leases that were classified as operating leases under previous guidance. An asset will be recognized related to the Consolidation Analysis,right to use the underlying asset and a liability will be recognized related to the obligation to make lease payments over the term of the lease. The standard also requires expanded disclosures surrounding leases. The standard is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and requires modified retrospective adoption, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
On March 30, 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, “Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” which amends the current consolidationstock compensation guidance. The amendments reducesimplify the number of consolidation models throughaccounting for the elimination of the indefinite deferral of ASC 810taxes related to stock-based compensation, including adjustments to how excess tax benefits and place more emphasis on risk of loss when determining a controlling financial interest.company’s payments for tax withholdings should be classified. The standard is effective January 1,for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted during an interim period in fiscal year 2015. Inpermitted. We continue to evaluate the third quarterimpact of 2015, we elected to early adopt the new accounting guidance retrospectively to July 1, 2015. The early adoption of this standard had noon our consolidated financial statements, and at this time we expect the standard to result in immaterial volatility in earnings caused by the change in the treatment of the tax benefits or deficiencies related to share-based payments at settlement (or expiration) through “income tax expense” in our consolidated statements of income.
On June 16, 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” which requires measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets held. Under this standard, we will be required to hold an allowance equal to the expected life-of-loan losses on our loan portfolio. The standard is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2019. While we are currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of this standard on our consolidated financial statements, we expect the adoption to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.statements and capital ratios.



911




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)

2. Loans Held for Investment
Loans Heldheld for Investmentinvestment consist of Private Education Loans and FFELP Loans.
“Private We use “Private Education Loans” areto mean education loans to students or their families that are not issued,made, insured or guaranteed by any state or federal government. Private Education Loans do not include loans insured or guaranteed under the previously existing Federal Family Education Loan Program (“FFELP”).
Our Private Education Loans are made largely to bridge the gap between the cost of higher education and the amount funded through financial aid, government loans orand customers’ resources. Private Education Loans bear the full credit risk of the borrower and any cosigners.customer. We manage this risk through risk-performance underwriting strategies and the addition of qualified cosigners. Our Private Education Loans generally carry a variable interest rate indexed to LIBOR. As of September 30, 2015, 822016, 81 percent of all of our Private Education Loans were indexed to LIBOR. We provide incentives for customers to include a cosigner on our Private Education Loans,the loan, and the vast majority of Private Education Loansloans in our portfolio are cosigned. We also encourage our Private Education Loanprovide total cost incentives for customers to make payments while in school.
FFELP Loans are insured by the federal government as to their principal and accrued interest in the event of default subject to a risk sharingRisk Sharing level based on the date of loan disbursement. These insurance obligations are supported by contractual rights against the United States. For loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2006, we receive 97 percent reimbursement on all qualifying claims. For loans disbursed after October 1, 1993, and before July 1, 2006, we receive 98 percent reimbursement on all qualifying claims. For loans disbursed prior to October 1, 1993, we receive 100 percent reimbursement on all qualifying claims.
Loans held for investment are summarized as follows:
 September 30, December 31, September 30, December 31,
 2015 2014 2016 2015
Private Education Loans $10,840,261
 $8,311,376
 $13,848,262
 $10,596,437
Deferred origination costs 26,283
 13,845
 40,327
 27,884
Allowance for loan losses (100,033) (78,574) (162,630) (108,816)
Total Private Education Loans, net 10,766,511
 8,246,647
 13,725,959
 10,515,505
        
FFELP Loans 1,143,595
 1,264,807
 1,033,929
 1,115,663
Unamortized acquisition costs, net 3,212
 3,600
 2,825
 3,114
Allowance for loan losses (4,170) (5,268) (2,209) (3,691)
Total FFELP Loans, net 1,142,637
 1,263,139
 1,034,545
 1,115,086
        
Loans held for investment, net $11,909,148
 $9,509,786
 $14,760,504
 $11,630,591

 
The estimated weighted average life of education loans in our portfolio was approximately 6.36.0 years and 6.2 years at September 30, 20152016 and December 31, 2014,2015, respectively.

1012




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
2.Loans Held for Investment (Continued) 


The average balance and the respective weighted average interest rates of education loans in our portfolio are summarized as follows:


 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
 September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30,
 2015 2014 2015 2014 2016 2015 2016 2015
 Average Balance Weighted Average Interest Rate Average Balance Weighted Average Interest Rate Average Balance Weighted Average Interest Rate Average Balance Weighted Average Interest Rate Average Balance Weighted Average Interest Rate Average Balance Weighted Average Interest Rate Average Balance Weighted Average Interest Rate Average Balance Weighted Average Interest Rate
Private Education Loans $9,869,025
 7.87% $7,407,774
 8.20% $9,563,290
 7.96% $7,394,985
 8.19% $12,881,890
 8.00% $9,869,025
 7.87% $12,307,932
 8.00% $9,563,290
 7.96%
FFELP Loans 1,161,288
 3.27
 1,339,748
 3.23
 1,196,491
 3.22
 1,373,945
 3.25
 1,049,803
 3.52
 1,161,288
 3.27
 1,076,394
 3.48
 1,196,491
 3.22
Total portfolio $11,030,313
   $8,747,522
   $10,759,781
   $8,768,930
   $13,931,693
   $11,030,313
   $13,384,326
   $10,759,781
  



1113




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)

3. Allowance for Loan Losses
Our provision for loan losses represents the periodic expense of maintaining an allowance sufficient to absorb incurred probable losses in the held-for-investment loan portfolios. The evaluation of the allowance for loan losses is inherently subjective, as it requires material estimates that may be susceptible to significant changes. We believe the allowance for loan losses is appropriate to cover probable losses incurred in the loan portfolios.

Allowance for Loan Losses Metrics

 Allowance for Loan Losses Allowance for Loan Losses
 Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
 FFELP Loans 
Private Education
Loans
 Total FFELP Loans 
Private Education
Loans
 Total
Allowance for Loan Losses            
Beginning balance $4,556
 $87,310
 $91,866
 $2,297
 $142,628
 $144,925
Total provision 143
 27,354
 27,497
 268
 40,502
 40,770
Net charge-offs:            
Charge-offs (529) (14,121) (14,650) (356) (22,072) (22,428)
Recoveries 
 1,361
 1,361
 
 2,973
 2,973
Net charge-offs (529) (12,760) (13,289) (356) (19,099) (19,455)
Loan sales(1)
 
 (1,871) (1,871) 
 (1,401) (1,401)
Ending Balance $4,170
 $100,033
 $104,203
 $2,209
 $162,630
 $164,839
Allowance:            
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment $
 $43,001
 $43,001
 $
 $77,521
 $77,521
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment $4,170
 $57,032
 $61,202
 $2,209
 $85,109
 $87,318
Loans:            
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment $
 $231,286
 $231,286
 $
 $503,632
 $503,632
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment $1,143,595
 $10,608,975
 $11,752,570
 $1,033,929
 $13,344,630
 $14,378,559
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(2)
 0.25% 0.83%   0.18% 0.91%  
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance 0.36% 0.92%   0.21% 1.17%  
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment(2)
 0.50% 1.50%   0.28% 1.83%  
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized) 1.97
 1.96
   1.55
 2.13
  
Ending total loans, gross $1,143,595
 $10,840,261
   $1,033,929
 $13,848,262
  
Average loans in repayment(2)
 $839,090
 $6,118,678
   $791,296
 $8,420,625
  
Ending loans in repayment(2)
 $836,585
 $6,657,228
   $795,665
 $8,905,812
  

____________
(1) Represents fair value write-downsadjustments on loans sold.
(2) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only andor fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status.status after any applicable grace period.

1214




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
3.Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued) 


     
 Allowance for Loan Losses Allowance for Loan Losses
 Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 Three Months Ended September 30, 2015
 FFELP Loans 
Private Education
Loans
 Total FFELP Loans 
Private Education
Loans
 Total
Allowance for Loan Losses            
Beginning balance $6,212
 $54,315
 $60,527
 $4,556
 $87,310
 $91,866
Total provision 291
 14,607
 14,898
 143
 27,354
 27,497
Net charge-offs:            
Charge-offs (761) (4,378) (5,139) (529) (14,121) (14,650)
Recoveries 
 
 
 
 1,361
 1,361
Net charge-offs (761) (4,378) (5,139) (529) (12,760) (13,289)
Loan sales(1)
 
 (4,571) (4,571) 
 (1,871) (1,871)
Ending Balance $5,742
 $59,973
 $65,715
 $4,170
 $100,033
 $104,203
Allowance:            
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment $
 $2,966
 $2,966
 $
 $43,001
 $43,001
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment $5,742
 $57,007
 $62,749
 $4,170
 $57,032
 $61,202
Loans:            
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment $
 $13,115
 $13,115
 $
 $231,286
 $231,286
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment $1,317,963
 $7,816,305
 $9,134,268
 $1,143,595
 $10,608,975
 $11,752,570
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(2)
 0.32% 0.39%   0.25% 0.83%  
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance 0.44% 0.77%   0.36% 0.92%  
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment(2)
 0.61% 1.31%   0.50% 1.50%  
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized) 1.89
 3.42
   1.97
 1.96
  
Ending total loans, gross $1,317,963
 $7,829,420
   $1,143,595
 $10,840,261
  
Average loans in repayment(2)
 $953,620
 $4,453,775
   $839,090
 $6,118,678
  
Ending loans in repayment(2)
 $945,230
 $4,575,143
   $836,585
 $6,657,228
  
____________
    
(1) Represents fair value write-downsadjustments on loans sold.
(2) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only andor fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status.status after any applicable grace period.





1315




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
3.Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued) 


 Allowance for Loan Losses Allowance for Loan Losses
 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
 FFELP Loans 
Private Education
Loans
 Total FFELP Loans 
Private Education
Loans
 Total
Allowance for Loan Losses            
Beginning balance $5,268
 $78,574
 $83,842
 $3,691
 $108,816
 $112,507
Total provision 1,044
 58,629
 59,673
 (396) 116,703
 116,307
Net charge-offs:            
Charge-offs (2,142) (36,127) (38,269) (1,086) (64,979) (66,065)
Recoveries 
 4,529
 4,529
 
 7,098
 7,098
Net charge-offs (2,142) (31,598) (33,740) (1,086) (57,881) (58,967)
Loan sales(1)
 
 (5,572) (5,572) 
 (5,008) (5,008)
Ending Balance $4,170
 $100,033
 $104,203
 $2,209
 $162,630
 $164,839
Allowance:            
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment $
 $43,001
 $43,001
 $
 $77,521
 $77,521
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment $4,170
 $57,032
 $61,202
 $2,209
 $85,109
 $87,318
Loans:            
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment $
 $231,286
 $231,286
 $
 $503,632
 $503,632
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment $1,143,595
 $10,608,975
 $11,752,570
 $1,033,929
 $13,344,630
 $14,378,559
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(2)
 0.33% 0.72%   0.18% 0.97%  
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance 0.36% 0.92%   0.21% 1.17%  
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment(2)
 0.50% 1.50%   0.28% 1.83%  
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized) 1.46
 2.37
   1.53
 2.11
  
Ending total loans, gross $1,143,595
 $10,840,261
   $1,033,929
 $13,848,262
  
Average loans in repayment(2)
 $868,649
 $5,848,345
   $795,452
 $7,952,469
  
Ending loans in repayment(2)
 $836,585
 $6,657,228
   $795,665
 $8,905,812
  

____________
(1) Represents fair value write-downsadjustments on loans sold.
(2) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only andor fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status.status after any applicable grace period.





1416




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
3.Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued) 


 Allowance for Loan Losses Allowance for Loan Losses
 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
 FFELP Loans 
Private Education
Loans
 Total FFELP Loans 
Private Education
Loans
 Total
Allowance for Loan Losses            
Beginning balance $6,318
 $61,763
 $68,081
 $5,268
 $78,574
 $83,842
Total provision 1,482
 53,589
 55,071
 1,044
 58,629
 59,673
Net charge-offs:      
Charge-offs (2,058) (4,378) (6,436) (2,142) (36,127) (38,269)
Recoveries 
 4,529
 4,529
Net charge-offs (2,142) (31,598) (33,740)
Loan sales(1)
 
 (51,001) (51,001) 
 (5,572) (5,572)
Ending Balance $5,742
 $59,973
 $65,715
 $4,170
 $100,033
 $104,203
Allowance:            
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment $
 $2,966
 $2,966
 $
 $43,001
 $43,001
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment $5,742
 $57,007
 $62,749
 $4,170
 $57,032
 $61,202
Loans:            
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment $
 $13,115
 $13,115
 $
 $231,286
 $231,286
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment $1,317,963
 $7,816,305
 $9,134,268
 $1,143,595
 $10,608,975
 $11,752,570
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(2)
 0.28% 0.13%  
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(2)
 0.33% 0.72%  
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance 0.44% 0.77%   0.36% 0.92%  
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment(2)
 0.61% 1.31%   0.50% 1.50%  
Allowance coverage of charge-offs (annualized) 2.09
 10.27
  
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized) 1.46
 2.37
  
Ending total loans, gross $1,317,963
 $7,829,420
   $1,143,595
 $10,840,261
  
Average loans in repayment(2)
 $980,733
 $4,408,852
   $868,649
 $5,848,345
  
Ending loans in repayment(3)
 $945,230
 $4,575,143
  
Ending loans in repayment(2)
 $836,585
 $6,657,228
  

____________
(1) Represents fair value write-downsadjustments on loans sold.
(2) Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only andor fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status.status after any applicable grace period.



1517




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
3.Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued) 



Troubled Debt Restructurings (“TDRs”)
All of our loans are collectively assessed for impairment, except for loans classified as TDRs (where we conduct individual assessments of impairment). We modify the terms of loans for certain borrowers when we believe such modifications may increase the ability and willingness of a borrower to make payments and thus increase the ultimate overall amount collected on a loan. These modifications generally take the form of a forbearance, a temporary interest rate reduction or an extended repayment plan. In the first nine months after a loan enters full principal and interest repayment, the loan may be in forbearance for up to six months without it being classified as a TDR. Once the initial nine-month period described above is over, however, any loan that receives more than three months of forbearance in a twenty-four month period is classified as a TDR. Also, a loan becomes a TDR when it is modified to reduce the interest rate on the loan (regardless of when such modification occurs and/or whether such interest rate reduction is temporary). The majority of our loans that are considered TDRs involve a temporary forbearance of payments and do not change the contractual interest rate of the loan. Approximately 2225 percent and 1023 percent of the loans granted forbearance as of September 30, 20152016 and December 31, 2014,2015, respectively, have been classified as TDRs due to their forbearance status.
Prior to the Spin-Off, we did not have TDR loans because the loans generally were sold to a now unrelated affiliate For additional information, see Note 6, “Allowance for Loan Losses” in the same month that the terms were restructured. Subsequent to May 1, 2014, we have individually assessed $251 million of Private Education Loans as TDRs. When these TDR loans are determined to be impaired, we provide for an allowance for losses sufficient to cover life-of-loan expected losses through an impairment calculation based on the difference between the loan's basis and the present value of expected future cash flows (which would include life-of-loan default and recovery assumptions) discounted at the loan's original effective interest rate.our 2015 Form 10-K.
Within the Private Education Loan portfolio, loans greater than 90 days past due are considered to be nonperforming. FFELP Loans are at least 97 percent guaranteed as to their principal and accrued interest by the federal government in the event of default and, therefore, we do not deem FFELP Loans as nonperforming from a credit risk perspective at any point in their life cycle prior to claim payment, and we continue to accrue interest on those loans through the date of claim.
At September 30, 20152016 and December 31, 2014,2015, all of our TDR loans had a related allowance recorded. The following table provides the recorded investment, unpaid principal balance and related allowance for our TDR loans.
 Recorded Investment Unpaid Principal Balance Allowance Recorded Investment Unpaid Principal Balance Allowance
            
September 30, 2015      
September 30, 2016      
TDR Loans $234,360
 $231,286
 $43,001
 $510,361
 $503,632
 $77,521
            
December 31, 2014      
December 31, 2015      
TDR Loans $60,278
 $59,402
 $9,815
 $269,628
 $265,831
 $43,480

The following table provides the average recorded investment and interest income recognized for our TDR loans.
  Three Months Ended Three Months Ended
  September 30, 2015 September 30, 2014
  
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
 
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
         
TDR Loans $210,039
 $4,198
 $8,740
 $129
  Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
  2016 2015
  
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
 
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
         
TDR Loans $454,395
 $8,116
 $210,039
 $4,198


1618




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
3.Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued) 

  Nine Months Ended Nine Months Ended
  September 30, 2015 September 30, 2014
  
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
 
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
         
TDR Loans $150,240
 $9,314
 $3,958
 $160
  Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
  2016 2015
  
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
 
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
         
TDR Loans $373,747
 $20,396
 $150,240
 $9,314


The following table provides information regarding the loan status of TDR loans and the aging of TDR loans that are past due.loans.

 September 30, December 31, September 30, December 31,
 2015 2014 2016 2015
 Balance % Balance % Balance % Balance %
TDR loans in in-school/grace/deferment(1)
 $4,940
   $2,915
   $22,544
   $6,869
  
TDR loans in forbearance(2)
 50,878
   18,620
   72,386
   43,756
  
TDR loans in repayment and percentage of each status:        
TDR loans in repayment(3) and percentage of each status:
        
Loans current 154,984
 88.3% 34,554
 91.2% 366,000
 89.6% 185,936
 86.4%
Loans delinquent 31-60 days(3)(4)
 11,042
 6.3
 1,953
 5.2
 21,781
 5.3
 14,948
 6.9
Loans delinquent 61-90 days(3)(4)
 6,336
 3.6
 983
 2.6
 13,411
 3.3
 9,239
 4.3
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(3)(4)
 3,106
 1.8
 377
 1.0
 7,510
 1.8
 5,083
 2.4
Total TDR loans in repayment 175,468
 100.0% 37,867
 100.0% 408,702
 100.0% 215,206
 100.0%
Total TDR loans, gross $231,286
   $59,402
   $503,632
   $265,831
  
_____
(1) 
Deferment includes customers who have returned to school or are engaged in other permitted educational activities and are not yet required to make payments on the loans (e.g., residency periods for medical students or a grace period for bar exam preparation).
(2) 
Loans for customers who have requested extension of grace period generally during employment transition or who have temporarily ceased making full payments due to hardship or other factors, consistent with established loan program servicing policies and procedures.
(3) 
Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period.
(4)
The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.

    

1719




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
3.Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued) 

The following tablestable provides the amount of modified loans (which includes forbearance and reductions in interest rates) that became TDRs in the periods presented. Additionally, for the periods presented, the table summarizes charge-offs occurring in the TDR portfolio, as well as TDRs for which a payment default occurred in the relevant period presented and within 12 months of the loan first being designated as a TDR. We define payment default as 60 days past due for this disclosure.
  Three Months Ended Three Months Ended
  September 30, 2015 September 30, 2014
  
Modified Loans(1)
 Charge-offs 
Payment-
Default
 
Modified Loans(1)
 Charge-offs 
Payment-
Default
             
TDR Loans $49,975
 $3,456
 $16,719
 $7,840
 $87
 $252
  Three Months Ended 
 September 30, 2016
 Three Months Ended 
 September 30, 2015
  
Modified Loans(1)
 Charge-offs 
Payment-
Default
 
Modified Loans(1)
 Charge-offs 
Payment-
Default
             
TDR Loans $116,419
 $5,925
 $23,326
 $49,975
 $3,456
 $16,719

  Nine Months Ended Nine Months Ended
  September 30, 2015 September 30, 2014
  
Modified Loans(1)
 Charge-offs 
Payment-
Default
 
Modified Loans(1)
 Charge-offs 
Payment-
Default
             
TDR Loans $189,066
 $5,845
 $29,895
 $14,880
 $87
 $320
  Nine Months Ended 
 September 30, 2016
 Nine Months Ended 
 September 30, 2015
  
Modified Loans(1)
 Charge-offs 
Payment-
Default
 
Modified Loans(1)
 Charge-offs 
Payment-
Default
             
TDR Loans $270,266
 $16,357
 $70,401
 $189,066
 $5,845
 $29,895
_____
(1) 
Represents the principal balance of loans that have been modified during the period and resulted in a TDR.



1820




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
3.Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued) 


Key Credit Quality Indicators
For Private Education Loans, the key credit quality indicators are FICO scores, the existence of a cosigner, the loan status and loan seasoning. The FICO scores are assessed at originationoriginal approval and periodically refreshed/updated through the loan'sloan’s term. The following table highlights the gross principal balance of our Private Education Loan portfolio stratified by key credit quality indicators.

 Private Education Loans Private Education Loans
 Credit Quality Indicators Credit Quality Indicators
 September 30, 2015 December 31, 2014 September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015
Credit Quality Indicators: 
Balance(1)
 % of Balance 
Balance(1)
 % of Balance 
Balance(1)
 % of Balance 
Balance(1)
 % of Balance
                
Cosigners:                
With cosigner $9,748,371
 90% $7,465,339
 90% $12,456,310
 90% $9,515,136
 90%
Without cosigner 1,091,890
 10
 846,037
 10
 1,391,952
 10
 1,081,301
 10
Total $10,840,261
 100% $8,311,376
 100% $13,848,262
 100% $10,596,437
 100%
                
FICO at Origination:        
FICO at Original Approval:        
Less than 670 $706,688
 6% $558,801
 7% $889,151
 6% $700,779
 7%
670-699 1,582,381
 15
 1,227,860
 15
 2,025,444
 15
 1,554,959
 15
700-749 3,470,300
 32
 2,626,238
 32
 4,492,235
 32
 3,403,823
 32
Greater than or equal to 750 5,080,892
 47
 3,898,477
 46
 6,441,432
 47
 4,936,876
 46
Total $10,840,261
 100% $8,311,376
 100% $13,848,262
 100% $10,596,437
 100%
                
Seasoning(2):
                
1-12 payments $3,575,055
 33% $2,373,117
 29% $4,307,106
 31% $3,059,901
 29%
13-24 payments 1,729,120
 16
 1,532,042
 18
 2,398,396
 17
 2,096,412
 20
25-36 payments 871,590
 8
 755,143
 9
 1,357,242
 10
 1,084,818
 10
37-48 payments 411,596
 4
 411,493
 5
 630,420
 4
 513,125
 5
More than 48 payments 281,508
 2
 212,438
 3
 492,157
 4
 414,217
 4
Not yet in repayment 3,971,392
 37
 3,027,143
 36
 4,662,941
 34
 3,427,964
 32
Total $10,840,261
 100% $8,311,376
 100% $13,848,262
 100% $10,596,437
 100%
(1) 
Balance represents gross Private Education Loans.
(2) 
Number of months in active repayment (whether interest only payment, fixed payment, or full principal and interest payment status) for which a scheduled payment was due.
FFELP Loans are at least 97 percent insured and guaranteed as to their principal and accrued interest in the event of default; therefore, there are no key credit quality indicators associated with FFELP Loans. Included within our FFELP portfolio as of September 30, 2015 are $700 million of FFELP rehabilitation loans. These loans have previously defaulted but have subsequently been brought current according to a loan rehabilitation agreement. The credit performance on rehabilitation loans is worse than the remainder of our FFELP portfolio. At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, 61 percent and 62 percent, respectively, of our FFELP portfolio consisted of rehabilitation loans.

1921




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
3.Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued) 


 The following tables providetable provides information regarding the loan status of our Private Education Loans and the aging of our past due Private Education Loans. Loans in repayment include loans making interest only andor fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status.status after any applicable grace period.


  Private Education Loans 
  September 30, December 31, 
  2015 2014 
  Balance % Balance % 
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)
 $3,971,392
   $3,027,143
   
Loans in forbearance(2)
 211,641
   135,018
   
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:         
Loans current 6,529,855
 98.1% 5,045,600
 98.0% 
Loans delinquent 31-60 days(3)
 79,794
 1.2
 63,873
 1.2
 
Loans delinquent 61-90 days(3)
 34,743
 0.5
 29,041
 0.6
 
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(3)
 12,836
 0.2
 10,701
 0.2
 
Total loans in repayment 6,657,228
 100.0% 5,149,215
 100.0% 
Total loans, gross 10,840,261
   8,311,376
   
Deferred origination costs 26,283
   13,845
   
Total loans 10,866,544
   8,325,221
   
Allowance for loan losses (100,033)   (78,574)   
Total loans, net $10,766,511
   $8,246,647
   
Percentage of loans in repayment   61.4%   62.0% 
Delinquencies as a percentage of loans in repayment   1.9%   2.0% 
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance   3.1%   2.6% 
  Private Education Loans 
  September 30, December 31, 
  2016 2015 
  Balance % Balance % 
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)
 $4,662,941
   $3,427,964
   
Loans in forbearance(2)
 279,509
   241,207
   
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:         
Loans current 8,724,365
 98.0% 6,773,095
 97.8% 
Loans delinquent 31-60 days(3)
 108,591
 1.2
 91,129
 1.3
 
Loans delinquent 61-90 days(3)
 51,029
 0.6
 42,048
 0.6
 
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(3)
 21,827
 0.2
 20,994
 0.3
 
Total Private Education Loans in repayment 8,905,812
 100.0% 6,927,266
 100.0% 
Total Private Education loans, gross 13,848,262
   10,596,437
   
Private Education Loans deferred origination costs 40,327
   27,884
   
Total Private Education Loans 13,888,589
   10,624,321
   
Private Education Loans allowance for losses (162,630)   (108,816)   
Private Education Loans, net $13,725,959
   $10,515,505
   
Percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment   64.3%   65.4% 
Delinquencies as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment   2.0%   2.2% 
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment and forbearance   3.0%   3.4% 
(1)
Deferment includes customers who have returned to school or are engaged in other permitted educational activities and are not yet required to make payments on the loans (e.g., residency periods for medical students or a grace period for bar exam preparation).
(2)
Loans for customers who have requested extension of grace period generally during employment transition or who have temporarily ceased making full payments due to hardship or other factors, consistent with established loan program servicing policies and procedures.
(3) 
The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.
 




2022




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
3.Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued) 

 
 
Accrued Interest Receivable
The following table provides information regarding accrued interest receivable on our Private Education Loans. The table also discloses the amount of accrued interest on loans greater than 90 days past due as compared to our allowance for uncollectible interest. The allowance for uncollectible interest exceeds the amount of accrued interest on our 90 days past due Private Education Loan portfolio for all periods presented.
  Private Education Loan
  Accrued Interest Receivable
  Total Interest Receivable Greater Than 90 Days Past Due Allowance for Uncollectible Interest
       
September 30, 2015 $606,218
 $489
 $2,979
December 31, 2014 $445,710
 $443
 $3,517
  Private Education Loan
  Accrued Interest Receivable
  Total Interest Receivable Greater Than 90 Days Past Due Allowance for Uncollectible Interest
       
September 30, 2016 $773,967
 $803
 $3,562
December 31, 2015 $542,919
 $791
 $3,332


2123




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)

4. Deposits

The following table summarizes total deposits at September 30, 20152016 and December 31, 2014.2015.
 September 30, December 31,  September 30, December 31, 
 2015 2014  2016 2015 
Deposits - interest bearing $10,610,592
 $10,539,953
  $12,941,020
 $11,487,006
 
Deposits - non interest bearing 287
 602
 
Deposits - non-interest bearing 325
 701
 
Total deposits $10,610,879
 $10,540,555
  $12,941,345
 $11,487,707
 
Interest Bearing
Interest bearing deposits as of September 30, 20152016 and December 31, 20142015 consisted of retail non-maturity savings deposits, retail and brokered non-maturity money market deposits (“MMDAs”) and brokered and retail certificates of deposit and brokered money market deposits. These(“CDs”). Included in these accounts are what we consider to be core deposits from various sources. Our deposit products are serviced by third partythird-party providers. Placement fees associated with the brokered certificates of depositCDs are amortized into interest expense using the effective interest rate method. We recognized placement fee expense of $2.6 million and $2.7 million in the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and placement fee expense of $7.8 million and $8.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Fees paid to third-party brokers related to brokered CDs were $1.1 million and $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $4.0 million and $0.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Interest bearing deposits at September 30, 20152016 and December 31, 20142015 are summarized as follows:
 
 September 30, 2015 December 31, 2014  September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015 
 Amount 
Qtr.-End Weighted Average Stated Rate(1)
 Amount 
Year-End Weighted Average Stated Rate(1)
  Amount 
Qtr.-End Weighted Average Stated Rate(1)
 Amount 
Year-End Weighted Average Stated Rate(1)
 
                  
Money market $4,436,095
 1.18% $4,527,448
 1.15%  $5,859,986
 1.20% $4,886,299
 1.19% 
Savings 665,941
 0.82
 703,687
 0.81
  660,099
 0.82
 669,254
 0.82
 
Certificates of deposit 5,508,556
 0.99
 5,308,818
 1.00
  6,420,935
 1.24
 5,931,453
 0.98
 
Deposits - interest bearing $10,610,592
   $10,539,953
 

  $12,941,020
   $11,487,006
 

 
____________
(1) Includes the effect of interest rate swaps in effective hedge relationships.


 As of September 30, 20152016 and December 31, 2014,2015, there were $194,714$363.2 million and $253,953,$709.9 million, respectively, of deposits exceeding Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance limits. Accrued interest on deposits was $22,637$24.9 million and $16,082$15.7 million at September 30, 20152016 and December 31, 2014,2015, respectively.


Non InterestNon-Interest Bearing

Non interestNon-interest bearing deposits were $287$0.3 million and $602$0.7 million as of September 30, 20152016 and December 31, 2014,2015, respectively. For both periods, these were comprised of money market accounts related to our Employee Stock Purchase Plan account.



2224




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)


5. Borrowings

Outstanding borrowings consist of secured borrowings issued through our term asset backedasset-backed securitization (“ABS”) program and our asset backedasset-backed commercial paper (“ABCP”) funding facility.facility (the “ABCP Facility”). The following table summarizes our secured borrowings at September 30, 2015. We had no secured borrowings outstanding at2016 and December 31, 2014.2015.

 September 30, 2015 September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015
 Short-Term Long-Term Total Short-Term Long-Term Total Short-Term Long-Term Total
Secured borrowings:                  
Private Education Loan term securitization $
 $593,687
 $593,687
 $
 $1,577,689
 $1,577,689
 $
 $579,101
 $579,101
ABCP borrowings 710,005
 
 710,005
ABCP Facility 350,000
 
 350,000
 500,175
 
 500,175
Total $710,005
 $593,687
 $1,303,692
 $350,000
 $1,577,689
 $1,927,689
 $500,175
 $579,101
 $1,079,276


Short-term Borrowings
Asset-Backed Commercial Paper Funding Facility
On JulyDecember 19, 2014, we closed on a $750.0 million ABCP Facility. We retained a 5 percent or $37.5 million participation interest in the ABCP Facility, resulting in $712.5 million of funds available for us to draw under the ABCP Facility. During 2015, we incurred financing costs under the ABCP Facility of approximately 0.40 percent on average on unused borrowing capacity and approximately 3-month LIBOR plus 0.80 percent on outstandings under the ABCP Facility.
On February 25, 2016, we amended and extended the maturity of our ABCP Facility. The amended ABCP Facility is a $750.0 million ABCP Facility, in which we no longer hold a participation interest. As a result, the full $750.0 million is available for us to draw. We hold 100 percent of the residual interest in the ABCP Facility trust. Under the amended ABCP Facility, we incur financing costs of between 0.35 percent and 0.45 percent on unused borrowing capacity and approximately 3‑month LIBOR plus 1.00 percent on outstandings. The amended ABCP Facility extends the revolving period, during which we may borrow, repay and reborrow funds, until February 23, 2017. The scheduled amortization period, during which amounts outstanding under the ABCP Facility must be repaid, ends on February 23, 2018 (or earlier, if certain material adverse events occur). At September 30, 2015,2016, $350 million was outstanding under the ABCP Facility. At September 30, 2016, $428.7 million of our Private Education Loans were encumbered to support outstandings under the ABCP Facility.
Short-term borrowings have a remaining term to maturity of one year or less. The ABCP Facility’s contractual maturity is two years from the date of inception or renewal (one year revolving period plus a one year amortization period); however, we classify advances under our ABCP Facility as short-term borrowings because it is our intention to repay those advances within one year.

25




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
5.Borrowings (Continued)


Long-term Borrowings

On May 26, 2016, we executed our $714$551 million SMB Private Education Loan Trust 2015-B2016-A term ABS transaction, which was accounted for as an on-balance sheet secured financing. We retained a 5 percent or $33 million interest in the Class A and B notes, a 100 percent or $50 million interest in the Class CB notes and 100 percent of the residual certificates issued in the securitization. $631$501 million of Class A notes from the securitization were sold to third parties, raising $623$501 million of gross proceeds. The Class A and B notes had a weighted average life of 4.84.01 years and priced at a weighted average LIBOR equivalent cost of 1 month1-month LIBOR plus 1.531.38 percent. At September 30, 2015,2016, $571 million of our Private Education Loans were encumbered as a result of this transaction. 
On July 21, 2016, we executed our $657 million SMB Private Education Loan Trust 2016-B term ABS transaction, which was accounted for as an on-balance sheet secured financing. We retained a 100 percent or $50 million interest in the Class B notes and 100 percent of the residual certificates issued in the securitization. $607 million of Class A notes from the securitization were sold to third parties, raising $607 million of gross proceeds. The Class A notes had a weighted average life of 4.01 years and priced at a weighted average LIBOR equivalent cost of 1-month LIBOR plus 1.36 percent. At September 30, 2016, $692 million of our Private Education Loans were encumbered as a result of this transaction. 

On-Balance Sheet Term SecuritizationsSecured Financings at Issuance
Issue Date Issued Total Issued To Third Parties 
Weighted Average Cost of Funds(1)
 Weighted Average Life Date Issued Total Issued 
Weighted Average Cost of Funds(1)
 
Weighted Average Life
 (in years)
      
Private Education:Private Education:   Private Education:   
2015-B July 2015 $630,800
 1 month LIBOR plus 1.53% 4.82 July 2015 $630,800
 1-month LIBOR plus 1.53% 4.82
Total notes issued in 2015Total notes issued in 2015 $630,800
 Total notes issued in 2015 $630,800
 
      
Total loan amount securitized in on-balance sheet term securitizations in 2015 $745,580
 
Total loan and accrued interest amount securitized at inception in 2015Total loan and accrued interest amount securitized at inception in 2015 $745,580
 
      
2016-A May 2016 $501,000
 1-month LIBOR plus 1.38% 4.01
2016-B July 2016 $607,000
 1-month LIBOR plus 1.36% 4.01
Total notes issued in 2016Total notes issued in 2016 $1,108,000
 
   
Total loan and accrued interest amount securitized at inception in 2016Total loan and accrued interest amount securitized at inception in 2016 $1,364,481
 
   
____________
(1) Represents LIBOR equivalent cost of funds for floating and fixed rate bonds, excluding issuance costs.


2326




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)

5.Borrowings (Continued)




Asset-Backed Commercial PaperConsolidated Funding Facility
On December 19, 2014, we closed on a $750 million ABCP Private Education Loan funding facility. Pursuant to FDIC safe harbor guidelines, we retained a 5 percent or $37.5 million ownership interest in the ABCP facility, resulting in $712.5 million of funds being available for us to draw under the facility. We incur financing costs under the ABCP facility of approximately 0.40 percent on unused borrowing capacity and approximately 3 month LIBOR plus 0.80 percent on outstandings under the facility. At September 30, 2015, $710 million had been drawn and remained outstanding under the facility, net of our 5 percent retention. At September 30, 2015, $902 million of our Private Education Loans were encumbered as a result of this transaction.Vehicles

We consolidate our financing entities that are variable interest entities (“VIEs”)VIEs as a result of our being the entities’ primary beneficiary. As a result, these financing VIEs are accounted for as secured borrowings. We consolidate the following financing VIEs as of September 30, 2015:2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively:

 September 30, 2015 September 30, 2016
 Debt Outstanding Carrying Amount of Assets Securing Debt Outstanding Debt Outstanding Carrying Amount of Assets Securing Debt Outstanding
 Short-Term Long-Term Total Loans Restricted Cash Other Assets Total Short-Term Long-Term Total Loans Restricted Cash 
Other Assets(1)
 Total
Secured borrowings:                            
Private Education Loan term securitization $
 $593,687
 $593,687
 $692,379
 $8,135
 $49,717
 $750,231
 $
 $1,577,689
 $1,577,689
 $1,901,146
 $27,597
 $133,896
 $2,062,639
ABCP borrowings 710,005
 
 710,005
 901,515
 10,070
 54,297
 965,882
ABCP Facility 350,000
 
 350,000
 428,706
 6,682
 29,413
 464,801
Total $710,005
 $593,687
 $1,303,692
 $1,593,894
 $18,205
 $104,014
 $1,716,113
 $350,000
 $1,577,689
 $1,927,689
 $2,329,852
 $34,279
 $163,309
 $2,527,440
____
(1) Other assets primarily represent accrued interest receivable.
  December 31, 2015
  Debt Outstanding Carrying Amount of Assets Securing Debt Outstanding
  Short-Term Long-Term Total Loans Restricted Cash 
Other Assets(1)
 Total
Secured borrowings:              
Private Education Loan term securitization $
 $579,101
 $579,101
 $687,298
 $9,996
 $45,566
 $742,860
ABCP Facility 500,175
 
 500,175
 923,687
 12,443
 58,095
 994,225
Total $500,175
 $579,101
 $1,079,276
 $1,610,985
 $22,439
 $103,661
 $1,737,085
____
(1) Other assets primarily represent accrued interest receivable.

Other Borrowing Sources
We maintain discretionary uncommitted Federal Funds lines of credit with various correspondent banks, which totaled $100,000$100 million at September 30, 2015.2016. The interest rate we are charged on these lines of credit is priced at Fed Funds plus a spread at the time of borrowing, and is payable daily. We did not utilize these lines of credit in the three and nine months ended September 30, 20152016 and September 30, 2014.in the year ended December 31, 2015.
We established an account at the Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) to meet eligibility requirements for access to the Primary Credit borrowing facility at the FRB’s Discount Window (“Window”(the “Window”). The Primary Credit borrowing facility is a lending program available to depository institutions that are in generally sound financial condition. All borrowings at the Window must be fully collateralized. We can pledge to the FRB asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, as well as FFELP Loans and Private Education Loans, to the FRB as collateral for borrowings at the Window. Generally, collateral value is assigned based on the estimated fair value of the pledged assets. At September 30, 20152016 and December 31, 2014,2015, the value of our pledged collateral at the FRB totaled $1.5$2.5 billion and $1.4$1.7 billion, respectively. The interest rate charged to us is the discount rate set by the FRB. We did not utilize this facility in the three and nine months ended September 30, 20152016 and September 30, 2014.in the year ended December 31, 2015.


2427




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)


6. Private Education Loan Term Securitizations

We securitize Private Education Loan assets by selling these assets to securitization trusts. If a transfer of loans qualifies as a sale, we derecognize the loan and recognize a gain or loss as the difference between compensation received and the carrying basis of the loans sold and liabilities retained. We recognize the results of a transfer of loans based upon the settlement date of the transaction. If we have a variable interest in a VIE (e.g., a securitization trust) and have determined that we are the primary beneficiary, then we will consolidate the VIE and the transfer is accounted for as a financing as opposed to a sale.
On July 30, 2015,May 26, 2016, we executed a $714$551 million Private Education Loan Trust term ABS transaction that was accounted for as an on-balance sheeta secured financing. We retained a 5100 percent or $50 million interest in the Class A and B notes, a 100 percent interest in the Class C notes and 100 percent of the residual certificates issued in the securitization. $631$501 million of Class A notes from the securitization were sold to third parties, raising $623$501 million of gross proceeeds.proceeds. At September 30, 2015, $6922016, $571 million of our Private Education Loans arewere encumbered as a result of this transaction. 
On April 23, 2015,July 21, 2016, we sold $738executed a $657 million Private Education Loan Trust term ABS transaction that was accounted for as a secured financing. We retained a 100 percent or $50 million interest in the Class B notes and 100 percent of the residual certificates issued in the securitization. $607 million of Class A notes from the securitization were sold to third parties, raising $607 million of gross proceeds. At September 30, 2016, $692 million of our Private Education Loans throughwere encumbered as a securitization transaction to qualified institutional buyers. The transaction qualified for sale treatment and removed the principal balanceresult of the loans backing the securitization trust from our balance sheet on the settlement date. We continue to service the loans in the trust. In the second quarter of 2015, we recorded a pre-tax gain of $77 million on the sale, net of closing adjustments and transaction costs, a 10.4 percent premium.this transaction.


2528




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)

7. Derivative Financial Instruments

We maintain an overall interest rate risk management strategy that incorporates the use of derivative instruments to minimizereduce the economic effect of interest rate changes. Our goal is to manage interest rate sensitivity by modifying the repricing frequency and underlying index characteristics of certain balance sheet assets and liabilities so the net interest margin is not, on a material basis, adversely affected byany adverse impacts related to movements in interest rates. We do not use derivative instrumentsrates are managed within low to hedge credit risk.moderate limits. As a result of interest rate fluctuations, hedged assets and liabilities will appreciate or depreciate in market value.value or create variability in cash flows. Income or loss on the derivative instruments linked to the hedged assets and liabilitiesitem will generally offset the effect of this unrealized appreciation or depreciation or volatility in cash flows for the period the item is being hedged. We view this strategy as a prudent management of interest rate sensitivity.risk. Please refer to “NoteNote 11, - Derivative“Derivative Financial Instruments” in our 20142015 Form 10-K for a full discussion of our risk management strategy.
Although we use derivatives to offset (or minimize)reduce the risk of interest rate changes, the use of derivatives does expose us to both market and credit risk. Market risk is the chance of financial loss resulting from changes in interest rates foreign exchange rates, and market liquidity. Credit risk is the risk that a counterparty will not perform its obligations under a contract and it is limited to the loss of the fair value gain in a derivative that the counterparty owes us.us less collateral held and plus collateral posted. When the fair value of a derivative contract less collateral held and plus collateral posted is negative, we owe the counterparty and, therefore, we have no credit risk exposure to the counterparty; however, the counterparty has exposure to us. We minimize the credit risk in derivative instruments by entering into transactions with highly ratedhighly-rated counterparties that are reviewed regularly by our Credit Department.
Related to We also maintain a policy of requiring that all derivative transactions, protection against counterparty risk is generally providedcontracts be governed by an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) Credit Support Annexes (“CSAs”), or clearinghouses for Over the Counter (“OTC”) derivatives. CSAs require a counterparty to post collateral if a potential default would expose the other party to a loss. All derivative contracts entered into by the Bank are covered under such agreements and require collateral to be exchanged basedMaster Agreement. Depending on the net fair value of derivatives with each counterparty. Our exposure is limited to the valuenature of the derivative contracts intransaction, bilateral collateral arrangements are required as well. When we have more than one outstanding derivative transaction with the counterparty, and there exists legally enforceable netting provisions with the counterparty (i.e., a gain positionlegal right to offset receivable and payable derivative contracts), the “net” mark-to-market exposure, less any collateral held orand plus any collateral posted.posted, represents exposure with the counterparty. When there is a net negative exposure, we consider our exposure to the counterparty to be zero.
Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act requires all standardized derivatives, including most interest rate swaps, to be submitted for clearing to central counterparties to reduce counterparty risk. As of September 30, 2015, $4.02016, $5.6 billion notional of our derivative contracts were cleared on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the London Clearing House. All derivative contracts cleared through an exchange require collateral to be exchanged based on the fair value of the derivative. Our exposure is limited to the value of the derivative contracts in a gain position less any collateral held orand plus any collateral posted. When there is a net negative exposure, we consider our exposure to the counterparty to be zero. At September 30, 20152016 and December 31, 2014,2015, we had a net positive exposure (derivative gain positions to us, less collateral which has beenheld by us and plus collateral posted by counterparties to us)with counterparties) related to derivatives of $48.9$47.6 million and $60.8$50.1 million, respectively.






2629




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
7.Derivative Financial Instruments (Continued) 


Summary of Derivative Financial Statement Impact
The following tables summarize the fair values and notional amounts of all derivative instruments at September 30, 20152016 and December 31, 2014,2015, and their impact on earnings and other comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015. Please refer to Note 11, “Derivative Financial Instruments” in our 2015 Form 10-K for a full discussion of cash flow hedges, fair value hedges, and 2014.trading activities.

Impact of Derivatives on the Consolidated Balance Sheet
 Cash Flow Hedges Fair Value Hedges Trading Total Cash Flow Hedges Fair Value Hedges Trading Total
 
September
30,
 
December
31,
 
September
30,
 
December
31,
 
September
30,
 
December
31,
 
September
30,
 
December
31,
 September 30, 
December
31,
 September 30, December
31,
 September 30, December
31,
 September 30, December
31,
 2015 2014 2015 2014 2015 2014 2015 2014 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 2015
Fair Values(1)
Hedged Risk Exposure                Hedged Risk Exposure                
                                
Derivative Assets:(2)
                                
Interest rate swapsInterest rate $
 $
 $36,919
 $5,012
 $1,827
 $226
 $38,746
 $5,238
Interest rate $
 $
 $42,996
 $15,231
 $414
 $83
 $43,410
 $15,314
Derivative Liabilities:(2)
                                
Interest rate swapsInterest rate (40,855) (21,435) 
 (5,883) 
 (1,370) (40,855) (28,688)Interest rate (52,197) (27,512) (187) (2,339) (194) (646) (52,578) (30,497)
Total net derivatives $(40,855) $(21,435) $36,919
 $(871) $1,827
 $(1,144) $(2,109) $(23,450) $(52,197) $(27,512) $42,809
 $12,892
 $220
 $(563) $(9,168) $(15,183)
     ___________
(1)Fair values reported are exclusive of collateral held and pledged and accrued interest. Assets and liabilities are presented without consideration of master netting agreements. Derivatives are carried on the balance sheet based on net position by counterparty under master netting agreements, and classified in other assets or other liabilities depending on whether in a net positive or negative position.

(2)The following table reconciles gross positions with the impact of master netting agreements to the balance sheet classification:
    
 Other Assets Other Liabilities Other Assets Other Liabilities
 September 30, December 31, September 30, December 31, September 30, December 31, September 30, December 31,
 2015 2014 2015 2014 2016 2015 2016 2015
Gross position(1) $38,746
 $5,238
 $(40,855) $(28,688) $43,410
 $15,314
 $(52,578) $(30,497)
Impact of master netting agreement (11,253) (4,045) 11,253
 4,045
 (14,111) (9,278) 14,111
 9,278
Derivative values with impact of master netting agreements (as carried on balance sheet) 27,493
 1,193
 (29,602) (24,643) 29,299
 6,036
 (38,467) (21,219)
Cash collateral (held) pledged(1)
 (14,617) (900) 47,604
 72,478
 (12,101) (1,070) 47,283
 54,845
Net position $12,876
 $293
 $18,002
 $47,835
 $17,198
 $4,966
 $8,816
 $33,626

__________
(1)Cash collateral amount calculations include outstandingGross position amounts are exclusive of accrued interest payable/receivable.interest.


2730




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
7.Derivative Financial Instruments (Continued) 



 Cash Flow Fair Value Trading Total Cash Flow Fair Value Trading Total
 
September
30,
 
December
31,
 
September
30,
 
December
31,
 
September
30,
 
December
31,
 
September
30,
 
December
31,
 September 30, 
December
31,
 September 30, December
31,
 September 30, December
31,
 September 30, December
31,
 2015 2014 2015 2014 2015 2014 2015 2014 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 2015
Notional Values                                
                                
Interest rate swaps $1,110,549
 $1,106,920
 $2,957,443
 $3,044,492
 $836,512
 $973,539
 $4,904,504
 $5,124,951
 $1,078,709
 $1,109,933
 $3,767,045
 $3,080,167
 $1,267,694
 $1,305,757
 $6,113,448
 $5,495,857


Impact of Derivatives on the Consolidated Statements of Income

 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
 September 30, September 30, Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
 2015 2014 2015 2014 2016 2015 2016 2015
                
Fair Value Hedges                
Interest rate swaps:                
Hedge ineffectiveness gains (losses) recorded in earnings(1)
 $(1,843) $1,238
 $(929) $1,488
 $3,199
 $(1,843) $2,000
 $(929)
Realized gains recorded in interest expense 7,531
 3,835
 22,512
 14,081
 6,944
 7,531
 21,593
 22,512
Total $5,688
 $5,073
 $21,583
 $15,569
 $10,143
 $5,688
 $23,593
 $21,583
                
Cash Flow Hedges                
Interest rate swaps:                
Hedge ineffectiveness gains (losses) recorded in earnings(1)
 $(273) $(303) $(542) $(303)
Hedge ineffectiveness losses recorded in earnings(1)
 $(843) $(273) $(1,524) $(542)
Realized losses recorded in interest expense (5,411) (3,587) (16,157) (3,587) (4,381) (5,411) (13,588) (16,157)
Total $(5,684) $(3,890) $(16,699) $(3,890) $(5,224) $(5,684) $(15,112) $(16,699)
                
Trading                
Interest rate swaps:                
Interest reclassification $853
 $(1,170) $2,846
 $(3,137) $537
 $853
 $1,897
 $2,846
Change in fair value of future interest payments recorded in earnings 716
 5,636
 2,972
 (2,870) (1,525) 716
 783
 2,972
Total(1)
 1,569
 4,466
 5,818
 (6,007) (988) 1,569
 2,680
 5,818
Total $1,573
 $5,649
 $10,702
 $5,672
 $3,931
 $1,573
 $11,161
 $10,702

________
(1)Amounts included in “(losses) gains“gains on derivatives and hedging activities, net” in the consolidated statements of income.


2831




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
7.Derivative Financial Instruments (Continued) 


Impact of Derivatives on the Statements of Changes in Stockholders'Stockholders’ Equity
  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
  September 30, September 30,
  2015 2014 2015 2014
Amount of loss recognized in other comprehensive income $(27,162) $(5,470) $(35,441) $(5,470)
Less: amount of loss reclassified in interest expense(1)
 5,411
 3,587
 16,157
 3,587
Total change in other comprehensive income for unrealized losses on derivatives $(21,751) $(1,883) $(19,284) $(1,883)
  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
  September 30, September 30,
  2016 2015 2016 2015
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) $4,943
 $(27,162) $(37,370) $(35,441)
Less: amount of (loss) gain reclassified in interest expense(1)
 (4,381) 5,411
 (13,588) 16,157
Total change in other comprehensive income (loss) for unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives, before income tax benefit $9,324
 $(21,751) $(23,782) $(19,284)
___________
(1) Amounts included in “realized gains (losses)losses recorded in interest expense” in the “Impact of Derivatives on the Consolidated Statements of Income” table.
Cash Collateral
Cash collateral held related to derivative exposure between usthe Company and ourits derivatives counterparties was $14.6$12.1 million and $0.9$1.1 million at September 30, 20152016 and December 31, 2014,2015, respectively. Collateral held is recorded in “Other Liabilities.”Liabilities” on the consolidated balance sheets. Cash collateral pledged related to derivative exposure between usthe Company and ourits derivatives counterparties was $47.6$47.3 million and $72.5$54.8 million at September 30, 20152016 and December 31, 2014,2015, respectively. Collateral pledged is recorded in “Other Assets.”interest-earning assets” on the consolidated balance sheets.

2932




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)

8. Stockholders'Stockholders’ Equity

The following table summarizes our common share repurchases and issuances.
 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
(Shares and per share amounts in actuals) 2015 2014 2015 2014 2016 2015 2016 2015
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans(1)(2)
 136,173
 356,622
 2,900,266
 715,393
 371,165
 136,173
 1,763,092
 2,900,266
Average purchase price per share $8.88
 $8.68
 $9.76
 $8.68
 $7.22
 $8.88
 $6.35
 $9.76
Common shares issued(3)
 361,779
 584,787
 5,569,853
 1,089,716
 561,100
 361,779
 3,727,574
 5,569,853
             
__________________
(1) 
ComprisesComprised of shares withheld from stock option exercises and vesting of restricted stock for employees’ tax withholding obligations and shares tendered by employees to satisfy option exercise costs.
(2) 
At the present time, we do not haveintend to initiate a publicly announced share repurchase plan or program.
(3) 
Common shares issued under our various compensation and benefit plans.
 
The closing price of our common stock on September 30, 20152016 was $7.407.47.


Investment with entities that are now subsidiaries of Navient

Prior to the Spin-Off, there were transactions between us and affiliates of pre-Spin-Off SLM that are now subsidiaries of Navient. As part of the carve-out, expenses of those transactions were included in our results even though the actual payments for the expenses were paid by the aforementioned affiliates. As such, amounts equal to these payments have been treated as equity contributions in the table below. Certain payments made by us to these affiliates prior to the Spin-Off transaction were treated as dividends.

Net transfers (to)/from the entity that is now a subsidiary of Navient are included within Navient's subsidiary investment on the consolidated statements of changes in equity. There were no transfers (to)/from the entity that is now a subsidiary of Navient during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2015 and during the three months ended September 30, 2014. The components of the net transfers (to)/from the entity that is now a subsidiary of Navient for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 are summarized below:

30




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
8.Stockholders' Equity (Continued)

  
Nine
Months
Ended
  September 30,
  2014
Capital contributions:  
Loan origination activities $32,452
Loan sales 45
Corporate overhead activities 21,216
Other 492,368
Total capital contributions 546,081
Corporate push-down 4,977
Net change in income tax accounts 15,659
Net change in receivable/payable (87,277)
Other (31)
Total net transfers from the entity that is now a subsidiary of Navient $479,409


Capital Contributions

During the first four months of 2014, pre-Spin-Off SLM contributed capital to Sallie Mae Bank (the “Bank”) by funding loan origination activities, purchases of loans in excess of the loans’ fair values, providing corporate overhead functions and other activities.
Capital contributed for loan origination activities reflects the fact that loan origination functions were conducted by a subsidiary of pre-Spin-Off SLM (now a subsidiary of Navient). The Bank did not pay for the costs incurred by pre-Spin-Off SLM in connection with these functions. The costs eligible to be capitalized are recorded on the respective balance sheets and the costs not eligible for capitalization have been recognized as expenses in the respective statements of income.

Certain general corporate overhead expenses of the Bank were incurred and paid for by pre-Spin-Off SLM.

Corporate Push-Down

The consolidated balance sheet of the Company includes certain assets and liabilities that historically were held at pre-Spin-Off SLM but which are specifically identifiable or otherwise allocable to the Company. The cash and cash equivalents held by pre-Spin-Off SLM at the corporate level were not allocated to the Bank for any of the periods presented.

Receivable/Payable with Affiliate

All significant intercompany payable/receivable balances between the Bank and pre-Spin-Off SLM are considered to be effectively settled for cash in the combined financial statements at the time the transaction is recorded.


3133




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)

9. Earnings per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share (“EPS”) are calculated using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted EPS calculations follows.
 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
 September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30,
(In thousands, except per share data) 2015 2014 2015 2014 2016 2015 2016 2015
Numerator:                
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation $45,724
 $82,926
 $184,439
 $174,502
Net income $56,965
 $45,724
 $180,085
 $184,439
Preferred stock dividends 4,913
 4,850
 14,606
 8,078
 5,316
 4,913
 15,698
 14,606
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock $40,811
 $78,076
 $169,833
 $166,424
 $51,649
 $40,811
 $164,387
 $169,833
Denominator:                
Weighted average shares used to compute basic EPS 426,019
 423,079
 425,384
 424,187
 428,077
 426,019
 427,711
 425,384
Effect of dilutive securities:                
Dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units and Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("ESPP") (1)(2)
 6,528
 8,525
 7,147
 8,137
Dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) (1)(2)
 5,446
 6,528
 4,368
 7,147
Weighted average shares used to compute diluted EPS 432,547
 431,604
 432,531
 432,324
 433,523
 432,547
 432,079
 432,531
                
Basic earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation $0.10
 $0.18
 $0.40
 $0.39
 $0.12
 $0.10
 $0.38
 $0.40
                
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation $0.09
 $0.18
 $0.39
 $0.38
 $0.12
 $0.09
 $0.38
 $0.39


         _________________________________             
(1) 
Includes the potential dilutive effect of additional common shares that are issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and the outstanding commitment to issue shares under the ESPP, determined by the treasury stock method.
(2) 
For the three months ended September 30, 20152016 and 2014,2015, securities covering approximately 21 million and 32 million shares, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 20152016 and 2014,2015, securities covering approximately 21 million and 32 million shares, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because they were anti-dilutive.
 


3234




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)


10. Fair Value Measurements

We use estimates of fair value in applying various accounting standards for our financial statements.

We categorize our fair value estimates based on a hierarchical framework associated with three levels of price transparency utilized in measuring financial instruments at fair value. For additional information regarding our policies for determining fair value and the hierarchical framework, see Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies - Fair Value Measurement” in our 20142015 Form 10-K.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015,2016, there were no significant transfers of financial instruments between levels or changes in our methodology or assumptions used to value our financial instruments.

The following table summarizes the valuation of our financial instruments that are marked to fair value on a recurring basis.

 Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis
 September 30, 2015 December 31, 2014 September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015
 Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Total  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Total  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Total  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Total 
Assets                                
                                
Mortgage-backed securities $
 $190,944
 $
 $190,944
 $
 $168,934
 $
 $168,934
 $
 $213,176
 $
 $213,176
 $
 $195,391
 $
 $195,391
Derivative instruments 
 38,746
 
 38,746
 
 5,238
 
 5,238
 
 43,410
 
 43,410
 
 15,314
 
 15,314
Total $
 $229,690
 $
 $229,690
 $
 $174,172
 $
 $174,172
 $
 $256,586
 $
 $256,586
 $
 $210,705
 $
 $210,705
                                
Liabilities                                
Derivative instruments $
 $(40,855) $
 $(40,855) $
 $(28,688) $
 $(28,688) $
 $(52,578) $
 $(52,578) $
 $(30,497) $
 $(30,497)
Total $
 $(40,855) $
 $(40,855) $
 $(28,688) $
 $(28,688) $
 $(52,578) $
 $(52,578) $
 $(30,497) $
 $(30,497)




 

3335




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
10.Fair Value Measurements (Continued) 



The following table summarizes the fair values of our financial assets and liabilities, including derivative financial instruments.

 September 30, 2015 December 31, 2014 September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015
 
Fair
Value
 
Carrying
Value
 Difference 
Fair
Value
 
Carrying
Value
 Difference 
Fair
Value
 
Carrying
Value
 Difference 
Fair
Value
 
Carrying
Value
 Difference
Earning assets                        
Loans held for investment, net $12,837,892
 $11,909,148
 $928,744
 $10,228,399
 $9,509,786
 $718,613
 $16,130,066
 $14,760,504
 $1,369,562
 $12,343,726
 $11,630,591
 $713,135
Cash and cash equivalents 1,281,797
 1,281,797
 
 2,359,780
 2,359,780
 
 1,454,938
 1,454,938
 
 2,416,219
 2,416,219
 
Available-for-sale investments 190,944
 190,944
 
 168,934
 168,934
 
 213,176
 213,176
 
 195,391
 195,391
 
Accrued interest receivable 634,423
 634,423
 
 469,697
 469,697
 
 805,647
 805,647
 
 564,496
 564,496
 
Tax indemnification receivable 200,704
 200,704
 
 240,311
 240,311
 
 276,543
 276,543
 
 186,076
 186,076
 
Derivative instruments 38,746
 38,746
 
 5,238
 5,238
 
 43,410
 43,410
 
 15,314
 15,314
 
Total earning assets $15,184,506
 $14,255,762
 $928,744
 $13,472,359
 $12,753,746
 $718,613
 $18,923,780
 $17,554,218
 $1,369,562
 $15,721,222
 $15,008,087
 $713,135
Interest-bearing liabilities                        
Money-market and savings accounts $5,102,323
 $5,102,323
 $
 $5,231,736
 $5,231,736
 $
 $6,520,085
 $6,520,085
 $
 $5,556,254
 $5,556,254
 $
Certificates of deposit 5,487,525
 5,508,556
 21,031
 5,313,645
 5,308,818
 (4,827) 6,445,848
 6,420,935
 (24,913) 5,928,450
 5,931,453
 3,003
Short-term borrowings 710,005
 710,005
 
 
 
 
 350,000
 350,000
 
 500,175
 500,175
 
Long-term borrowings 583,314
 593,687
 10,373
 
 
 
 1,608,985
 1,577,689
 (31,296) 567,468
 579,101
 11,633
Accrued interest payable 23,309
 23,309
 
 16,082
 16,082
 
 26,587
 26,587
 
 16,385
 16,385
 
Derivative instruments 40,855
 40,855
 
 28,688
 28,688
 
 52,578
 52,578
 
 30,497
 30,497
 
Total interest-bearing liabilities $11,947,331
 $11,978,735
 $31,404
 $10,590,151
 $10,585,324
 $(4,827) $15,004,083
 $14,947,874
 $(56,209) $12,599,229
 $12,613,865
 $14,636
                        
Excess of net asset fair value over carrying value     $960,148
     $713,786
     $1,313,353
     $727,771

Borrowings are accounted for at cost in the financial statements. The carrying value of short-term borrowings approximated fair value for disclosure purposes, due to the short-term nature of those borrowings. This is a level 1 valuation. The fair value of long-term borrowings is estimated using current market prices. This is a level 2 valuation. Please refer to “NoteNote 15, - Fair“Fair Value Measurements” in our 20142015 Form 10-K for a full discussion of the methods and assumptions used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments.






3436




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)


11. Arrangements with Navient Corporation

In connection with the separation of Navient from SLM in the Spin-Off, we entered into a separation and distribution agreement (the “Separation and Distribution Agreement”) and other ancillary agreements with Navient. Please refer to “NoteNote 16, - Arrangements“Arrangements with Navient Corporation” in our 20142015 Form 10-K for a full discussion of these agreements.

Amended Loan Participation and Purchase Agreement
Prior to the Spin-Off, Sallie Mae Bank, a Utah industrial bank subsidiary of the BankCompany (the “Bank”), sold substantially all its Private Education Loans to several former affiliates, now subsidiaries of Navient (collectively, the “Purchasers”), pursuant to a Loan Participation and Purchase Agreement. This agreement predated the Spin-Off, but was significantly amended and reduced in scope in connection with the Spin-Off. Post-Spin-Off, the Bank retains only the right to require the Purchasers to purchase loans (at fair value) for which the borrower also has a separate lending relationship with Navient (“Split Loans”) when the Split Loans either (1) are more than 90 days past due; (2) have been restructured; (3) have been granted a hardship forbearance or more than 6six months of administrative forbearance; or (4) have a borrower or cosigner who has filed for bankruptcy. At September 30, 2015,2016, we held approximately $96.1$71 million of Split Loans.

During the three months ended September 30, 2016, the Bank sold loans to the Purchasers in the amount of $3.6 million in principal and $0.1 million in accrued interest income. During the three months ended September 30, 2015, the Bank sold loans to the Purchasers in the amount of $6,552$6.6 million in principal and $153$0.2 million in accrued interest income.

During the threenine months ended September 30, 2014,2016, the Bank sold loans to the Purchasers in the amount of $28,871$13.1 million in principal and $542$0.3 million in accrued interest income.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Bank sold loans to the Purchasers in the amount of $21,109$21.1 million in principal and $438 in accrued interest income. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Bank sold loans to the Purchasers in the amount of $794,870 in principal and $26,339$0.4 million in accrued interest income.

There was no gain as a result of the loans sold to the Purchasers in the three and nine months ended September 30, 20152016 and September 30, 2014.2015. Total write-downs to fair value for loans sold with a fair value lower than par totaled $1,871$1.4 million and $4,571$1.9 million in the three months ended September 30, 20152016 and 2014, respectively. There was no gain as a result of the loans sold in the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The gain resulting from loans sold was $35,848 in the nine months ended September 30, 2014.2015, respectively. Total write-downs to fair value for loans sold with a fair value lower than par totaled $5,573$5.0 million and $51,001$5.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 20152016 and September 30, 2014,2015, respectively. Navient is the servicer for all of these loans.


3537




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)


12. Regulatory Capital
    
The Bank is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by federal and state banking authorities. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material adverse effect on our business, results of operation and financial condition. Under the Basel III capital framework (“U.S. Basel III”) and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, wethe Bank must meet specific capital guidelinesstandards that involve quantitative measures of ourits assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Bank’s capital amounts and its classification under the prompt corrective action framework are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components risk-weightings,of capital, risk weightings and other factors.

As of the first quarterJanuary 1, 2015, the Bank was required by federal banking authorities to report regulatory capital and ratios based on thein accordance with U.S. Basel III. Among other things, U.S. Basel III rule. U.S. Basel III implemented changes to capital, risk-weighted assets, and “well capitalized” definitions and added a reporting requirement ofestablishes Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (toas a new tier of capital, modifies methods for calculating risk-weighted assets). Regulatoryassets, introduces a new capital reported asconservation buffer, and revises the capital thresholds of December 31, 2014 was calculated according to regulatory guidelines in effect at that date.the prompt corrective action framework, including the “well capitalized” standard.

“Well capitalized” regulatory requirements are the quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy. TheTo qualify as “well capitalized,” the Bank is required tomust maintain minimum amounts and ratios (set forth in the table below) of Total and Tier I Capital to risk-weighted assets, Common Equity Tier I Capital1, Tier 1 and Total capital to risk-weighted assets and of Tier I Capital1 capital to average assets, as defined by the regulation.assets. The following capital amounts and ratios are based upon the Bank'sBank’s assets.
 
    Well Capitalized Regulatory Requirements
  AmountRatio Amount Ratio
As of September 30, 2015:       
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets) $1,639,235
12.2% $674,490
>5.0%
Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) $1,639,235
13.3% $989,333
>8.0%
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) $1,743,438
14.1% $1,236,667
>10.0%
Common Equity Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) $1,639,235
13.3% $803,833
>6.5%
As of December 31, 2014:       
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets) $1,413,988
11.5% $614,709
>5.0%
Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) $1,413,988
15.0% $565,148
>6.0%
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) $1,497,830
15.9% $941,913
>10.0%
  Actual “Well Capitalized” Regulatory Requirements
  AmountRatio Amount Ratio
As of September 30, 2016:       
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) $1,928,979
12.4% $1,012,748
>6.5%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) $1,928,979
12.4% $1,246,459
>8.0%
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) $2,095,397
13.4% $1,558,074
>10.0%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets) $1,928,979
11.6% $828,962
>5.0%
        
As of December 31, 2015:       
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) $1,734,315
14.4% $781,638
>6.5%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) $1,734,315
14.4% $962,017
>8.0%
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) $1,848,528
15.4% $1,202,521
>10.0%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets) $1,734,315
12.3% $704,979
>5.0%
 
Bank Dividends

The Bank is chartered under the laws of the State of Utah and its deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”).FDIC. The Bank’s ability to pay dividends is subject to the laws of Utah and the regulations of the FDIC. Generally, under Utah’s industrial bank laws and regulations as well as FDIC regulations, the Bank may pay dividends from its net profits without regulatory approval if, following the payment of the dividends,dividend, the Bank’s capital and surplus would not be impaired. The Bank paid no dividends for the three and nine months ended September 30, 20152016 and September 30, 2014.2015.

3638




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)


13. Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees

Commitments
When we approve a Private Education Loan at the beginning of an academic year, that approval may cover the borrowing for the entire academic year. As such, we do not always disburse the full amount of the loan at the time of originationsuch approval, but instead have a commitment to fund a portion of the loan at a later date (usually at the start of the second semester or subsequent trimesters). At September 30, 2015,2016, we had $1.7$1.8 billion of outstanding contractual loan commitments which we expect to fund during the remainder of the 2015/20162016/2017 academic year. At September 30, 2016, we had a $1.6 million reserve recorded in “Other Liabilities” to cover expected losses that we conclude are probable to occur during the one year loss emergence period on these unfunded commitments.
Regulatory Matters
At the time of this filing, the Bank remains subject to a Consent Order, Order to Pay Restitution and Order to Pay Civil Money Penalty dated May 13, 2014 issued by the consent orderFDIC (the “2014 FDIC“FDIC Consent Order”) relating toand a Consent Order (the “DOJ Consent Order”) issued by the settlementDepartment of previously disclosed regulatory matters with the FDIC. Specifically, onJustice (the “DOJ”).  On May 13, 2014, the Bank reached settlementsa settlement with the FDIC andDOJ regarding compliance issues with the Department of JusticeServicemembers’ Civil Relief Act (“DOJ”SCRA”). At the same time, the Bank reached a settlement with the FDIC regarding disclosures and assessments of certain late fees, as well as compliance with the Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act (“SCRA”). The order issuedSCRA. Under the FDIC Consent Order, the Bank paid $3.3 million in fines and oversaw the refund of up to $30 million in late fees, funded by Navient as required by the terms of the Separation and Distribution Agreement, assessed on loans owned or originated by the Bank since its inception in November 2005. The DOJ (the “DOJ Order”)Consent Order was approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware on September 29, 2014. Under the 2014 FDIC Order, the Bank agreed to pay $3.3 million in fines and oversee the refund of up to $30 million in late fees assessed on loans owned or originated by the Bank since its inception in November 2005.
As required by the 2014 FDIC Order and the DOJ Order, the Bank has now implemented new SCRA policies, procedures and training, has updated billing statement disclosures, and is taking additional steps to ensure its third-party service providers are also fully compliant in these areas. In 2014, we engaged a third-party firm to conduct independent audits of certain key consumer protection processes and procedures, including our compliance management system. To date, we have received no high-risk findings. In 2015, the third-party firm is continuing to conduct additional independent audits over the remainder of those processes and procedures.
Required restitution activities under the 2014 FDIC and DOJ Orders are well under way. Applicable late fees were credited to eligible customers with open accounts in October 2014 and the mailing of restitution checks to all other eligible customers is ongoing. Checks for payment of SCRA benefits and related compensation, as determined by the DOJ, began mailing in June 2015. Under the terms of the Separation and Distribution Agreement, Navient remains responsible for funding all liabilities under the regulatory orders, other than fines directly levied against the Bank in connection with these matters. Under the DOJ Consent Order, Navient is solely responsible for reimbursing SCRA benefits and related compensation on behalf of both its subsidiary, Navient Solutions, Inc., and the Bank.
We believe the Bank has complied with all the requirements of the FDIC Consent Order and the DOJ Consent Order. This includes implementing new SCRA policies, procedures and training, updated billing statement disclosures, steps to ensure its third-party service providers are also fully compliant in these regards, and overseeing Navient’s restitution responsibilities. Notwithstanding the assumption by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the “CFPB”) of the role of the Bank’s primary consumer compliance regulator in January 2015, the FDIC will continue to monitor the Bank’s improved compliance management system, policies and procedures until it is satisfied the Bank has demonstrated its ability to sustain the enhancements and additions implemented in response to the FDIC Consent Order. Pursuant to the terms of the DOJ Consent Order, the Bank will remain subject to certain DOJ reporting and record-keeping requirements until September 29, 2018.
In May 2014, the Bank received a Civil Investigative Demand (“CID”) from the CFPB as part of the CFPB’s separate investigation relating to customer complaints, fees and charges assessed in connection with the servicing of student loans and related collection practices of pre-Spin-Off SLM Corporation (“pre-Spin-Off SLM”) by entities now subsidiaries of Navient during a time period prior to the Spin-Off. Two state attorneys general have provided the Bank identical CIDs and others have become involved in the inquiry over time. To the extent requested, we have been cooperating fully with the CFPB and the attorneys general but are not in a position at this time to predict the duration or outcome of the investigation. Given the timeframe covered by this demand and the focus on practices and procedures previously conducted by Navient and its servicing subsidiaries, Navient is leading the response to this investigation and has accepted responsibility for all costs, expenses, losses or remediation that may arise from this investigation.


39




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
13.Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees (Continued)

Contingencies
In the ordinary course of business, we and our subsidiaries are routinely defendants in or parties to pending and threatened legal actions and proceedings, including actions brought on behalf of various classes of claimants. These actions and proceedings may be based on alleged violations of consumer protection, securities, employment and other laws. In certain of these actions and proceedings, claims for substantial monetary damage may be asserted against us and our subsidiaries.
We and our subsidiaries and affiliates are subject to various claims, lawsuits and other actions that arise in the ordinary course of business. In addition, itIt is common for the Company, our subsidiaries and affiliates to receive information and document requests and investigative demands from state attorneys general, legislative committees, and administrative agencies. These requests may be for informational or regulatory purposes and may relate to our business practices, the industries in which we operate, or other companies with whom we conduct business. Our practice has been and continues to be to cooperate with these bodies and be responsive to any such requests.

37




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
13.Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees (Continued)

In view of the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of litigation, regulatory and investigative actions, we cannot predict what the eventual outcome of the pending matters will be, what the timing or the ultimate resolution of these matters will be, or what the eventual loss, fines or penalties, if any, related to each pending matter may be.
We are required to establish reserves for litigation and regulatory matters where those matters present loss contingencies that are both probable and estimable. When loss contingencies are not both probable and estimable, we do not establish reserves.
Based on current knowledge, management does not believe there are loss contingencies, if any, arising from pending investigations, litigation or regulatory matters that could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, liquidity, results of operations or cash flows.for which reserves should be established.


14. Subsequent Event

On October 21, 2015,12, 2016, we announced plans to sell approximately $750executed our $674 million ofSMB Private Education Loans through aLoan Trust 2016-C term ABS transaction, which will be accounted for as an on-balance sheet secured financing. We sold $674 million of notes to qualified institutional buyers. The transaction will removethird parties and retained a 100 percent interest in the principal balance of the loans backingresidual certificates issued in the securitization, trust from our balance sheet on the settlement date. We will continue to service the loans after they are transferred to the securitization trust. We expect to sell these loans at an approximate 8 percent premium and we expect to record a pre-tax gainraising approximately $673 million of approximately $59 million on the sale, net of estimated closing adjustments andgross proceeds. This transaction costs. The transaction is expected to settle on or about October 27, 2015, and will be reflected in our fourth quarter 20152016 results.



38


Item 2.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following information is current as of October 21, 201519, 2016 (unless otherwise noted) and should be read in connection with SLM Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20142015 (filed with the SECSecurities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 26, 2015)2016) (the “2014“2015 Form 10-K”), and subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).SEC. Definitions for capitalized terms used in this report not defined herein can be found in the 20142015 Form 10-K.

References in this Form 10-Q to “we,” “us,” “our,” “Sallie Mae”Mae,” “SLM” and the “Company” refer to SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries, except as otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires.

On April 30, 2014, we completed our plan to legally separate into two distinct publicly-traded entities - an education loan management, servicing and asset recovery business, Navient Corporation (“Navient”), and a consumer banking business, SLM Corporation. The separation of Navient from SLM Corporation (the “Spin-Off”) was preceded by an internal corporate reorganization, which was the first step to separate the education loan management, servicing and asset recovery business from the consumer banking business. For a more detailed discussion of the Spin-Off, please see our 2014 Form 10-K.  
    
This report contains forward-looking“forward-looking” statements and information based on management’s current expectations as of the date of this report. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs, opinions or expectations and statements that assume or are dependent upon future events, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those reflected in such forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, the risks and uncertainties set forth in Item 1A “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the Company’s 20142015 Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the SEC; increases in financing costs; limits on liquidity; increases in costs associated with compliance with laws and regulations; changes in accounting standards and the impact of related changes in significant accounting estimates; any adverse outcomes in any significant litigation to which the Company is a party; credit risk associated with the Company’s exposure to third parties,third-parties, including counterparties to the Company’s derivative transactions; and changes in the terms of education loans and the educational credit marketplace (including changes resulting from new laws and the implementation of existing laws). The Company could also be affected by, among other things: changes in ourits funding costs and availability; reductions to ourits credit ratings,ratings; failures or breaches of ourits operating systems or infrastructure, including those of third-party vendors; damage to ourits reputation; failures or breaches to successfully implement cost-cutting and restructuring initiatives and adverse effects of such initiatives on the Company'sCompany’s business; risks associated with restructuring initiatives; changes in the demand for educational financing or in financing preferences of lenders, educational institutions, students and their families; changes in law and regulations with respect to the student lending business and financial institutions generally; changes in banking rules and regulations, including increased capital requirements; increased competition from banks and other consumer lenders; the creditworthiness of ourthe Company’s customers; changes in the general interest rate environment, including the rate relationships among relevant money-market instruments and those of ourthe Company’s earning assets versus ourthe Company’s funding arrangements; rates of prepaymentsprepayment on the loans we make;that the Company makes; changes in general economic conditions and the Company'sCompany’s ability to successfully effectuate any acquisitions; and other strategic initiatives. The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements also requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions, including estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates or assumptions may prove to be incorrect. All forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Reportquarterly report on Form 10-Q are qualified by these cautionary statements and are made only as of the date of this report. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to conform such statements to actual results or changes in ourits expectations.

The Company reports financial results on a GAAP basis and also provides certain core earnings performance measures. The difference between the Company’s “Core Earnings” and GAAP results for the periods presented were the unrealized, mark-to-market gains/losses on derivative contracts (excluding current period accruals on the derivative instruments), net of tax. These are recognized in GAAP, but not in “Core Earnings” results. The Company provides “Core Earnings” measures because this is what management uses when making management decisions regarding the Company’s performance and the allocation of corporate resources. The Company’s “Core Earnings” are not defined terms within GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. For additional information, see “Key Financial Measures” and “GAAP Consolidated Earnings Summary - 'Core Earnings'‘Core Earnings’ ” in this Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 20152016 for a further discussion and a complete reconciliation between GAAP net income and “Core Earnings.”


39


Through this discussion and analysis, we intend to provide the reader with some narrative context for how our management views our consolidated financial statements, additional context within which to assess our operating results, and information on the quality and variability of our earnings, liquidity and cash flows.


Selected Financial Information and Ratios
 
 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
(In millions, except per share data and percentages)
 2015 2014 2015 2014
(In thousands, except per share data and percentages)
 2016 2015 2016 2015
                
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock $41
 $78
 $170
 $166
 $51,649
 $40,811
 $164,387
 $169,833
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation $0.09
 $0.18
 $0.39
 $0.38
 $0.12
 $0.09
 $0.38
 $0.39
Weighted average shares used to compute diluted earnings per share 433
 432
 433
 432
 433,523
 432,547
 432,079
 432,531
Return on assets 1.3% 2.9% 1.9% 2.1% 1.4% 1.3% 1.5% 1.9%
Operating efficiency ratio(1)
 59.1% 32.5% 46.8% 38.7%
Non-GAAP operating efficiency ratio(1)
 40.6% 50.3% 40.8% 48.3%
                
Other Operating Statistics                
Ending Private Education Loans, net $10,766
 $7,779
 $10,766
 $7,779
 $13,725,959
 $10,766,511
 $13,725,959
 $10,766,511
Ending FFELP Loans, net 1,143
 1,316
 1,143
 1,316
 1,034,545
 1,142,637
 1,034,545
 1,142,637
Ending total education loans, net $11,909
 $9,095
 $11,909
 $9,095
 $14,760,504
 $11,909,148
 $14,760,504
 $11,909,148
                
Average education loans $11,030
 $8,748
 $10,760
 $8,769
 $13,931,693
 $11,030,313
 $13,384,326
 $10,759,781
                
(1) Our efficiency ratio is calculated as operating expense, excluding restructuring and other reorganization expenses, divided by net interest income (after provisions for loan losses) and other income.
(1) A GAAP-based operating efficiency ratio would compare total non-interest expenses to net revenue (which consists of net interest income, before provisions for credit losses, plus non-interest income). Our operating efficiency ratio is a non-GAAP measure because we adjust (a) the non-interest expense numerator by deducting restructuring and other reorganization expenses, and (b) the net revenue denominator by deducting gains on sales of loans, net. We believe doing so provides useful information to investors because it is a measure used by our management team to monitor our effectiveness in managing operating expenses. Other companies may use similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures that are calculated differently from the way we calculate our ratio. Accordingly, our non-GAAP operating efficiency ratio may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies.(1) A GAAP-based operating efficiency ratio would compare total non-interest expenses to net revenue (which consists of net interest income, before provisions for credit losses, plus non-interest income). Our operating efficiency ratio is a non-GAAP measure because we adjust (a) the non-interest expense numerator by deducting restructuring and other reorganization expenses, and (b) the net revenue denominator by deducting gains on sales of loans, net. We believe doing so provides useful information to investors because it is a measure used by our management team to monitor our effectiveness in managing operating expenses. Other companies may use similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures that are calculated differently from the way we calculate our ratio. Accordingly, our non-GAAP operating efficiency ratio may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies.
 
Recent Development
On October 21, 2015,12, 2016, we announced plans to sell approximately $750executed our $674 million ofSMB Private Education Loans through aLoan Trust 2016-C term ABS transaction, which will be accounted for as an on-balance sheet secured financing. We sold $674 million of notes to qualified institutional buyers. The transaction will removethird parties and retained a 100 percent interest in the principal balance of the loans backingresidual certificates issued in the securitization, trust from our balance sheet on the settlement date. We will continue to service the loans after they are transferred to the securitization trust. We expect to sell these loans at an approximate 8 percent premium and we expect to record a pre-tax gainraising approximately $673 million of approximately $59 million on the sale, net of estimated closing adjustments andgross proceeds. This transaction costs. The transaction is expected to settle on or about October 27, 2015, and will be reflected in our fourth quarter 20152016 results.
Overview
The following discussion and analysis presents a review of our business and operations as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.2016.

40


Key Financial Measures
Our operating results are primarily driven by net interest income from our Private Education Loan portfolio, (which includes financing costs), provisionsprovision expense for loancredit losses, gains and losses on loan sales, and operating expenses. The growth of our business and the strength of our financial condition are primarily driven by our ability to achieve our annual Private Education Loan origination goals while sustaining credit quality and maintaining diversified, cost-efficient funding sources to support our originations. A brief summary of our key financial measures (net interest income; gains on sale of loans,loan sales and secured financings, net; allowance for loan losses; charge-offs and delinquencies; operating expenses; “Core Earnings;” Private Education Loan originations; and “Core Earnings”)funding sources) can be found in Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our 20142015 Form 10-K.
2015
2016 Management Objectives
For 2015,2016, we have again set out fivethe following major goals to create shareholder value. They are:for ourselves: (1) prudently grow our Private Education Loan assets and revenues; (2) maintain our strong capital position; (3) completeenhance our customers’ experience by further improving the necessary stepsdelivery of our products and services; (4) sustain the consumer protection improvements we have made to permitour policies, procedures and compliance management system since the Bank to independently originate Private Education Loans; (4) continue to expand the Bank's capabilitiesSpin-Off and further enhance our risk oversight infrastructure; (5) successfully launch one or more complementary new products to increase the level of engagement we have with our customers; and internal controls; and (5)(6) manage operating expenses while improving efficiency and customer experience.efficiency. Here is how we are progressing againstplan to achieve these objectives:
Prudently Grow Private Education Loan Assets and Revenues
We will continue to pursue managed growth in our Private Education Loan portfolio in 20152016 by leveraging our Sallie Mae and Upromise brands and our relationship with more than two thousand colleges and universities. We recently expanded our campus-focused sales force to provide deeper support for universities in all regions of the United States and, as a result, we expect to be able to demonstrate increased 2015continue to increase originations through this effort. We are determined to maintain the average FICO scoresoverall credit quality and cosigner rates onin our originations at levels similarSmart Option Student Loan originations. On April 26, 2016, we introduced a Private Education Loan product permitting parents to those at whichborrow and fund their children’s education without a student co-borrower (“Parent Loans”). As our business, capital and balance sheet continue to grow, we ended 2014. We will also increaseexpect to be able to achieve our effortsannual Private Education Loan origination targets for the year without having to help our customers manage their borrowings and succeed in making their payments, which we expect will result in lower charge-offs and provisions for loan losses.sell loans to third-parties. Originations were 68 percent higher in the first nine months of 20152016 compared with the year-ago period. The average FICO scores at approval and the cosigner rates for originations in the nine months ended September 30, 20152016 were 748 and 89.4 percent, compared with 749 and 90 percent, unchanged from 749 and 9089.8 percent in the nine months ended September 30, 2014,2015, respectively.
Maintain Our Strong Capital Position
The Bank is required by its prudential regulators, the Utah Department of Financial Institutions (“UDFI”) and the FDIC, to comply with mandated capital ratios. We intend to maintain levels of capital at the Bank that significantly exceed those necessary to be considered “well capitalized” by the FDIC. For additional information, see “Liquidity and Capital Resources — Regulatory Capital” in this Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2015, for a further discussion of regulatory capital requirements. The Company is a source of strength for the Bank and will obtain or provide additional capital as, and if, necessary to the Bank. We regularly evaluate the quality of assets, stability of earnings, and adequacy of our allowance for loan losses, and we continue to believe our existing capital levels are sufficient to support the Bank’s plan for significant growth over the next several years while remaining “well capitalized.” As our balance sheet grows in 2016, these ratios will decline but will remain significantly in excess of the capital levels required to be considered “well capitalized” by our regulators. As of September 30, 2015,2016, the Bank had a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 12.2 percent, a common equityCommon Equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 13.312.4 percent, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 13.312.4 percent, and a totalTotal risk-based capital ratio of 14.113.4 percent and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 11.6 percent, all exceeding the current regulatory guidelines for well capitalized“well capitalized” institutions by a significant amount. We do not intendplan to initiate any sharepay a common stock dividend or repurchase program to return capital to shareholders. We only expectshares in 2016 (except to repurchase common stock acquired in connection withas a result of taxes withheld associatedin connection with award exercises and vesting under our employee stock-based compensation plans. Our Boardplans).
Enhance Customers’ Experience By Further Improving Delivery of Directors will periodically reconsider these matters.Products and Services
We have been active inThe Spin-Off provided us the capital markets in 2015. We have sold Private Education Loans through securitization transactionsopportunity to redesign our processes, procedures and have used the ABS market to complementcustomer experiences exclusively around our deposit funding by raising term funding using our loan portfolio. On July 30, 2015, we executed our $714 million SMB Private Education Loan Trust 2015-B term ABS transaction, which was accounted forproducts, rather than accommodating the servicing of those products as an on-balance sheet secured financing. At September 30, 2015, $692 millionwell as FFELP and Direct Student Loans serviced under direction of the Department of Education (“DOE”). In 2016, we continue to focus on our new servicing platform and processes to specifically target further simplifications in our customers’ Private Education Loans were encumberedLoan experience. Recent enhancements include:
All servicing is now conducted by in-house Sallie Mae associates;
Additional customer service sites have opened to provide redundancy during key processing periods;
We continue to provide agents with new procedures and technology;
We increased our efforts to further clarify and simplify customer communications on important topics, such as a result of this transaction. payment options, by seeking to standardize information across platforms; and
Complete Necessary StepsWe continue to Permitexpand functionality and information available to our customers online.

We continue to implement customer feedback processes and gain insights from key points in our customers’ experience.

Sustain Consumer Protection Improvements Made Since the Bank to Independently Originate Private Education Loans
In June 2015, we implemented the final phase of the Bank's new loan origination platformSpin-Off and are currently processing all of our new loan originations through this platform. At the time of this filing, the Bank continues to rely on Navient for limited loan origination capabilities provided under a transition services agreement entered into with Navient in connection with the Spin-Off. The Bank, nonetheless, continues to have access under the transition services agreement to Navient originations applications through at least 2016.

41


Continue to Expand the Bank’s Capabilities andFurther Enhance Our Risk Oversight and Internal ControlsInfrastructure
During 2015,Since the Spin-Off, we have undertakencontinued to undertake significant work to establish that all functions,customer protection policies, procedures and procedures transferred to the Bank in the Spin-Offcompliance management systems are sufficient to meet or exceed currently applicable bank and consumer protection regulatory standards. We are designated as a “large bank,” and continue to work toward a risk and control capability that is suitable for a large institution and compliant with attendant regulatory expectations. For 2015, the following key initiatives remain to be completed or are underway:
In 2015, we will further enhance our internal controls over financial reporting through adoption of the COSO 2013 framework.
Over the course of 2015, progress has been realized on key programs, including the build-out of our Enterprise Risk Management (“ERM”) program and establishing the foundation for our 2016 Dodd-Frank Act Stress Testing (“DFAST”) submission. Additionally, during 2015, we have embedded a new enterprise-wide governance framework and launched a manager’s risk and control self-assessment methodology. For the balance of 2015, emphasis will be placed on the model risk management discipline in support of our 2016 DFAST report.
Continue to strengthen our Internal Audit function, which will provide the Bank with confidence in its overall control environment and ensure the sustainability of the strong risk culture. During the first nine months of 2015, the Internal Audit function implemented several new automated systems, added five additional professional staff, and significantly increased relevant certifications of its staff to enhance overall quality.  In 2015, the Bank also engaged an independent accounting firm to conduct an external quality assessment of the Internal Audit function, in accordance with industry standards, which recently concluded with a favorable opinion.
Continue to make changes and enhancements to our compliance management system and program and related consumer protection processes and procedures. Our redesigned SCRA processes and procedures have now received the approval of the DOJ.DOJ and all required restitution activities under the FDIC Consent Order and DOJ Consent Order have been completed. In 2014, we engaged a third-party firm to conduct independent audits of certain key consumer protection processes and procedures, including our own compliance management system. To-date,At this time, that engagement is ongoing and we are nearing the end of our second full cycle of those audits. To date, these audits have receivedproduced no high-riskhigh risk findings. Our goal is to sustain the improvements implemented to date and consistently comply with or exceed regulatory standards while continuing to improve our customers’ experience and satisfaction levels.
During 2016, we continued the development of our Enterprise Risk Management capability, including significant advances in the Model Risk Management area and enhancements to our Governance, Risk and Compliance platform.  These programs contributed to our successful DFAST submission during the third quarter.  Additionally, the Manager’s Assessment of Risk and Controls has entered its second year of use and is proving effective in assisting the first lines of defense in the management of their internal controls.   
Successfully Launch One or More Complementary New Products to Increase Level of Engagement With Customers
In 2015, our management team began to consider expanding the third-party firmsuite of products we provide to customers.  Given our limited time and experience with our new originations platform and servicing capabilities, we prioritized opportunities to focus first on those that can leverage our core competencies and capabilities, rather than require the development or acquisition of new or alternative ones. For example, in the first quarter of 2016, we leveraged our experience with our Smart Option Student Loan products by launching a Parent Loan program designed for parents who wish to separately finance their children’s education, rather than cosign loans with their children. We believe there is a market for this product that is separate from the Smart Option Student Loan market, and we believe our product will continuebe a competitive alternative to conduct additional independent audits overPLUS loans being offered by the remainderDOE. This product complements our portfolio of those processesPrivate Education Loan offerings, but is not expected to have a material impact on 2016 earnings.
We will also be exploring other product opportunities in 2016. In this process, we also place a high premium on designing and procedures.launching products that will be easily understood and attractive to our customers. Any activity in 2016 will focus on success of implementation, and we are not forecasting significant contributions to our originations, revenues or net income from any potential new products in 2016.
Manage Operating Expenses While Improving Efficiency and Customer Experience
We will continue to measure our effectiveness in managing operating expenses by monitoring our non-GAAP operating efficiency ratio. A GAAP-based operating efficiency ratio would compare total non-interest expenses to net revenue (which consists of net interest income, before provisions for credit losses, plus non-interest income). Our operating efficiency ratio is calculated as operatinga non-GAAP measure because we adjust (a) the non-interest expense excludingnumerator by deducting restructuring and other reorganization expenses, dividedand (b) the net revenue denominator by net interest income (after provisions fordeducting gains on sales of loans, losses) andnet. We believe doing so provides useful information to investors because it is a measure used by our management team to monitor our effectiveness in managing operating expenses. Other companies may use similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures that are calculated differently from the way we calculate our ratio. Accordingly, our non-GAAP operating efficiency ratio may not be comparable to similar measures used by other income. companies.
This ratio was 46.840.6 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2016, compared with 50.3 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2015. This ratio was 40.8 percent for the first nine months of 2015,2016, compared to 38.7with 48.3 percent for the first nine months of 2014. Gains on sales of loans, net, decreased $44 million as there were fewer sales2015. The large improvement in the first ninenon-GAAP operating efficiency ratio in the three months ended September 30, 2016 compared with the year-ago quarter was partially due to a $9 million increase in other income as a result of 2015. Operating expenses were $265 million foran increase in the tax indemnification receivable related to uncertain tax positions. The large improvement in the non-GAAP operating efficiency ratio in the nine months ended September 30, 2015,2016 compared with $200the year-ago period was partially due to a $9 million increase in other income as a result of an increase in the year-ago period. These two factors account fortax indemnification receivable related to uncertain tax positions and the higher efficiency ratio throughone-time $10 million change in reserve estimates related to our Upromise rewards business recorded in the first nine monthsquarter of 2015.
2016. We expect the annual efficiencythis ratio to decline steadily from the full-year 2015 operating efficiency ratio of 46.8 perc

ent over the next several years as the number of loans on which we serviceearn either net interest income or servicing revenue grows to a level commensurate with our loan origination platform and we control the growth of our expense base. We intend for the Bank to retain servicing of all Private Education Loans we originate, regardless of whether we hold them in our portfolio or sell all or portions of these Private Education Loans through loan sales and ABS transactions.
In 2015, we will focus on further enhancing a culture that values customer satisfaction and the efficient delivery of our products and services. We understand the challenges of simplifying and carefully considering our customers’ requests, personal circumstances and requirements. As of April 2015, all customer service for our Private Education Loan portfolio has been moved to the United States. The decision to on-shore all Private Education Loan customer service represents a significant piece of our investment to enhance the overall customer experience this year. In the second quarter of 2015, we also unveiled upgrades and improvements to our mobile and loan management capabilities to deliver to our customers the access they expect from their financial service providers. We expect these investments to result in increased customer satisfaction, higher loan originations and a more efficient operation.

42


GAAP Results of Operations
We present the results of operations below first on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
 
GAAP Statements of Income (Unaudited)
 Three Months Ended September 30, 
Increase
(Decrease) 
 Nine Months Ended September 30, 
Increase
(Decrease) 
 Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Increase
(Decrease) 
 Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Increase
(Decrease) 
(In millions, except per share data) 2015 2014 $ % 2015 2014 $ % 2016 2015 $ % 2016 2015 $ %
Interest income:                                
Loans $205
 $164
 $41
 25 % $598
 $487
 $111
 23 % $268
 $205
 $63
 31 % $765
 $598
 $167
 28 %
Investments 3
 3
 
 
 8
 6
 2
 33
 2
 3
 (1) (33) 7
 8
 (1) (13)
Cash and cash equivalents 1
 1
 
 
 3
 3
 
 
 2
 1
 1
 100
 5
 3
 2
 67
Total interest income 209
 168
 41
 24
 609
 496
 113
 23
 272
 209
 63
 30
 777
 609
 168
 28
Total interest expense 34
 24
 10
 42
 94
 68
 26
 38
 49
 34
 15
 44
 131
 94
 37
 39
Net interest income 175
 144
 31
 22
 515
 428
 87
 20
 223
 175
 48
 27
 646
 515
 131
 25
Less: provisions for loan losses 27
 15
 12
 80
 60
 55
 5
 9
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses 148
 129
 19
 15
 455
 373
 82
 22
Noninterest income:                
Less: provisions for credit losses 42
 27
 14
 52
 116
 60
 56
 93
Net interest income after provisions for credit losses 181
 148
 33
 22
 530
 455
 75
 16
Non-interest income:                
Gains on sales of loans, net 
 85
 (85) (100) 77
 121
 (44) (36) 
 
 
 
 
 77
 (77) (100)
(Losses) gains on derivatives and hedging activities, net (1) 5
 (6) (120) 4
 (5) 9
 (180)
Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net 1
 (1) 2
 (200) 3
 4
 (1) (25)
Other income 11
 6
 5
 83
 30
 29
 1
 3
 22
 11
 11
 100
 56
 29
 27
 93
Total noninterest income 10
 96
 (86) (90) 111
 145
 (34) (23)
Expenses:                
Operating expenses 93
 72
 21
 29
 264
 196
 68
 35
Total non-interest income 23
 10
 13
 130
 59
 110
 (51) (46)
Non-interest expenses:                
Total operating expenses 100
 93
 7
 8
 287
 264
 23
 9
Acquired intangible asset amortization expense 
 1
 (1) (100) 1
 4
 (3) (75) 
 
 
 
 1
 1
 
 
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses 1
 14
 (13) (93) 6
 28
 (22) (79) 
 1
 (1) (100) 
 6
 (6) (100)
Total expenses 94
 87
 7
 8
 271
 228
 43
 19
Total non-interest expenses 100
 94
 6
 6
 288
 271
 17
 6
                                
Income before income tax expense 64
 138
 (74) (54) 295
 290
 5
 2
 104
 64
 40
 63
 301
 294
 7
 2
Income tax expense 18
 55
 (37) (67) 110
 116
 (6) (5) 47
 18
 29
 161
 121
 110
 11
 10
Net income 46
 83
 (37) (45) 185
 174
 11
 6
 57
 46
 11
 24
 180
 184
 (4) (2)
Preferred stock dividends 5
 5
 
 
 15
 8
 7
 88
 5
 5
 
 
 16
 14
 2
 14
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock $41
 $78
 $(37) (47)% $170
 $166
 $4
 2 % $52
 $41
 $11
 27 % $164
 $170
 $(6) (4)%
                               
Basic earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation $0.10
 $0.18
 $(0.08) (44)% $0.40
 $0.39
 $0.01
 3 % $0.12
 $0.10
 $0.02
 20 % $0.38
 $0.40
 $(0.02) (5)%
                                
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation $0.09
 $0.18
 $(0.09) (50)% $0.39
 $0.38
 $0.01
 3 % $0.12
 $0.09
 $0.03
 33 % $0.38
 $0.39
 $(0.01) (3)%

43


 GAAP Consolidated Earnings Summary
Three Months Ended September 30, 20152016 Compared with Three Months Ended September 30, 20142015
For the three months ended September 30, 2015,2016, net income was $46$57 million, or $.09$.12 diluted earnings per common share, compared with net income of $83$46 million, or $.18$.09 diluted earnings per common share for the three months ended September 30, 2014.2015. Net income was affected by an $85 million decrease in gains on sales of loans, a $7 million increase in total expenses and a $12 million increase in provisions for loan losses, which were offset by a $31$48 million increase in net interest income and a $37$13 million decreaseincrease in total non-interest income, which were offset by a $14 million increase in provisions for credit losses, a $6 million increase in total non-interest expenses, and a $29 million increase in income tax expense.
The primary contributors to each of the identified drivers of changes in net income for the current quarter compared with the year-ago quarter are as follows:
Net interest income increased by $31$48 million in the current quarter compared with the year-ago quarter primarily due to a $2.5$3.0 billion increase in average Private Education Loans outstanding and an 11 basis point increase in net interest margin.outstanding. Net interest margin increased by 22 basis points primarily as a result of an increase in the ratio of higher yielding Private Education Loans relative to our other interest earning assets, which more than offset a 1320 basis point increase in our cost of funds. CostThe yields on our interest earning assets and our cost of funds increased primarily as a result the higher funding costs associated with the use of our ABCP funding facility and the issuance of $631 millionan increase in term ABS financing to third partiesLIBOR rates that occurred in July 2015 (which term ABS financing has a significantly longer average life and higher cost than deposit funding), as well as increased costs associated with interest rate swaps hedging our fixed-rate loan portfolio that were ineffective until August 2014 and not included in our cost of funds.late 2015.
Provisions for loancredit losses increased $12$14 million compared with the year-ago quarter. This increase was primarily the result of an $841 million increase in loans in repayment and a $36 million increase in loans classified as TDRs for which we hold a life of loan allowance.
Gains on sales of loans, net, decreased $85 million as there were no loan salescharge-offs in the third quarter of 2015. In2016, an increase in the year-ago quarter, we recorded an $85 million gain from the sale of $1.2 billionPrivate Education Loan delinquency rate as a percentage of loans through loan salesin repayment from 1.9 percent at September 30, 2015 to 2.0 percent at September 30, 2016, and a securitization transaction$56 million increase in loans becoming classified as TDRs (where we provide for life-of-loan losses) in the third quarter of 2016 compared with loans becoming classified as TDRs in the third parties.quarter of 2015.
Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net, resulted in a net lossgain of $1 million in the third quarter 2015 compared withof 2016, from a net gainloss of $5$1 million in the year-ago quarter. The primary factors affecting the change were interest rates and whether the derivatives qualified for hedge accounting treatment. In third quarter 2015, fewer derivatives that were used to economically hedge risk qualified for hedge accounting treatment than in the year-ago quarter.
Other income increased $5$11 million in third quarter 2015 compared with the year-ago quarter, because in third quarter 2014 we recorded a $3 million decrease in the tax indemnity receivable from Navient. Excluding that item, other income increased $2 million, primarily as a result of servicing revenue we earneda $9 million increase in the tax indemnification receivable related to loans sold in the latter half of 2014 and the first half of 2015 for which we retained servicing rights.uncertain tax positions.
Third-quarter 20152016 operating expenses (including acquired intangible asset amortization expense) were $93$100 million compared with $73$93 million in the year-ago quarter. The increase isin operating expenses was primarily due to the higherresult of increased marketing costs, of establishing a stand alone company, servicing of higher loan volumesFDIC assessment fees and peak origination season processing costs. We also continue to make investmentspersonnel and technology costs, largely driven by growth in our servicing platform to improve customer service, such as expanding weekend service hours and improving response times.loan portfolio.
Third-quarter 2015 restructuring and other reorganization expenses were $1Income tax expense increased $29 million compared with $14 million in the year-ago quarter. The decrease is the result of the wind-down of our separation efforts related to the Spin-Off.
The effective income tax rate decreasedincreased in the third-quarter 2016 to 28.245.5 percent in third-quarter 2015 from 39.828.2 percent in the year-ago quarter. The decrease was attributed toprior year quarter included a benefit resulting from a release of reserves for uncertain tax positions and lowerrelated to a favorable state tax ratesruling. The effective tax rate in the current quarter was higher because of an additional $9 million recorded related to uncertain tax positions and due to an increase in state taxes. The uncertain tax positions contributing to the increase in our effective tax rate had no impact on earnings per share, as a result ofwe recorded the favorable outcome of several statematching offset in other income. Managing our uncertain tax matters.positions will add volatility to our reported effective tax rate, but should not impact our expected cash tax liability. For additional information regarding the uncertain tax positions, see “Correction Recorded in the Current Period” in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.


44


Nine Months Ended September 30, 20152016 Compared with Nine Months Ended September 30, 20142015
For the nine months ended September 30, 2015,2016, net income was $185$180 million, or $.39$.38 diluted earnings per common share, compared with net income of $174$184 million, or $.38$.39 diluted earnings per common share for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.2015. Net income was affected by a $44$77 million decrease in gains on sales of loans, a $43 million increase in total expenses and a $5$56 million increase in provisions for loancredit losses and a $17 million increase in total non-interest expenses, which were offset by an $87a $131 million increase in net interest income and a $6$27 million decreaseincrease in other income tax expense.that included a one-time $10 million change in reserve estimates related to our Upromise rewards business.
The primary contributors to each of the identified drivers of changes in net income for the first nine months of 20152016 compared with the year-ago period are as follows:
Net interest income increased by $87$131 million in the first nine months of 2015 compared with the year-ago period primarily due to a $2.2$2.7 billion increase in average Private Education Loans outstanding and a 13 basis point increase in net interest margin.outstanding. Net interest margin increased by 24 basis points primarily as a result of an increase in the ratio of higher yielding Private Education Loans relative to our other interest earning

assets, which more than offset a 1715 basis point increase in our cost of funds. CostThe yields on our interest earning assets and our cost of funds increased primarily as a result of the use of our ABCP funding facility and the issuance of $631 millionan increase in term ABS financing to third partiesLIBOR rates that occurred in July 2015 (which term ABS financing has a significantly longer average life and higher cost than deposit funding), as well as additional costs associated with interest rate swaps hedging our fixed-rate loan portfolio that were not in place in the first seven months of 2014.late 2015.
Provisions for loancredit losses increased $5$56 million compared with the year-ago period. This increase was primarily the result of an additional $471 million of loans entering repayment in the nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared with loans entering repayment in the year-ago period, an increase in the Private Education Loan delinquency rate as a $905percentage of loans in repayment from 1.9 percent at September 30, 2015 to 2.0 percent at September 30, 2016, and a $90 million increase in loans in repayment and a $159 million increase in loansbecoming classified as TDRs (where we provide for which we hold a life of loan allowance, which was partially offset by a $301 million reductionlife-of-loan losses) in credit impaired loan sales and a $14 million benefit recordedthe nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared with loans becoming classified as TDRs in 2014 as a result of the change in our charge-off policy.year-ago period.
Gains on sales of loans, net, decreased $44$77 million as there were fewerno loan sales in the first nine months of 2015.2016.
Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net, resulted in a net gain of $4$3 million in the first nine months of 20152016 compared with a net lossgain of $5$4 million in the year-ago period. The primary factors affecting the change were interest rates and whether the derivatives qualified for hedge accounting treatment. In the first nine months of 2015, more2016, we used fewer derivatives used to economically hedge risk qualifiedthat did not qualify for hedge accounting treatment than in the year-ago period.
Other income increased $27 million compared with the year-ago period. Of this increase, $10 million relates to a one-time gain resulting from a change in reserve estimates for our Upromise rewards program. Also contributing to this increase is an increase in the tax indemnification receivable related to uncertain tax positions and an increase in third-party servicing income.
Operating expenses (including acquired intangible asset amortization expense) for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $265$288 million compared with $200$265 million in the year-ago period. The increase isin operating expenses was primarily due to the higherresult of increased marketing costs, of establishing a stand alone company, servicing of higher loan volumesFDIC assessment fees and peak origination season processing costs. We also continue to make investmentspersonnel and technology costs, largely driven by growth in our servicing platform to improve customer service, such as expanding weekend service hours and improving response times.loan portfolio.
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses were $6Income tax expense increased $11 million compared with $28 million in the year-ago period. The decrease is primarilyincrease in the resultfirst nine months of the wind-down of our separation efforts related to the Spin-Off.
The2016 effective income tax rate decreased to 40.2 percent from 37.3 percent in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 from 39.9 percentyear-ago period was primarily as a result of a benefit recorded in the year-ago period. The decrease was attributed toprior year resulting from a release of reserves for uncertain tax positions and lowerfrom a favorable state tax ratesruling and an additional $9 million recorded in the current year related to uncertain tax positions. For additional information regarding the uncertain tax positions, see “Correction Recorded in the Current Period” in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
Correction Recorded in the Current Period
We recognized in the current period adjustments for tax positions relating to historical transactions among entities that are now subsidiaries of Navient that should have been recorded at the time of the Spin-Off, which occurred on April 30, 2014. We have evaluated the quantitative and qualitative materiality of these errors to all of the relevant periods and concluded that the out of period correction to recognize the asset, liabilities and income statement impacts in the quarter ended September 30, 2016 is not material to our consolidated financial statements for any of the relevant periods. The adjustments increased our tax indemnification receivable and income taxes payable by $120 million and increased our other income and income tax expense by $9 million, as we believe we are indemnified by Navient for these additional tax liabilities. Accordingly, there was no effect on equity or net income as a result of these errors in the favorable outcomecurrent or prior periods. Prospectively, these uncertain tax position liabilities and related assets will be accounted for consistent with our existing accounting policies for these kinds of several state tax matters.assets and liabilities.
 Core Earnings
We prepare financial statements in accordance with GAAP. However, we also produce and report our after-tax earnings on a separate basis that we refer to as “Core Earnings.” While pre-Spin-Off SLM also reported a metric by that name, what we now report and what we describe below is significantly different and should not be compared to any Core Earnings reported by pre-Spin-Off SLM. The difference between our “Core Earnings” and GAAP results for periods presented generally is driven by the unrealized, mark-to-market gains (losses) on derivatives contracts recognized in GAAP, but not in “Core Earnings.”
“Core Earnings” recognizes the difference in accounting treatment for derivatives based upon whether thea derivative qualifies for hedge accounting treatment and eliminates the earnings impact associated with hedge ineffectiveness and derivatives we use as an economic hedge but which do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment. We enter into derivatives instruments to economically hedge interest rate and cash flow risk associated with our portfolio. We believe that our derivatives are effective economic hedges, and as such, are a critical element of our interest rate risk management strategy. Those derivative instruments

that qualify for hedge accounting treatment have their related cash flows recorded in interest income or interest expense along with the hedged item. Hedge ineffectiveness related to these derivatives is recorded in “(Losses) gains“Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net.” Some of our derivatives do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment and the stand-alone derivative must be marked to fairmarked-to-fair value in the income statement with no consideration for the corresponding change in fair value of the hedged item. These gains and losses, recorded in “(Losses) gains“Gains (losses) on derivativesderivative and hedging activities, net”,

45


net,” are primarily caused by interest rate volatility and changing credit spreads during the period as well as the volume and term of derivatives not receiving hedge accounting treatment. Cash flows on derivative instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment are not recorded in interest income and interest expense; they are recorded in non-interest income: “(Losses) gains“Gains (losses) on derivativesderivative and hedging activities, net.”
The adjustments required to reconcile from our “Core Earnings” results to our GAAP results of operations, net of tax, relate to differing treatments for our use of derivativesderivative instruments used to hedge our economic risks that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment or that do qualify for hedge accounting treatment but result in ineffectiveness, net of tax. The amount recorded in “(Losses) gains“Gains (losses) on derivativesderivative and hedging activities, net” includes (a) the accrual of the current payment on the interest rate swaps that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment, as well as(b) the change in fair values related to future expected cash flows for those derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting and (c) ineffectiveness on derivatives that receive hedge accounting hedges.treatment. For purposes of “Core Earnings,”Earnings”, we are including in GAAP earnings the current period accrual amounts (interest reclassification) on the swaps and excludeexcluding the remaining ineffectiveness. “Core Earnings” is meant to represent what earnings would have been had these derivatives qualified for hedge accounting and there was no ineffectiveness.
“Core Earnings” are not a substitute for reported results under GAAP. We provide a “Core Earnings” basis of presentation because (i) earnings per share computed on a “Core Earnings” basis is one of several measures we utilize in establishing management incentive compensation and (ii) we believe it better reflects the financial results for derivatives that are economic hedges of interest rate risk but which do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment.
GAAP provides a uniform, comprehensive basis of accounting. Our “Core Earnings” basis of presentation differs from GAAP in the way it treats ineffective hedgesderivatives as described above.
The following table shows the amount in “(Losses) gains“Gains on derivatives and hedging activities, net” that relates to the interest reclassification on the derivative contracts.
  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
  September 30, September 30,
(Dollars in thousands) 2015 2014 2015 2014
         
Hedge ineffectiveness (losses) gains $(2,116) $935
 $(1,471) $1,186
Unrealized gains (losses) on instruments not in a hedging relationship 716
 5,636
 2,972
 (2,870)
Interest reclassification 853
 (1,170) 2,846
 (3,137)
(Losses) gains on derivatives and hedging activities, net $(547) $5,401
 $4,347
 $(4,821)
  Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
(Dollars in thousands) 2016 2015 2016 2015
         
Hedge ineffectiveness gains (losses) $2,356
 $(2,116) $476
 $(1,471)
Unrealized (losses) gains on instruments not in a hedging relationship (1,525) 716
 783
 2,972
Interest reclassification 537
 853
 1,897
 2,846
Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net $1,368
 $(547) $3,156
 $4,347


46


The following table reflects adjustments associated with our derivative activities.
 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
 September 30, September 30, Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 2015 2014 2015 2014 2016 2015 2016 2015
                
Core Earningsadjustments to GAAP:
                
                
GAAP net income attributable to SLM Corporation $45,724
 $82,926
 $184,439
 $174,502
GAAP net income $56,965
 $45,724
 $180,085
 $184,439
Preferred stock dividends 4,913
 4,850
 14,606
 8,078
 5,316
 4,913
 15,698
 14,606
GAAP net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock $40,811
 $78,076
 $169,833
 $166,424
 $51,649
 $40,811
 $164,387
 $169,833
                
Adjustments:                
Net impact of derivative accounting(1)
 1,400
 (6,571) (1,501) 1,684
 (831) 1,400
 (1,259) (1,501)
Net tax effect(2)
 (397) 2,528
 560
 (636) (320) 529
 (483) (587)
Total “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP 1,003
 (4,043) (941) 1,048
 (511) 871
 (776) (914)
                
“Core Earnings” attributable to SLM Corporation common stock $41,814
 $74,033
 $168,892
 $167,472
 $51,138
 $41,682
 $163,611
 $168,919
                
GAAP diluted earnings per common share $0.09
 $0.18
 $0.39
 $0.38
 $0.12
 $0.09
 $0.38
 $0.39
Derivative adjustments, net of tax 0.01
 (0.01) 0.00
 0.01
 
 0.01
 
 
“Core Earnings” diluted earnings per common share $0.10
 $0.17
 $0.39
 $0.39
 $0.12
 $0.10
 $0.38
 $0.39
______
(1) Derivative Accounting: “Core Earnings” exclude periodic unrealized gains and losses caused by the mark-to-market valuations on derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment under GAAP, as well as the periodic unrealized gains and losses that are a result of ineffectiveness recognized related to effective hedges under GAAP. Under GAAP, for our derivatives held to maturity, the cumulative net unrealized gain or loss over the life of the contract will equal $0.

(2) “Core Earnings” tax rate is based on the effective tax rate at the Bank where the derivative instruments are held.

47Financial Condition


Average Balance Sheets - GAAP
The following table reflects the rates earned on interest-earning assets and paid on interest-bearing liabilities and reflects our net interest margin on a consolidated basis.  
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 
 
Nine Months Ended September30, 
 2015 2014 2015 2014 2016 2015 2016 2015
(Dollars in thousands) 
Balance 
 
 
Rate 
 
 
Balance 
 
 
Rate 
 
 
Balance 
 
 
Rate 
 
 
Balance 
 
 
Rate 
 
 
Balance 
 
 
Rate 
 
 
Balance 
 
 
Rate 
 
 
Balance 
 
 
Rate 
 
 
Balance 
 
 
Rate 
 
Average Assets                                
Private Education Loans $9,869,025
 7.87% $7,407,774
 8.20% $9,563,290
 7.96% $7,394,985
 8.19% $12,881,890
 8.00% $9,869,025
 7.87% $12,307,932
 8.00% $9,563,290
 7.96%
FFELP Loans 1,161,288
 3.27
 1,339,748
 3.23
 1,196,491
 3.22
 1,373,945
 3.25
 1,049,803
 3.52
 1,161,288
 3.27
 1,076,394
 3.48
 1,196,491
 3.22
Other investments 388,539
 2.70
 418,524
 2.77
 397,610
 2.60
 305,891
 2.66
Taxable securities 388,886
 2.24
 388,539
 2.70
 383,844
 2.49
 397,577
 2.60
Cash and other short-term investments 1,567,539
 0.25
 1,723,668
 0.27
 1,396,408
 0.25
 1,607,913
 0.26
 1,599,913
 0.50
 1,574,396
 0.25
 1,300,208
 0.50
 1,373,333
 0.25
                                
Total interest-earning assets 12,986,391
 6.38% 10,889,714
 6.13% 12,553,799
 6.48% 10,682,734
 6.20% 15,920,492
 6.81% 12,993,248
 6.38% 15,068,378
 6.89% 12,530,691
 6.50%
                                
Non-interest-earning assets 723,860
   630,974
   648,148
   527,377
   800,567
   693,311
   757,336
   667,718
  
                                
Total assets $13,710,251
   $11,520,688
   $13,201,947
   $11,210,111
   $16,721,059
   $13,686,559
   $15,825,714
   $13,198,409
  
                                
Average Liabilities and Equity                                
Brokered deposits $6,554,349
 1.20% $5,092,606
 1.20% $6,598,090
 1.20% $5,392,194
 1.08% $7,311,591
 1.32% $6,554,349
 1.20% $7,104,453
 1.31% $6,598,090
 1.20%
Retail and other deposits 3,848,364
 0.95
 3,816,636
 0.92
 3,828,770
 0.95
 3,521,175
 0.92
 5,091,021
 1.08
 3,848,379
 0.95
 4,805,039
 1.05
 3,828,775
 0.95
Other interest-bearing liabilities(1)
 672,024
 2.63
 22,675
 0.01
 228,903
 4.57
 30,072
 0.21
 1,602,760
 2.78
 670,660
 2.63
 1,231,972
 2.62
 227,426
 4.60
Total interest-bearing liabilities 11,074,737
 1.20% 8,931,917
 1.07% 10,655,763
 1.18% 8,943,441
 1.01% 14,005,372
 1.40% 11,073,388
 1.20% 13,141,464
 1.33% 10,654,291
 1.18%
                                
Non-interest-bearing liabilities 660,067
   811,369
   628,542
   730,987
   488,198
   637,724
   510,652
   626,476
  
Equity 1,975,447
   1,777,402
   1,917,642
   1,535,683
   2,227,489
   1,975,447
   2,173,598
   1,917,642
  
                
Total liabilities and equity $13,710,251
   $11,520,688
   $13,201,947
   $11,210,111
   $16,721,059
   $13,686,559
   $15,825,714
   $13,198,409
  
                                
Net interest margin   5.36%   5.25%   5.48%   5.35%   5.58%   5.36%   5.73%   5.49%
 

_________________
(1) 
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015,2016, includes the average balance of our secured borrowings and amortization expense of transaction costs related to our asset-backed commercial paper education loan funding facility.ABCP Facility.


The decline in the yield on the Private Education Loan portfolio for the three and nine month periods of 2015 compared with the prior year periods is primarily because of lower yields on new loan originations.


48



Rate/Volume Analysis - GAAP

The following rate/volume analysis shows the relative contribution of changes in interest rates and asset volumes.
 
(Dollars in thousands) 
Increase
(Decrease)
 
Change Due To(1)
 
Increase
(Decrease)
 
Change Due To(1)
Rate 
 Volume
Rate 
 Volume
Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 vs. 2014      
Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 vs. 2015      
Interest income $40,698
 $7,207
 $33,473
 $63,636
 $14,827
 $48,809
Interest expense 9,282
 3,228
 6,242
 15,803
 6,152
 9,651
Net interest income $31,416
 $3,059
 $28,261
 $47,833
 $7,512
 $40,321
            
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 vs. 2014      
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 vs. 2015      
Interest income $113,086
 $23,163
 $89,927
 $168,502
 $38,781
 $129,721
Interest expense 26,236
 11,977
 14,143
 37,251
 13,342
 23,909
Net interest income $86,850
 $10,210
 $76,500
 $131,251
 $22,776
 $108,475
 
_________________
(1) 
Changes in income and expense due to both rate and volume have been allocated in proportion to the relationship of the absolute dollar amounts of the change in each. The changes in income and expense are calculated independently for each line in the table. The totals for the rate and volume columns are not the sum of the individual lines.
Summary of Our Education Loan Portfolio
Ending Education Loan Balances, net
 
 September 30, 2015 December 31, 2014 September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015
(Dollars in thousands) 
Private
Education
Loans 
 
FFELP
Loans
 Total Portfolio 
Private
Education
Loans
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
 
Private
Education
Loans 
 
FFELP
Loans
 Total Portfolio 
Private
Education
Loans
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
Total education loan portfolio:                        
In-school(1)
 $2,898,443
 $687
 $2,899,130
 $2,548,721
 $1,185
 $2,549,906
 $3,269,759
 $409
 $3,270,168
 $2,823,035
 $582
 $2,823,617
Grace, repayment and other(2)
 7,941,818
 1,142,908
 9,084,726
 5,762,655
 1,263,622
 7,026,277
 10,578,503
 1,033,520
 11,612,023
 7,773,402
 1,115,081
 8,888,483
Total, gross 10,840,261
 1,143,595
 11,983,856
 8,311,376
 1,264,807
 9,576,183
 13,848,262
 1,033,929
 14,882,191
 10,596,437
 1,115,663
 11,712,100
Deferred origination costs and unamortized premium 26,283
 3,212
 29,495
 13,845
 3,600
 17,445
 40,327
 2,825
 43,152
 27,884
 3,114
 30,998
Allowance for loan losses (100,033) (4,170) (104,203) (78,574) (5,268) (83,842) (162,630) (2,209) (164,839) (108,816) (3,691) (112,507)
Total education loan portfolio $10,766,511
 $1,142,637
 $11,909,148
 $8,246,647
 $1,263,139
 $9,509,786
 $13,725,959
 $1,034,545
 $14,760,504
 $10,515,505
 $1,115,086
 $11,630,591
                        
% of total 90% 10% 100% 87% 13% 100% 93% 7% 100% 90% 10% 100%
____________ 
(1)  Loans for customers still attending school and who are not yet required to make payments on the loan.
(2)  Includes loans in deferment or forbearance.
 

49


Average Education Loan Balances (net of unamortized premium/discount)

 
 Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
(Dollars in thousands) 
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2015
 
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2014
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2015
 Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2014
 2016 2015 2016 2015
Private Education Loans $9,869,025
 89% $7,407,774
 85% $9,563,290
 89% $7,394,985
 84% $12,881,890
 92% $9,869,025
 89% $12,307,932
 92% $9,563,290
 89%
FFELP Loans 1,161,288
 11
 1,339,748
 15
 1,196,491
 11
 1,373,945
 16
 1,049,803
 8
 1,161,288
 11
 1,076,394
 8
 1,196,491
 11
Total portfolio $11,030,313
 100% $8,747,522
 100% $10,759,781
 100% $8,768,930
 100% $13,931,693
 100% $11,030,313
 100% $13,384,326
 100% $10,759,781
 100%


Education Loan Activity
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2014
 
 Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 Three Months Ended September 30, 2015
(Dollars in thousands) 
 Private
Education
Loans
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
 
Private
Education
Loans
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
 
 Private
Education
Loans
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
 
Private
Education
Loans
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
Beginning balance $9,245,259
 $1,177,649
 $10,422,908
 $7,436,225
 $1,357,746
 $8,793,971
 $12,183,293
 $1,062,133
 $13,245,426
 $9,245,259
 $1,177,649
 $10,422,908
Acquisitions and originations 1,716,574
 
 1,716,574
 1,614,350
 
 1,614,350
 1,838,076
 
 1,838,076
 1,716,574
 
 1,716,574
Capitalized interest and deferred origination cost premium amortization 42,866
 9,194
 52,060
 33,034
 10,699
 43,733
 57,315
 8,158
 65,473
 42,866
 9,194
 52,060
Sales (4,613) 
 (4,613) (1,153,156) 
 (1,153,156) (2,176) 
 (2,176) (4,613) 
 (4,613)
Loan consolidation to third parties (20,376) (12,459) (32,835) (3,549) (10,475) (14,024) (54,950) (11,847) (66,797) (20,376) (12,459) (32,835)
Repayments and other (213,199) (31,747) (244,946) (147,482) (42,019) (189,501) (295,599) (23,899) (319,498) (213,199) (31,747) (244,946)
Ending balance $10,766,511
 $1,142,637
 $11,909,148
 $7,779,422
 $1,315,951
 $9,095,373
 $13,725,959
 $1,034,545
 $14,760,504
 $10,766,511
 $1,142,637
 $11,909,148

 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 
 
 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
(Dollars in thousands) 
Private
Education
Loans
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
 
Private
Education
Loans
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
 
 Private
Education
Loans
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
 
Private
Education
Loans
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
Beginning balance $8,246,647
 $1,263,139
 $9,509,786
 $6,506,642
 $1,424,735
 $7,931,377
 $10,515,505
 $1,115,086
 $11,630,591
 $8,246,647
 $1,263,139
 $9,509,786
Acquisitions and originations 3,786,946
 
 3,786,946
 3,528,277
 7,470
 3,535,747
 4,072,631
 
 4,072,631
 3,786,946
 
 3,786,946
Capitalized interest and deferred origination cost premium amortization 118,653
 30,316
 148,969
 86,230
 36,161
 122,391
 158,111
 26,873
 184,984
 118,653
 30,316
 148,969
Sales (713,220) 
 (713,220) (1,866,202) (7,654) (1,873,856) (7,912) 
 (7,912) (713,220) 
 (713,220)
Loan consolidation to third parties (41,858) (34,263) (76,121) (13,069) (28,563) (41,632) (143,968) (34,896) (178,864) (41,858) (34,263) (76,121)
Repayments and other (630,657) (116,555) (747,212) (462,456) (116,198) (578,654) (868,408) (72,518) (940,926) (630,657) (116,555) (747,212)
Ending balance $10,766,511
 $1,142,637
 $11,909,148
 $7,779,422
 $1,315,951
 $9,095,373
 $13,725,959
 $1,034,545
 $14,760,504
 $10,766,511
 $1,142,637
 $11,909,148




50


Private Education Loan Originations
The following table summarizes our Private Education Loan originations. Originations represent loans that were funded or acquired during the period presented.
 
 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
 September 30, September 30, Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
(Dollars in thousands) 2015 % 2014 % 2015 % 2014 % 2016 % 2015 % 2016 % 2015 %
Smart Option - interest only(1)
 $425,903
 25% $400,923
 25% $933,029
 25% $860,421
 24% $468,237
 26% $425,903
 25% $1,033,009
 25% $933,029
 25%
Smart Option - fixed pay(1)
 545,089
 32
 501,551
 31
 1,164,326
 31
 1,087,931
 31
 542,504
 30
 545,089
 32
 1,225,650
 30
 1,164,326
 31
Smart Option - deferred(1)
 737,574
 43
 714,596
 44
 1,656,859
 44
 1,569,566
 45
 795,305
 43
 737,574
 43
 1,770,804
 44
 1,656,859
 44
Smart Option - principal and interest 410
 
 350
 
 1,344
 
 1,287
 
 4,306
 
 410
 
 6,634
 
 1,344
 
Parent Loan 20,968
 1
 
 
 22,478
 1
 
 
Total Private Education Loan originations $1,708,976
 100% $1,617,420
 100% $3,755,558
 100% $3,519,205
 100% $1,831,320
 100% $1,708,976
 100% $4,058,575
 100% $3,755,558
 100%
                
Percentage of loans with a cosigner 90%   91%   89%   90%  
Average FICO at approval 749
   749
   748
   749
  
     _____________
(1) Interest only, fixed pay and deferred describe the payment option while in school or in grace period.

51


Allowance for Loan Losses

Education Loan Allowance for Loan Losses Activity
 
 Three Months Ended September 30, Three Months Ended September 30,
 2015 2014 2016 2015
(Dollars in thousands) 
Private
Education
Loans
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
 
Private
Education
Loans
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
 
Private
Education
Loans
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
 
Private
Education
Loans
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
Beginning balance $87,310
 $4,556
 $91,866
 $54,315
 $6,212
 $60,527
 $142,628
 $2,297
 $144,925
 $87,310
 $4,556
 $91,866
Less:                        
Charge-offs (14,121) (529) (14,650) (4,378) (761) (5,139) (22,072) (356) (22,428) (14,121) (529) (14,650)
Loan sales(1) (1,871) 
 (1,871) (4,571) 
 (4,571) (1,401) 
 (1,401) (1,871) 
 (1,871)
Plus:                        
Recoveries 1,361
 
 1,361
 
 
 
 2,973
 
 2,973
 1,361
 
 1,361
Provision for loan losses 27,354
 143
 27,497
 14,607
 291
 14,898
 40,502
 268
 40,770
 27,354
 143
 27,497
Ending balance $100,033
 $4,170
 $104,203
 $59,973
 $5,742
 $65,715
 $162,630
 $2,209
 $164,839
 $100,033
 $4,170
 $104,203
                        
Troubled debt restructurings(1)(2)
 $231,286
 $
 $231,286
 $13,115
 $
 $13,115
 $503,632
 $
 $503,632
 $231,286
 $
 $231,286

 Nine Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2015 2014 2016 2015
(Dollars in thousands) 
Private
Education
Loans
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
 
Private
Education
Loans
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
 
Private
Education
Loans
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
 
Private
Education
Loans
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
Beginning balance $78,574
 $5,268
 $83,842
 $61,763
 $6,318
 $68,081
 $108,816
 $3,691
 $112,507
 $78,574
 $5,268
 $83,842
Less:                        
Charge-offs (36,127) (2,142) (38,269) (4,378) (2,058) (6,436) (64,979) (1,086) (66,065) (36,127) (2,142) (38,269)
Loan sales(1) (5,572) 
 (5,572) (51,001) 
 (51,001) (5,008) 
 (5,008) (5,572) 
 (5,572)
Plus:                        
Recoveries 4,529
 
 4,529
 
 
 
 7,098
 
 7,098
 4,529
 
 4,529
Provision for loan losses 58,629
 1,044
 59,673
 53,589
 1,482
 55,071
 116,703
 (396) 116,307
 58,629
 1,044
 59,673
Ending balance $100,033
 $4,170
 $104,203
 $59,973
 $5,742
 $65,715
 $162,630
 $2,209
 $164,839
 $100,033
 $4,170
 $104,203
                        
Troubled debt restructurings(1)(2)
 $231,286
 $
 $231,286
 $13,115
 $
 $13,115
 $503,632
 $
 $503,632
 $231,286
 $
 $231,286
    
_________
(1) 
Represents fair value adjustments on loans sold.
(2)
Represents the unpaid principal balance of loans classified as troubled debt restructurings.


52


Private Education Loan Allowance for Loan Losses
In establishing the allowance for Private Education Loan losses as of September 30, 2015,2016, we considered several factors with respect to our Private Education Loan portfolio:portfolio, in particular, credit quality and delinquency, forbearance and charge-off trends in connection with the portfolio.trends.
Private Education Loan provision for loan losses increased $14 million in the third quarter ending September 30, 2015 increased $12 millionof 2016 compared with the year-ago period, primarily due to an $841 million increase in loans in repayment, and a $36 million increase in loans classified as TDRs for which we hold a life of loan allowance. When loans are sold at a gain, we reverse the allowance for loan losses related to these loans by recording a negative provision. When we sell credit impaired loans at a loss, we write down the loan to fair value with the additional write-down recorded as charge-off.
In the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we had a $5 million increase in the Private Education Loan provision for loan losses compared to the year-ago period. This increase was primarily the result of a $905 millionan increase in loanscharge-offs in repayment and a $159 millionthe third quarter of 2016, an increase in loans classifiedthe delinquency rate as TDRs for which we hold a life of loan allowance, which was partially offset by a $301 million reduction in credit impaired loan sales and a $14 million benefit recorded in 2014 as a result of the change in our charge-off policy. When we sell credit impaired loans at a loss, we write down the loan to fair value with the additional write-down recorded as charge-off. For the first four months of 2014, we did not have troubled debt restructurings, loans in forbearance or a significant amount of loans that were more than 90 days past due because we typically sold loans to an affiliate prior to any restructuring and when they became 90 days delinquent. As a result of this past practice, there were no charge-off or recoveries of defaulted loans prior to April 30, 2014.
Total loans delinquent (as a percentage of loans in repayment) have increased to 1.9 percent from 1.3 percent in the year-ago period. Loans in forbearance (as a percentage of loans in repayment from 1.9 percent at September 30, 2015 to 2.0 percent at September 30, 2016, and forbearance) have increased to 3.1 percent from 1.6 percenta $56 million increase in loans becoming classified as TDRs (where we provide for life-of-loan losses) in the third quarter of 2016, compared with loans becoming classified as TDRs in the third quarter of 2015.
In the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we had a $58 million increase in Private Education Loan provisions for credit losses compared with the year-ago period. This increase was primarily the result of an additional $471 million of loans entering repayment in the nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared with loans entering repayment in the year-ago period. Theperiod, an increase in the Private Education Loan delinquency rate andas a percentage of loans in forbearance was becauserepayment from 1.9 percent at September 30, 2015 to 2.0 percent at September 30, 2016, and a $90 million increase in loans becoming classified as TDRs (where we provide for the first four months of 2014, the Bank typically sold loans to an entity that is now a subsidiary of Navientlife-of-loan losses) in the same month they went 90 days delinquent or when a forbearance was offered to a borrower. Post-Spin-Off,nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared with loans becoming classified as TDRs in the Bank now retains these loans.year-ago period.
For a more detailed discussion of our policy for determining the collectibility of Private Education Loans and maintaining our allowance for Private Education Loan losses, see Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates - Allowance for Loan Losses” in our 2014the 2015 Form 10-K.
Our default aversion strategies are focused on the final stages of delinquency. Pre-Spin-Off, these final stages were from 150 days to 212 days delinquent. As a result of changing our corporate charge-off policy and greatly reducing the number of potentially delinquent loans we sell to Navient, the final stages of delinquency and our default aversion strategies now focus more on loans 30 to 120 days delinquent. This change has the effect of accelerating the recognition of losses duePrior to the shorter charge-off period. In addition, we changed our loss confirmation period from two yearsSpin-Off, the Bank sold substantially all its Private Education Loans to one yearseveral former affiliates, now subsidiaries of Navient (collectively, the “Purchasers”), pursuant to reflect the shorter charge-off policya Loan Participation and our revised servicing practices. To date, we have not experienced an increase in losses as a result of the shortened charge-off period. A loss confirmation period represents the expected period between a loss event and when management considers the debt to be uncollectible, taking into consideration account management practices that affect the timing of a loss, such as the usage of forbearance.
Purchase Agreement. In connection with the Spin-Off, the agreement under which the Bank previously made loan sales was amended so the Bank now only has the right to require Navientthe Purchasers to purchase loans (at fair value) where (a)for which the borrower has a lending relationship with both the Bank and Navient (“Split Loans”) and (b)when the Split Loans either (1) are more than 90 days past due; (2) have been restructured; (3) have been granted a hardship forbearance or more than six months of administrative forbearance; or (4) have a borrower or cosigner who has filed for bankruptcy. At September 30, 2015,2016, we held approximately $96$71 million of Split Loans.
For the reasons described above, many of our historical credit indicators and period-over-period trends are not indicative of future performance. The following results have not been adjusted to reflect what the delinquencies, charge-offs and recoveries would have been had we not sold these loans. Because we now retain more delinquent loans, we believe it could take up to two years after the date of the Spin-Off transaction before our credit performance indicators provide meaningful period-over-period comparisons.

53


The table below presents our Private Education Loan delinquency trends. Loans in repayment include loans making interest only andor fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status.status after any applicable grace period.

 Private Education Loans Private Education Loans
 September 30, September 30,
 2015 2014 2016 2015
(Dollars in thousands) Balance % Balance % Balance % Balance %
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)
 $3,971,392
   $3,178,495
   $4,662,941
   $3,971,392
  
Loans in forbearance(2)
 211,641
   75,782
   279,509
   211,641
  
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:                
Loans current 6,529,855
 98.1% 4,515,313
 98.7% 8,724,365
 98.0% 6,529,855
 98.1%
Loans delinquent 31-60 days(3)
 79,794
 1.2
 44,082
 1.0
 108,591
 1.2
 79,794
 1.2
Loans delinquent 61-90 days(3)
 34,743
 0.5
 12,415
 0.3
 51,029
 0.6
 34,743
 0.5
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(3)
 12,836
 0.2
 3,333
 
 21,827
 0.2
 12,836
 0.2
Total loans in repayment 6,657,228
 100.0% 4,575,143
 100.0%
Total loans, gross 10,840,261
   7,829,420
  
Deferred origination costs 26,283
   9,975
  
Total loans 10,866,544
   7,839,395
  
Allowance for loan losses (100,033)   (59,973)  
Total Private Education Loans in repayment 8,905,812
 100.0% 6,657,228
 100.0%
Total Private Education Loans, gross 13,848,262
   10,840,261
  
Private Education Loan deferred origination costs 40,327
   26,283
  
Total Private Education Loans 13,888,589
   10,866,544
  
Private Education Loan allowance for losses (162,630)   (100,033)  
Total Private Education Loans, net $10,766,511
   $7,779,422
   $13,725,959
   $10,766,511
  
                
Percentage of loans in repayment   61.4%   58.4%
Percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment   64.3%   61.4%
                
Delinquencies as a percentage of loans in repayment   1.9%   1.3%
Delinquencies as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment   2.0%   1.9%
                
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance   3.1%   1.6%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment and forbearance   3.0%   3.1%
________
(1) 
Deferment includes customers who have returned to school or are engaged in other permitted educational activities and are not yet required to make payments on thetheir loans (e.g., residency periods for medical students or a grace period for bar exam preparation).
(2) 
Loans for customers who have requested extension of grace period generally during employment transition or who have temporarily ceased making full payments due to hardship or other factors, consistent with established loan program servicing policies and procedures.
(3) 
The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.
 

At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, 26 percent and 28 percent, respectively, of our portfolio of Private Education Loans have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace periods.








54


AllowanceChanges in allowance for Private Education Loan Losses
The following table summarizes changes in the allowance for Private Education Loan losses.
 
 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
(Dollars in thousands) 2015 2014 2015 2014 2016 2015 2016 2015
Allowance at beginning of period $87,310
 $54,315
 $78,574
 $61,763
 $142,628
 $87,310
 $108,816
 $78,574
Provision for Private Education Loan losses 27,354
 14,607
 58,629
 53,589
 40,502
 27,354
 116,703
 58,629
        
Net charge-offs:        
Charge-offs(1)
 (14,121) (4,378) (36,127) (4,378) (22,072) (14,121) (64,979) (36,127)
Recoveries 1,361
 
 4,529
 
 2,973
 1,361
 7,098
 4,529
Net charge-offs (12,760) (4,378) (31,598) (4,378) (19,099) (12,760) (57,881) (31,598)
Loan sales(2)(1)
 (1,871) (4,571) (5,572) (51,001) (1,401) (1,871) (5,008) (5,572)
Allowance at end of period $100,033
 $59,973
 $100,033
 $59,973
 $162,630
 $100,033
 $162,630
 $100,033
                
Allowance as a percentage of ending total loans 0.92% 0.77% 0.92% 0.77% 1.17% 0.92% 1.17% 0.92%
Allowance as a percentage of ending loans in repayment(2) 1.50% 1.31% 1.50% 1.31% 1.83% 1.50% 1.83% 1.50%
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized) 1.96
 3.42
 2.37
 10.27
 2.13
 1.96
 2.11
 2.37
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(2) 0.83% 0.39% 0.72% 0.13% 0.91% 0.83% 0.97% 0.72%
Delinquencies as a percentage of loans in repayment 1.91% 1.31% 1.91% 1.31%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance 3.09% 1.63% 3.09% 1.63%
Percentage of loans with a cosigner 89.9% 89.8% 89.9% 89.8%
Average FICO at origination 749
 750
 749
 749
Ending total loans(3)
 $10,840,261
 $7,829,420
 $10,840,261
 $7,829,420
Average loans in repayment $6,118,678
 $4,453,775
 $5,848,345
 $4,408,852
Ending loans in repayment $6,657,228
 $4,575,143
 $6,657,228
 $4,575,143
Delinquencies as a percentage of ending loans in repayment(2)
 2.04% 1.91% 2.04% 1.91%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of ending loans in repayment and forbearance(2)
 3.04% 3.09% 3.04% 3.09%
Ending total loans, gross $13,848,262
 $10,840,261
 $13,848,262
 $10,840,261
Average loans in repayment(2)
 $8,420,625
 $6,118,678
 $7,952,469
 $5,848,345
Ending loans in repayment(2)
 $8,905,812
 $6,657,228
 $8,905,812
 $6,657,228
     _______________
(1) 
Prior to the Spin-Off, Private Education Loans were sold to an entity that is now a subsidiary of Navient, prior to being charged off. Therefore, many of our historical credit indicators and period-over-period trends are not indicative of future performance. Because we now retain more delinquentRepresents fair value adjustments on loans we believe it could take up to two years from the date of the Spin-Off before our credit performance indicators provide meaningful period-over-period comparisons.sold.
(2) 
Represents fair value write-downsLoans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans sold.
(3)
Ending total loans represents gross Private Education Loans.that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period.
 
As part of concluding on the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, we review key allowance and loan metrics. The most significant of these metrics considered are the allowance coverage of charge-offs ratio; the allowance as a percentage of total loans and of loans in repayment; and delinquency and forbearance percentages. The allowance as a percentage of ending total loans and ending loans in repayment increased at September 30, 20152016 compared with September 30, 20142015 because of an increase in the relative size of the loan portfolio, an increase in our TDRs (for which we hold a life of loanlife-of-loan allowance) and an increase in the percentage of loans in full principal and interest repayment.repayment status.

Use of Forbearance as a Private Education Loan Collection Tool
Forbearance involves granting the customer a temporary cessation of payments (or temporary acceptance of smaller than scheduled payments) for a specified period of time. Using forbearance extends the original term of the loan. Forbearance does not grant any reduction in the total repayment obligation (principal or interest). While in forbearance status, interest continues to accrue and is capitalized to principal when the loan re-enters repayment status. Our forbearance policies include limits on the number of forbearance months granted consecutively and the total number of forbearance months granted over the life of the loan. In some instances, we require good-faith payments before granting forbearance. Exceptions to forbearance policies are permitted when such exceptions are judged to increase the likelihood of collection of the loan. Forbearance as a collection tool is used most effectively when applied based on a customer’s unique situation, including historical information and judgments.

55


We leverage updated customer information and other decision support tools to best determine who will be granted forbearance based on our expectations as to a customer’s ability and willingness to repay their obligation. This strategy is aimed at mitigating the overall risk of the portfolio as well as encouraging cash resolution of delinquent loans.
Forbearance may be granted to customers who are exiting their grace period to provide additional time to obtain employment and income to support their obligations, or to current customers who are faced with a hardship and request forbearance time to provide temporary payment relief. In these circumstances, a customer’s loan is placed into a forbearance status in limited monthly increments and is reflected in the forbearance status at month-end during this time. At the end of their granted forbearance period, the customercustomers will enter repayment status as current and isare expected to begin making their scheduled monthly payments on a go-forward basis.
Forbearance may also be granted to customers who are delinquent in their payments. In these circumstances,If specific requirements are met, the forbearance curescan cure the delinquency and the customer is returned to a current repayment status and is expected to begin making scheduled monthly payments on a go-forward basis.status. In more limited instances, delinquent customers will also be granted additional forbearance time.
Prior to the Spin-Off, the Bank sold Private Education Loans that were delinquent more than 90 days or were granted a hardship forbearance to an entity that is now a subsidiary of Navient. As such, the Bank did not hold many loans in forbearance. Because of this past business practice, we do not yet have meaningful comparative historic forbearance data with respect to our Private Education Loan portfolio. Subsequent to the Spin-Off, however, we began using forbearance as part of our loss mitigation efforts. Nonetheless, the historic default experience on loans put into forbearance that Navient (pre-Spin-Off SLM) experienced prior to the Spin-Off is still considered in the determination of our allowance for loan losses.
The tables below show the composition and status of the Private Education Loan portfolio aged by number of months in active repayment status (months for which a scheduled monthly payment was due). Active repayment status includes loans on which borrowers are making interest only andor fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status.status after any applicable grace period. Our experience shows that the percentage of loans in forbearance status decreases the longer the loans have been in active repayment status. At September 30, 2015,2016, loans in forbearance status as a percentage of total loans in repayment and forbearance were 3.12 percent for loansPrivate Education Loans that have been in active repayment status for fewer than 25 months. Approximately 7778 percent of our Private Education Loans in forbearance status have been in active repayment status fewer than 25 months.


(Dollars in millions) September 30, 2015
 Monthly Scheduled Payments Due 
Not Yet in
Repayment
 Total
0 to 12 13 to 24 25 to 36 37 to 48 More than 48 
(Dollars in millions)
September 30, 2016
 Private Education Loans Monthly Scheduled Payments Due 
Not Yet in
Repayment
 Total
0 to 12 13 to 24 25 to 36 37 to 48 More than 48 
Loans in-school/grace/deferment $
 $
 $
 $
 $
 $3,971
 $3,971
 $
 $
 $
 $
 $
 $4,663
 $4,663
Loans in forbearance 129
 35
 24
 15
 9
 
 212
 172
 46
 31
 17
 14
 
 280
Loans in repayment - current 3,374
 1,669
 832
 388
 265
 
 6,528
 4,040
 2,314
 1,303
 601
 466
 
 8,724
Loans in repayment - delinquent 31-60 days 44
 16
 10
 6
 5
 
 81
 56
 23
 15
 8
 7
 
 109
Loans in repayment - delinquent 61-90 days 20
 7
 4
 2
 2
 
 35
 28
 10
 6
 2
 4
 
 50
Loans in repayment - delinquent greater than 90 days 7
 2
 2
 1
 1
 
 13
 11
 5
 3
 2
 1
 
 22
Total $3,574
 $1,729
 $872
 $412
 $282
 $3,971
 10,840
 $4,307
 $2,398
 $1,358
 $630
 $492
 $4,663
 13,848
Deferred origination costs             27
             41
Allowance for loan losses             (100)             (163)
Total Private Education Loans, net             $10,767
             $13,726
                            
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance 3.61% 2.02% 2.75% 3.64% 3.19% % 3.09%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of total Private Education Loans in repayment and forbearance 1.87% 0.50% 0.34% 0.18% 0.15% % 3.04%
 
56


(Dollars in millions)

September 30, 2014
 Monthly Scheduled Payments Due 
Not Yet in
Repayment
 Total
0 to 12 13 to 24 25 to 36 37 to 48 More than 48 
(Dollars in millions)
September 30, 2015
 Private Education Loans Monthly Scheduled Payments Due 
Not Yet in
Repayment
 Total
0 to 12 13 to 24 25 to 36 37 to 48 More than 48 
Loans in-school/grace/deferment $
 $
 $
 $
 $
 $3,178
 $3,178
 $
 $
 $
 $
 $
 $3,971
 $3,971
Loans in forbearance 47
 15
 8
 5
 1
 
 76
 129
 35
 24
 15
 9
 
 212
Loans in repayment - current 2,597
 1,060
 503
 298
 57
 
 4,515
 3,374
 1,669
 832
 388
 265
 
 6,528
Loans in repayment - delinquent 31-60 days 29
 7
 4
 4
 
 
 44
 44
 16
 10
 6
 5
 
 81
Loans in repayment - delinquent 61-90 days 9
 2
 1
 1
 
 
 13
 20
 7
 4
 2
 2
 
 35
Loans in repayment - delinquent greater than 90 days 2
 1
 
 
 
 
 3
 7
 2
 2
 1
 1
 
 13
Total $2,684
 $1,085
 $516
 $308
 $58
 $3,178
 7,829
 $3,574
 $1,729
 $872
 $412
 $282
 $3,971
 10,840
Unamortized discount             10
Deferred origination costs             27
Allowance for loan losses             (60)             (100)
Total Private Education Loans, net             $7,779
             $10,767
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance 1.75% 1.38% 1.55% 1.62% 1.72% % 1.63%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of total Private Education Loans in repayment and forbearance 1.88% 0.51% 0.35% 0.22% 0.13% % 3.09%



Private Education Loan Repayment OptionsTypes
The following table provides information regarding the repayment balance by loan type at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.
 
 September 30, 2016
(Dollars in thousands) 
Signature and
Other
 Smart Option 
Career
Training
 Total 
Signature and
Other
 Parent Loan Smart Option 
Career
Training
 Total
$ in repayment $142,401
 $6,498,913
 $15,914
 $6,657,228
$ in repayment(1)
 $166,598
 $21,745
 $8,701,960
 $15,509
 $8,905,812
$ in total $300,283
 $10,523,660
 $16,318
 $10,840,261
 $333,744
 $21,996
 $13,476,655
 $15,867
 $13,848,262
 
 
  December 31, 2015
(Dollars in thousands) 
Signature and
Other
 Parent Loan Smart Option 
Career
Training
 Total
$ in repayment(1)
 $141,900
 $
 $6,769,788
 $15,578
 $6,927,266
$ in total $302,949
 $
 $10,277,517
 $15,971
 $10,596,437
_______
(1)
Loans in repayment include loans on which borrowers are making interest only or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment status after any applicable grace period.


Accrued Interest Receivable
The following table provides information regarding accrued interest receivable on our Private Education Loans. The table also discloses the amount of accrued interest on loans greater than 90 days past due as compared to our allowance for uncollectible interest. The allowance for uncollectible interest exceeds the amount of accrued interest on our 90 days past due portfolio for all periods presented.
 
 
 Private Education Loan
 
Accrued Interest Receivable 
 
Accrued Interest Receivable 
(Dollars in thousands) Total Interest Receivable 
Greater Than
90 Days
Past Due
 
Allowance for
Uncollectible
Interest
 Total Interest Receivable 
Greater Than
90 Days
Past Due
 
Allowance for
Uncollectible
Interest
September 30, 2016 $773,967
 $803
 $3,562
December 31, 2015 $542,919
 $791
 $3,332
September 30, 2015 $606,218
 $489
 $2,979
 $606,218
 $489
 $2,979
December 31, 2014 $445,710
 $443
 $3,517
September 30, 2014 $430,299
 $142
 $3,250
 

57


Liquidity and Capital Resources
Funding and Liquidity Risk Management
Our four primary liquidity needs include our ongoing ability to fund our businesses throughout market cycles, (includingincluding during periods of financial stress),stress, our ongoing ability to fund originations of Private Education Loans and servicing our bank deposits, and payment of required dividends on our preferred stock.Bank deposits. To achieve these objectives, we analyze and monitor our liquidity needs, maintain excess liquidity and access diverse funding sources, such as deposits at the Bank, issuance of secured debt primarily through asset-backed securitizations and other financing facilities and through whole loan sales.facilities. It is our policy to manage operations so liquidity needs are fully satisfied through normal operations to avoid unplanned asset sales under emergency conditions. Our liquidity management is governed by policies approved by our Board of Directors. Oversight of these policies is performed in the Asset and Liability Committee, a management-level committee.
These policies take into account the volatility of cash flow forecasts, expected maturities, anticipated loan demand and a variety of other factors to establish minimum liquidity guidelines.
Key risks associated with our liquidity relate to our ability to access the capital markets and the markets for bank deposits at reasonable rates. This ability may be affected by our performance, and the macroeconomic environment and the impact they have on the availability of funding sources in the marketplace.
Sources of Liquidity and Available Capacity
Ending Balances
 
(Dollars in thousands) September 30, 2015 December 31, 2014 September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015
Sources of primary liquidity:        
Unrestricted cash and liquid investments:        
Holding Company and other non-bank subsidiaries $18,700
 $7,677
 $21,785
 $9,817
Sallie Mae Bank(1)
 1,263,097
 2,352,103
 1,433,154
 2,406,402
Available-for-sale investments 190,944
 168,934
 213,176
 195,391
Total unrestricted cash and liquid investments $1,472,741
 $2,528,714
 $1,668,115
 $2,611,610
____
(1) This amount will be used primarily to originate Private Education Loans at the Bank.

Average Balances
 
 Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
(Dollars in thousands) 2015 2014 2015 2014 2016 2015 2016 2015
Sources of primary liquidity:                
Unrestricted cash and liquid investments:                
Holding Company and other non-bank subsidiaries $20,088
 $12,216
 $16,336
 $8,410
 $22,233
 $20,088
 $19,242
 $16,336
Sallie Mae Bank(1)
 1,537,203
 1,805,101
 1,347,228
 1,656,915
 1,538,485
 1,537,203
 1,247,498
 1,347,228
Available-for-sale investments 172,566
 151,646
 170,870
 127,999
 209,496
 172,566
 203,986
 170,870
Total unrestricted cash and liquid investments $1,729,857
 $1,968,963
 $1,534,434
 $1,793,324
 $1,770,214
 $1,729,857
 $1,470,726
 $1,534,434
      ____
(1) This amount will be used primarily to originate Private Education Loans at the Bank.

58


Deposits

The following table summarizes total deposits.
 September 30, December 31,  September 30, December 31,
(Dollars in thousands) 2015 2014  2016 2015
Deposits - interest bearing $10,610,592
 $10,539,953
  $12,941,020
 $11,487,006
Deposits - non interest bearing 287
 602
 
Deposits - non-interest bearing 325
 701
Total deposits $10,610,879
 $10,540,555
  $12,941,345
 $11,487,707

Our total deposits of $12.9 billion were comprised of $7.8 billion in brokered deposits and $5.1 billion in retail and other deposits at September 30, 2016, compared to $11.5 billion, which were comprised of $7.3 billion in brokered deposits and $4.2 billion in retail and other deposits, at December 31, 2015.
Interest Bearing
Interest bearing deposits as of September 30, 20152016 and December 31, 20142015 consisted of retail non-maturity savings deposits, retail and money market deposits,brokered non-maturity MMDAs and brokered and retail certificates of deposit, and brokered money market deposits. TheseCDs. Included in these accounts are what we consider to be core deposits from various sources. Our deposit products are serviced by third partythird-party providers. Placement fees associated with the brokered certificates of depositCDs are amortized into interest expense using the effective interest rate method. We recognized placement fee expense of $2.6 million and $2.7 million in the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and placement fee expense of $7.8 million and $8.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Fees paid to third-party brokers related to brokered CDs were $1.1 million and $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $4.0 million and $0.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Interest bearing deposits at September 30, 20152016 and December 31, 20142015 are summarized as follows:
 
 September 30, 2015 December 31, 2014  September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015 
(Dollars in thousands) Amount 
Qtr.-End Weighted Average Stated Rate(1)
 Amount 
Year-End Weighted Average Stated Rate(1)
  Amount 
Qtr.-End
Weighted
Average
Stated Rate(1)
 Amount 
Year-End
Weighted
Average
Stated Rate(1)
 
                  
Money market $4,436,095
 1.18% $4,527,448
 1.15%  $5,859,986
 1.20% $4,886,299
 1.19% 
Savings 665,941
 0.82
 703,687
 0.81
  660,099
 0.82
 669,254
 0.82
 
Certificates of deposit 5,508,556
 0.99
 5,308,818
 1.00
  6,420,935
 1.24
 5,931,453
 0.98
 
Deposits - interest bearing $10,610,592
   $10,539,953
 

  $12,941,020
   $11,487,006
 

 
____________
(1) Includes the effect of interest rate swaps in effective hedge relationships.


 As of September 30, 20152016 and December 31, 2014,2015, there were $195$363.2 million and $254$709.9 million, respectively, of deposits exceeding FDIC insurance limits. Accrued interest on deposits was $23$24.9 million and $16$15.7 million at September 30, 20152016 and December 31, 2014,2015, respectively.

Non InterestNon-Interest Bearing

Non interestNon-interest bearing deposits were $0.3 million and $0.6$0.7 million as of September 30, 20152016 and December 31, 2014,2015, respectively. For both periods, these were comprised of money market accounts related to our Employee Stock Purchase Plan account.
Commitments
When we approve a Private Education Loan at the beginning of an academic year, that approval may cover the borrowing for the entire academic year. As such, we do not always disburse the full amount of the loan at the time of origination but instead have a commitment to fund a portion of the loan at a later date (usually at the start of the second semester or subsequent trimesters). At September 30, 2015, we had $1.7 billion of outstanding contractual loan commitments which we expect to fund during the remainder of the 2015/2016 academic year.



59


Borrowings

Outstanding borrowings consist of secured borrowings executed through our term ABS program and our ABCP funding facility. The issuing entities for those secured borrowings are VIEs and are consolidated for accounting purposes. The following table summarizes our secured borrowings at September 30, 2015. We did not have outstanding secured borrowings at December 31, 2014.

  September 30, 2015
  Short-Term Long-Term Total
Secured borrowings:      
Private Education Loan term securitization $
 $593,687
 $593,687
ABCP borrowings 710,005
 
 710,005
Total $710,005
 $593,687
 $1,303,692

2015 Financing Transactions
On July 30, 2015, we executed our $714 million SMB Private Education Loan Trust 2015-B term ABS transaction, which was accounted for as an on-balance sheet secured financing. We retained a 5 percent or $33 million interest in the Class A and B notes, a 100 percent or $50 million interest in the Class C notes and 100 percent of the residual certificates issued in the securitization. $631 million of notes from the securitization were sold to third parties, raising $623 million of gross proceeds. The Class A and B notes had a weighted average life of 4.8 years and priced at a weighted average LIBOR equivalent cost of 1 month LIBOR plus 1.53 percent. At September 30, 2015, $692 million of our Private Education Loans were encumbered as a result of this transaction. 

On December 19, 2014, we closed on a $750 million ABCP Private Education Loan funding facility. Pursuant to FDIC safe harbor guidelines, we retained a 5 percent or $37.5 million ownership interest in the ABCP facility, resulting in $712.5 million of funds being available for us to draw under the facility. We incur financing costs under the ABCP facility of approximately 0.40 percent on unused borrowing capacity and approximately 3 month LIBOR plus 0.80 percent on outstandings under the facility. At September 30, 2015, $710 million had been drawn and remained outstanding under the facility, net of our 5 percent retention. At September 30, 2015, $902 million of our Private Education Loans were encumbered as a result of this transaction.
Counterparty Exposure
Counterparty exposure related to financial instruments arises from the risk that a lending, investment or derivative counterparty will not be able to meet its obligations to us.
Excess cash is generally invested with the FRB on an overnight basis or in the FRB’s Term Deposit Facility, minimizing counterparty exposure on cash balances.
Our investment portfolio includes a small portfolio of mortgage-backed securities issued by government agencies and government-sponsored enterprises that are purchased to meet Community Reinvestment Act targets. Additionally, our investing activity is governed by Board-approved limits on the amount that is allowed to be invested with any one issuer based on the credit rating of the issuer, further minimizing our counterparty exposure. Counterparty credit risk is considered when valuing investments and considering impairment.
Related to derivative transactions, protection against counterparty risk is generally provided by ISDA CSAsInternational Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Credit Support Annexes (“CSAs”), or clearinghouses for OTCover-the-counter derivatives. CSAs require a counterparty to post collateral if a potential default would expose the other party to a loss. All derivative contracts entered into by the Bank are covered under such agreements and require collateral to be exchanged based on the net fair value of derivatives with each counterparty. Our exposure is limited to the value of the derivative contracts in a gain position, less any collateral held orby us and plus any collateral posted.posted with the counterparty.

60


Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act requires all standardized derivatives, including most interest rate swaps, to be submitted for clearing to central counterpartiesintermediaries to reduce counterparty risk. As of September 30, 2015, $4.02016, $5.6 billion notional of our derivative contracts were cleared on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the London Clearing House. This represents 91.1 percent of our total notional derivative contracts of $6.1 billion. All derivative contracts cleared through an exchange require collateral to be exchanged based on the fair value of the derivative. Our exposure is limited to the value of the derivative contracts in a gain position, less any collateral held orby us and plus any collateral posted.posted with the counterparty.
We have liquidity exposure related to collateral movements between us and our derivative counterparties. Movements in the value of the derivatives, which are primarily affected by changes in interest rates, may require us to return cash collateral held or may require us to access primary liquidity to post collateral to counterparties.
The table below highlights exposure related to our derivative counterparties as of September 30, 2015.2016.
(Dollars in thousands) 
SLM Corporation
and Sallie Mae Bank
Contracts
 
SLM Corporation
and Sallie Mae Bank
Contracts
Exposure, net of collateral $48,920
 $47,633
Percent of exposure to counterparties with credit ratings below S&P AA- or Moody’s Aa3 50% 42.91%
Percent of exposure to counterparties with credit ratings below S&P A- or Moody’s A3 % %

Regulatory Capital
The Bank is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by federal and state banking authorities. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material adverse effect on our business, results of operation and financial statements.condition. Under the U. S Basel III capital framework and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, wethe Bank must meet specific capital guidelinesstandards that involve quantitative measures of ourits assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Bank’s capital amounts and its classification under the prompt corrective action framework are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components risk-weightingsof capital, risk weightings and other factors.
As of the first quarter 2015, the Bank was required by federal banking authorities to report regulatory capital and ratios based on the U.S. Basel III rule. U.S. Basel III implemented changes to capital, risk-weighted assets, and “well capitalized” definitions and added a reporting requirement of Common Equity Tier I Capital (to risk-weighted assets). Regulatory capital reported as of December 31, 2014 was calculated according to regulatory guidelines in effect at that date.
“Well capitalized” regulatory requirements are the quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy. TheTo qualify as “well capitalized,” the Bank is required tomust maintain minimum amounts and ratios (set forth in the table below)

of Total and Tier I Capital to risk-weighted assets, Common Equity Tier I Capital1, Tier 1 and Total capital to risk-weighted assets and of Tier I Capital1 capital to average assets, as defined by the regulation.assets. The following capital amounts and ratios are based upon the Bank'sBank’s assets.
 
  Actuals Well Capitalized Regulatory Requirements
(Dollars in thousands) AmountRatio Amount Ratio
As of September 30, 2015:       
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets) $1,639,235
12.2% $674,490
>5.0%
Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) $1,639,235
13.3% $989,333
>8.0%
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) $1,743,438
14.1% $1,236,667
>10.0%
Common Equity Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) $1,639,235
13.3% $803,833
>6.5%
As of December 31, 2014:       
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets) $1,413,988
11.5% $614,709
>5.0%
Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) $1,413,988
15.0% $565,148
>6.0%
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) $1,497,830
15.9% $941,913
>10.0%
  Actual “Well Capitalized” Regulatory Requirements
(Dollars in thousands) AmountRatio Amount Ratio
As of September 30, 2016:       
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) $1,928,979
12.4% $1,012,748
>6.5%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) $1,928,979
12.4% $1,246,459
>8.0%
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) $2,095,397
13.4% $1,558,074
>10.0%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets) $1,928,979
11.6% $828,962
>5.0%
        
As of December 31, 2015:       
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) $1,734,315
14.4% $781,638
>6.5%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) $1,734,315
14.4% $962,017
>8.0%
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) $1,848,528
15.4% $1,202,521
>10.0%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets) $1,734,315
12.3% $704,979
>5.0%
    

61


 Capital Management
The Bank seeks to remain well capitalized“well capitalized” at all times with sufficient capital to support asset growth, operating needs, unexpected credit risks and to protect the interests of depositors and the FDIC deposit insurance fund.- administered Deposit Insurance Fund. The Bank is required by its prudential regulators, the UDFIUtah Department of Financial Institutions and the FDIC, to comply with mandated capital ratios. We intend to maintain levels of capital at the Bank that significantly exceed the levels of capital necessary to be considered “well capitalized” by the FDIC. The Company is a source of strength for the Bank and will provide additional capital if necessary. The Board of Directors and management periodically evaluate the quality of assets, the stability of earnings, and the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses for the Bank. We currently believe that current and projected capital levels are appropriate for 2016. As our balance sheet continues to grow in 2016, these ratios will decline but will remain significantly in excess of the capital levels required to be considered “well capitalized” by our regulators. We do not plan to pay dividends on our common stock. We do not intend to initiate any share repurchase programprograms as a means to return capital to shareholders. We only expect to repurchase common stock acquired in connection with taxes withheld associated withas a result of award exercises and vesting under our employee stock-based compensation plans. Our Board of Directors will periodically reconsider these matters.
On July 9, 2013,As of January 1, 2015, the FDIC Board of Directors approved an interim final ruleBank was required to implement newcomply with U.S. Basel III, guidelines related to regulatory capital measurement and reporting. The interim final rule became effective January 2015. It strengthenswhich is aimed at increasing both the quantity and quality of banks’ risk-basedregulatory capital placing greater emphasis onand, among other things, establishes Common Equity Tier 1 capital.as a new tier of capital and modifies methods for calculating risk-weighted assets. Certain aspects of U.S. Basel III, including new deductions from and adjustments to regulatory capital and a new capital conservation buffer, are being phased in over several years. The Bank’s Capital Policy requires management to monitor the new capital standards. The Bank is subject to the following minimum capital ratios under U.S. Basel III capital rule requires banks to maintainIII: a minimum common equityCommon Equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4.5 percent, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0 percent, a totalTotal risk-based capital ratio of 8.0 percent, and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 44.0 percent. In addition, when the ruleBank is fully phased in by 2019, banks will also be subject to a greater than 2.5 percent common equityCommon Equity Tier 1 capital conservation buffer, under which they must maintain a common equity Tierwill be phased in over three years beginning January 1, risk-based capital ratio2016: 0.625 percent of risk-weighted assets for 2016, 1.25 percent for 2017, and 1.875 percent for 2018, with the fully phased-in level of greater than 7.02.5 percent a Tiereffective as of January 1, risk-based capital ratio greater than 8.5 percent, and a total risk-based capital ratio greater than 10.5 percent.2019. Failure to maintain the buffer will result in restrictions on the banks’Bank’s ability to make dividend payments, repurchase sharescapital distributions, including the payment of dividends, and to pay discretionary bonuses.bonuses to executive officers. Including the buffer, by January 1, 2019, the Bank will be required to maintain the following minimum capital ratios: a Common Equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of greater than 7.0 percent, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of greater than 8.5 percent and a Total risk-based capital ratio of greater than 10.5 percent.
The ruleU.S. Basel III also revisesrevised the capital thresholds for the prompt corrective action framework for banks.insured depository institutions. Effective January 1, 2015, in order to qualify as well“well capitalized, a bank” the Bank must maintain a minimumCommon Equity Tier 1 leverage ratio of 5 percent, a minimum common equity Tier

1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 6.5 percent, a minimum Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 8 percent and a minimum total risk-based capital ratio of 10 percent.
As of September 30, 2015, the Bank had a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 12.2 percent, a common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 13.3 percent, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 13.3at least 8.0 percent, and a totalTotal risk-based capital ratio of 14.1at least 10.0 percent, exceedingand a Tier 1 leverage ratio of at least 5.0 percent.
As of September 30, 2016, the Bank had a Common Equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 12.4 percent, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 12.4 percent, a Total risk-based capital ratio of 13.4 percent and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 11.6 percent, which are each well in excess of the current guidelines by a significant amount. Our“well capitalized” standard for insured depository institutions. If calculated today based on the fully phased-in U.S. Basel III standards, our ratios would also exceed the future guidelines if we calculated them today based oncapital levels required under U.S. Basel III and the new definitions of capital and risk-weighted assets.“well capitalized” standard.
Dividends

The Bank is chartered under the laws of the State of Utah and its deposits are insured by the FDIC. The Bank’s ability to pay dividends is subject to the laws of Utah and the regulations of the FDIC. Generally, under Utah’s industrial bank laws and regulations as well as FDIC regulations, the Bank may pay dividends from its net profits without regulatory approval if, following the payment of the dividend, the Bank’s capital and surplus would not be impaired. The Bank paid no dividends for the three and nine months ended September 30, 20152016 and September 30, 2014.2015. For the foreseeable future, we expect the Bank to only pay dividends to the Company as may be necessary to provide for regularly scheduled dividends payable on the Company’s Series A and Series B Preferred Stock.
Borrowings

Outstanding borrowings consist of secured borrowings executed through our term ABS program and our ABCP Facility. The issuing entities for those secured borrowings are VIEs and are consolidated for accounting purposes. The following table summarizes our secured borrowings at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

  September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015
(Dollars in thousands) Short-Term Long-Term Total Short-Term Long-Term Total
Secured borrowings:            
Private Education Loan term securitization $
 $1,577,689
 $1,577,689
 $
 $579,101
 $579,101
ABCP Facility 350,000
 
 350,000
 500,175
 
 500,175
Total $350,000
 $1,577,689
 $1,927,689
 $500,175
 $579,101
 $1,079,276
On May 26, 2016, we executed our $551 million SMB Private Education Loan Trust 2016-A term ABS transaction, which was accounted for as an on-balance sheet secured financing. We retained a 100 percent or $50 million interest in the Class B notes and 100 percent of the residual certificates issued in the securitization. $501 million of Class A notes from the securitization were sold to third parties, raising $501 million of gross proceeds. At September 30, 2016, $571 million of our Private Education Loans were encumbered as a result of this transaction. 
On July 21, 2016, we executed our $657 million SMB Private Education Loan Trust 2016-B term ABS transaction, which was accounted for as an on-balance sheet secured financing. We retained a 100 percent or $50 million interest in the Class B notes and 100 percent of the residual certificates issued in the securitization. $607 million of Class A notes from the securitization were sold to third parties, raising $607 million of gross proceeds. At September 30, 2016, $692 million of our Private Education Loans were encumbered as a result of this transaction. 
Borrowed Funds
The Bank maintains discretionary uncommitted Federal Funds lines of credit with various correspondent banks, which totaled $100$100 million at September 30, 2015.2016. The interest rate charged to the Bank on these lines of credit is priced at Fed Funds plus a spread at the time of borrowing, and is payable daily. The Bank did not utilize these lines of credit in the three and nine months ended September 30, 20152016 and September 30, 2014.in the year ended December 31, 2015.

The Bank established an account at the FRB to meet eligibility requirements for access to the Primary Credit borrowing facility at the FRB’s Window. The Primary Credit borrowing facility is a lending program available to depository institutions that are in generally sound financial condition. All borrowings at the Window must be fully collateralized. We can pledge to the FRB asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, as well as FFELP consolidationLoans and Private Education Loans, to the FRB as collateral for borrowings at the Window. Generally, collateral value is assigned based on the estimated fair value of the pledged assets. At September 30, 20152016 and December 31, 2014,2015, the value of our pledged collateral at the FRB totaled $1.5$2.5 billion and $1.4$1.7 billion, respectively. The interest rate charged to us is the discount rate set by the FRB. We did not utilize this facility in the three and nine months ended September 30, 20152016 and in the year ended December 31, 2015.
Contractual Loan Commitments
When we approve a Private Education Loan at the beginning of an academic year, that approval may cover the borrowing for the entire academic year. As such, we do not always disburse the full amount of the loan at the time of such approval, but instead have a commitment to fund a portion of the loan at a later date (usually at the start of the second semester or subsequent trimesters). At September 30, 2014.2016, we had $1.8 billion of outstanding contractual loan commitments which we expect to fund during the remainder of the 2016/2017 academic year. At September 30, 2016, we had a $1.6 million reserve recorded in “Other Liabilities” to cover expected losses that we conclude are probable to occur during the one year loss emergence period on these unfunded commitments.

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 Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations addresses our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.GAAP. A discussion of our critical accounting policies, which include allowance for loan losses, fair value measurement, transfers of financial assets and the VIE consolidation model, and derivative accounting, can be found in our 20142015 Form 10-K. There were no significant changes to these critical accounting policies during the third quarter of 2015.2016.



63


Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Interest Rate Sensitivity Analysis
Our interest rate risk management program seeks to manage and control interest rate risk, thereby reducing our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates and achieving consistent and acceptable levels of profit in any rate environment and sustainable growth in net interest income over the long term. We evaluate and monitor interest rate risk through two primary methods:
Earnings at Risk (“EAR”), which measures the impact of hypothetical changes in interest rates on net interest income; and
Economic Value of Equity (“EVE”), which measures the sensitivity or change in the economic value of equity to changes in interest rates.
A number of potential interest rate scenarios are simulated using our asset liability management system. The Bank is the primary source of interest rate risk within the Company. The majority of the Bank’s assets are priced off of 1-month LIBOR. Therefore, 1-month LIBOR is considered a core rate in our interest rate risk analysis with manyanalysis. Many other interest rate changes are correlated to thischanges in 1-month LIBOR, with higher or lower correlations based on historical relationships or on management’s judgment of future rate for analytic purposes. In addition, each rate is modeled with a floor, which indicates how low each specific rate is likely to move in practice.trends. Rates are adjusted up or down via a set of scenarios that includes both rate shocks and ramps. ShocksRate shocks represent an immediate and sustained change in 1-month LIBOR with the marketresulting changes in other indices correlated accordingly. Interest rate associated with each asset or liability, effective upon its next repricing date. Rampsramps represent a linear increase in the market interest rates applicable to each asset or liability1-month LIBOR over the course of 12 months which take effect atwith the next repricing date.resulting changes in other indices correlated accordingly.
The following tables summarizetable summarizes the potential effect on earnings over the next 24 months and the potential effect on fair values of balance sheet assets and liabilities at September 30, 20152016 and September 30, 2014,2015, based upon a sensitivity analysis performed by management assuming a hypothetical increase in market interest rates of 100 basis points and 300 basis points.points while funding spreads remain constant. The EVE sensitivity is applied only to financial assets and liabilities, including hedging instruments that existed at the balance sheet date, and does not take into account new assets, liabilities or hedging instruments that may arise in the future.
In the first quarter of 2016, we made a minor change to our interest rate sensitivity model. As the result of an evaluation of historical data, correlation coefficients between certain short-term rate indices to 1-month LIBOR were increased for interest rate risk modeling purposes, increasing our measured sensitivity to changes in market rates. These rate indices included the Fed Funds effective rate, Prime rate and the 3-month Treasury rate, among others. We believe using higher coefficients will provide improved modeling accuracy. The most significant impact of this change was the impact on the treatment of our cash balances, which are placed at the FRB as excess deposits, earning the Fed Funds discount rate. This change resulted in a slightly higher measure of sensitivity to interest rate changes at September 30, 2016, as measured by the EAR analysis, when compared with the prior year.

September 30,September 30,
2015 20142016 2015
+300 Basis
Points
 
+100 Basis
Points
 
+300 Basis
Points
 
+100 Basis
Points
+300 Basis
Points
 
+100 Basis
Points
 
+300 Basis
Points
 
+100 Basis
Points
              
EAR - Shock+5.6% +1.8% +12.0% +3.8%+7.2% +2.3% +5.6% +1.8%
EAR - Ramp+4.6% +1.4% +9.3% +2.7%+5.0% +1.6% +4.6% +1.4%
EVE-1.2% -0.9% -1.5% -1.2%-1.0% -0.6% -1.2% -0.9%
            
A primary objective in our funding is to minimizemanage our sensitivity to changing interest rates by generally funding our assets with liabilities of similar interest rate repricing characteristics. This funding objective is frequently obtained through the use of derivatives. Uncertainty in loan repayment cash flows and the pricing behavior of our non-maturity retail deposits pose

challenges in achieving our interest rate risk objectives. In addition to these considerations, we can have a mismatch in the index (including the frequency of reset) of floating rate debt versus floating rate assets.
As part of its suite of financial products, the Bank offers fixed-rate Private Education Loans. As with other Private Education Loans, the term to maturity is lengthy, and the customer has the option to repay the loan faster than the promissory note requires. AAsset securitization provides long-term fixed-rate funding for some of these assets. Additionally, a portion of the fixed-rate loans have been hedged with derivatives, which have been used to convert a portion of variable rate funding to fixed-rate to match the anticipated cash flows of these loans. Any unhedged position arising from the fixed-rate loan portfolio is monitored and modeled to ensure that the interest rate risk does not cause the organizationCompany to exceed its policy limits for earnings at risk or for the value of equity at risk.
In the preceding tables, the interest rate sensitivity analysis reflects the heavy balance sheet mix of fully variable LIBOR-based loans, which exceeds the mix of fully variable funding. The mix of fully variable funding, which in turn includes brokered CDs that have been converted to LIBOR through derivative transactions. The analysis does not anticipate that retail MMDAMMDAs or retail

64


savings balances, while relatively sensitive to interest rate changes, will reprice to the full extent of interest rate shocks or ramps. Partially offsetting this asset sensitive position, is (i) the impact of FFELP loans, which receive floor incomeFloor Income in low interest rate environments, and will therefore not reprice fully with interest rate shocks and (ii) the impact of a portion of our fixed-rate loans that have not been fully match-funded through derivative transactions. Based on the assumptions used in this analysis, thetransactions and fixed-rate funding from asset securitization. The overall slightly asset-sensitive position will generally cause net interest income to increase somewhat over the near term when interest rates rise overrise. Over the near-term horizon. The long-term perspective offered bylong term, however, the EVE sensitivity analysis indicatesshows a fairly balanced position with modest sensitivity over the life of existing interest sensitive assets and liabilities.     nearly rate neutral position.
Although we believe that these measurements provide an estimate of our interest rate sensitivity, they do not account for potential changes in credit quality, balance sheet mix and size or composition of our balance sheet. They also do not account for other business developments that could affect net income, or for management actions that could affect net income or could be taken to change our risk profile. Accordingly, we can give no assurance that actual results would not differ materially from the estimated outcomes of our simulations. Further, such simulations do not represent our current view of expected future interest rate movements.

Asset and Liability Funding Gap
The tablestable below presentpresents our assets and liabilities (funding) arranged by underlying indices as of September 30, 2015.2016. In the following GAAP presentation, the funding gap only includes derivatives that qualify as effective hedges (those derivatives which are reflected in net interest margin,income, as opposed to those reflected in the “Gains“gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net” line on the consolidated statements of income). The difference between the asset and the funding is the funding gap for the specified index. This represents our exposure to interest rate risk in the form of basis risk and repricing risk, which is the risk that the different indices may reset at different frequencies or may not move in the same direction or at the same magnitude. (Note that all fixed-rate assets and liabilities are aggregated into one line item, which does not capture the differences in time due to maturity.)


(Dollars in billions)
Index
 
Frequency of
Variable
Resets
 Assets 
Funding (1) 
 
Funding
Gap
(Dollars in millions)
Index
 
Frequency of
Variable
Resets
 Assets 
Funding (1) 
 
Funding
Gap
3-month Treasury bill weekly $0.2
 $
 $0.2
 weekly $144.8
 $
 $144.8
Prime monthly 6.6
 
 6.6
3-month LIBOR quarterly 
 0.7
 (0.7) quarterly 
 399.2
 (399.2)
1-month LIBOR monthly 8.8
 5.5
 3.3
 monthly 11,272.7
 7,218.7
 4,054.0
1-month LIBOR daily 1.0
 
 1.0
 daily 889.1
 
 889.1
Non-Discrete reset(2)
 daily/weekly 1.3
 2.5
 (1.2) daily/weekly 1,493.2
 2,655.6
 (1,162.4)
Fixed Rate(3)
   3.2
 5.8
 (2.6)   3,809.6
 7,342.5
 (3,532.9)
Total   $14.5
 $14.5
 $
   $17,616.0
 $17,616.0
 $
          ______________________
(1) 
Funding (by index) includes the impact of all derivatives that qualify as hedges.

(2) 
Assets include restricted and unrestricted cash equivalents and other overnight type instruments. Funding includes liquid retail deposits and the obligation to return cash collateral held related to derivatives exposures.
(3) 
Assets include receivables and other assets (including premiums and reserves). Funding includes unswapped time deposits, liquid MMDA's swapped to fixed rates and stockholders' equity.

The “Funding Gap” in the above table shows primarily mismatches in the 1-month LIBOR, assets with fixed-rate, 3-month LIBOR and Non-Discrete funding.categories. As changes in 1-month and 3-month LIBOR are generally quite highly correlated, the funding gap associated with 3-month LIBOR is expected to partially offset the 1-month LIBOR gaps. We consider the overall risk to be moderate since the funding in the Non-Discrete bucket is our liquid retail portfolio, which we have significant flexibility to reprice at any time. Thetime, and the funding in the fixedfixed-rate bucket includes $2.0$1.9 billion of equity and $0.6$0.5 billion of non-interest bearing liabilities. In addition, the fixed-rate funding position includes $1.3 billion of brokered CDs, which have been swapped to 1-month LIBOR, but do not qualify for hedge accounting.
We use interest rate swaps and other derivatives to achieve our risk management objectives. Our asset liability management strategy is to match assets with debt (in combination with derivatives) that have the same underlying index and reset frequency or have interest rate characteristics that we believe are highly correlated. The use of funding with index types and reset frequencies that are different from our assets exposes us to interest rate risk in the form of basis and repricing risk. This could result in our cost of funds not moving in the same direction or with the same magnitude as the yield on our assets. While we believe repricingthis risk is low, as all of these indices are short-term with historical rate movements that are highly correlated

65


over a long period of time, market disruptions (which have occurred in recent years) can lead to a temporary divergence between indices and resultresulting in a negative impact to our earnings.

Weighted Average Life

The following table reflects the weighted average lives of our earning assets and liabilities at September 30, 2015.2016.
 
 Weighted
 Average
(Averages in Years)Life
Earning assets 
Education loans6.285.98
Cash and investments0.750.59
Total earning assets5.655.41
  
Deposits 
Short-term deposits0.050.07
Long-term deposits2.542.35
Total deposits0.870.64
  
Borrowings 
Short-term borrowings(1)
0.221.40
Long-term borrowings4.984.33
Total borrowings2.413.80
_____
(1)
Weighted average life of short-term borrowings assumes full contractual term for repayment through February 23, 2018.

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Item 4.Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of September 30, 2015.2016. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of September 30, 2015,2016, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (a) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (b) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
No change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) occurred during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 20152016 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.Legal Proceedings

Legal Proceedings

We and our subsidiaries and affiliates are subject to various claims, lawsuits and other actions that arise in the normal course of business. We believe that these claims, lawsuits and other actions will not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. In the ordinary course of business, itIt is common for the Company, our subsidiaries and affiliates to receive information and document requests and investigative demands from state attorneys general, legislative committees and administrative agencies. These requests may be for informational or regulatory purposes and may relate to our business practices, the industries in which we operate, or other companies with whom we conduct business. Our practice has been and continues to be to cooperate with these bodies and be responsive to any such requests.
Pursuant to the terms of the Spin-Off and applicable law, Navient assumed responsibility for all liabilities (whether accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether known or unknown) arising out of or resulting from the conduct of pre-Spin-Off SLM and its subsidiaries’ businesses prior to the Spin-Off, other than certain specifically identified liabilities relating to the conduct of our consumer banking business. Nonetheless, given the prior usage of the Sallie Mae and SLM names by entities now owned by Navient, we and our subsidiaries may from time to time be improperly named as defendants in legal proceedings where the allegations at issue are the legal responsibility of Navient. Most of these legal proceedings involve matters that arose in whole or in part in the ordinary course of business of pre-Spin-Off SLMSLM. Likewise, as the period of time since the Spin-Off increases, so does the likelihood any allegations that may be made may be in part for our own actions in a post-Spin-Off time period and wein part for Navient’s conduct in a pre-Spin-Off time period. We will not be providing information on these proceedings unless there are material issues of fact or disagreement with Navient as to the bases of the proceedings or responsibility therefor that we believe could have a material, adverse impact on our business, assets, financial condition, liquidity or outlook if not resolved in our favor.

For a description of these and other litigation or regulatory proceedings to which we are a party, and for which we have no current updates, see our 20142015 Form 10-K.
Regulatory Update

At the time of this filing, the Bank remains subject to the 2014 FDIC Consent Order and the DOJ Consent Order. Specifically, onOn May 13, 2014, the Bank reached settlementsa settlement with the FDIC andDOJ regarding compliance issues with the DOJSCRA. At the same time, the Bank reached a settlement with the FDIC regarding disclosures and assessments of certain late fees, as well as compliance with the SCRA. Under the FDIC Consent Order, the Bank paid $3.3 million in fines and oversaw the refund of up to $30 million in late fees, funded by Navient as required by the terms of the Separation and Distribution Agreement, assessed on loans owned or originated by the Bank since its inception in November 2005. The DOJ Consent Order was approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware on September 29, 2014. Under the 2014 FDIC Order, the Bank agreed to pay $3.3 million in fines and oversee the refund of up to $30 million in late fees assessed on loans owned or originated by the Bank since its inception in November 2005.

As required by the 2014 FDIC Order andUnder the DOJ Order, the Bank has now implemented new SCRA policies, procedures and training, has updated billing statement disclosures, and is taking additional steps to ensure its third-party service providers are also fully compliant in these areas. In 2014, we engaged a third-party firm to conduct independent audits of certain key consumer protection processes and procedures, including our compliance management system. To date, we have received no high-risk findings. In 2015, the third-party firm is continuing to conduct additional independent audits over the remainder of those processes and procedures.

Required restitution activities under the 2014 FDIC and DOJ Orders are well under way. Applicable late fees were credited to eligible customers with open accounts in October 2014 and the mailing of restitution checks to all other eligible customers is ongoing. Checks for payment of SCRA benefits and related compensation, as determined by the DOJ, began mailing in June 2015. Under the terms of the Separation and Distribution Agreement, Navient remains responsible for funding all liabilities under the regulatory orders, other than fines directly levied against the Bank in connection with these matters. Under the DOJConsent Order, Navient is solely responsible for reimbursing SCRA benefits and related compensation on behalf of both its subsidiary, Navient Solutions, Inc., and the Bank.

We believe the Bank has complied with all the requirements of the FDIC Consent Order and the DOJ Consent Order. This includes implementing new SCRA policies, procedures and training, updated billing statement disclosures, steps to ensure its third-party service providers are also fully compliant in these regards, and overseeing Navient’s restitution responsibilities. Notwithstanding the CFPB’s assumption of the role of the Bank’s primary consumer compliance regulator in January 2015, the FDIC will continue to monitor the Bank’s improved compliance management system, policies and procedures until it is satisfied the Bank has demonstrated its ability to sustain the enhancements and additions implemented in response to the FDIC Consent Order. Pursuant to the terms of the DOJ Consent Order, the Bank will remain subject to certain DOJ reporting and record-keeping requirements until September 29, 2018.
In May 2014, the Bank received a CID from the CFPB as part of the CFPB’s separate investigation relating to customer complaints, fees and charges assessed in connection with the servicing of student loans and related collection practices of pre-Spin-Off SLM by entities now subsidiaries of Navient during a time period prior to the Spin-Off. Two state attorneys general


68have provided the Bank identical CIDs and others have become involved in the inquiry over time. To the extent requested, we have been cooperating fully with the CFPB and the attorneys general but are not in a position at this time to predict the duration or outcome of the investigation. Given the timeframe covered by this demand and the focus on practices and procedures previously conducted by Navient and its servicing subsidiaries, Navient is leading the response to this investigation and has accepted responsibility for all costs, expenses, losses or remediation that may arise from this investigation.


Item 1A. Risk Factors
Our business activities involve a variety of risks. ReadersIn addition to the risk factor below, readers should carefully consider the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A., Risk Factors “Risk Factors” of our 20142015 Form 10-K.

Consolidation or refinancing of existing Private Education Loans could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and cash flows.
Since 2010, both the number of bills introduced in the United States Congress to promote Federal financing for consolidation or refinancing of existing student loans, as well as the number of lenders offering similar products, have increased. To date, we have experienced no significant increase in consolidation or refinancing of our existing Private Education Loans. We believe the design of our products, with emphasis on rigorous underwriting, credit-worthy cosigners and variable interest rates, creates sustainable, competitive loan products. However, a prolonged introduction of significant amounts of subsidized funding into the Private Education Loan market at below market interest rates - whether from Federal or private sources - could increase the prepayment rates of our existing Private Education Loans and have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and cash flows.

Item 2.    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Share Repurchases
The following table provides information relating to our purchase of shares of our common stock in the three months ended September 30, 2015.2016.
 
(In thousands, except per share data)
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased(1)
 
Average Price
Paid per
Share 
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs(2)  
 
Approximate Dollar
Value
of Shares That
May Yet Be
Purchased  Under
Publicly Announced
Plans or
Programs(2)
Period:       
July 1 - July 31, 201520
 $9.79
 
 
August 1 - August 31, 2015109
 $8.77
 
 
September 1 - September 30, 20157
 $7.88
 
 
Total third-quarter 2015136
 $8.88
 
  
(In thousands, except per share data)
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased(1)
 
Average Price
Paid per
Share 
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs(2)  
 
Approximate Dollar
Value
of Shares That
May Yet Be
Purchased  Under
Publicly Announced
Plans or
Programs(2)
Period:       
July 1 - July 31, 2016186,943
 $7.08
 
 
August 1 - August 31, 2016127,611
 $7.30
 
 
September 1 - September 30, 201656,611
 $7.47
 
 
Total third-quarter 2016371,165
 $7.22
 
  
_________
(1) 
All shares purchased are the shares of our common stock tendered to us to satisfy the exercise price in connection with cashless exercises of stock options, and tax withholding obligations in connection with exercises of stock options and vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock units.
(2) 
At the present time, the Company does not have a publicly announced share repurchase plan or program.
The closing price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on September 30, 20152016 was $7.40.$7.47.
Item 3.Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Nothing to report.

Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5.Other Information
Nothing to report.



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Item 6.Exhibits
The following exhibits are furnished or filed, as applicable:
12.1Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends.
  
31.1Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  
31.2Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  
32.1Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  
32.2Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  
101.INSXBRL Instance Document.
  
101.SCHXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
  
101.CALXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
  
101.DEFXBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
  
101.LABXBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
  
101.PREXBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
 


70


SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
  
SLM CORPORATION
(Registrant)
  
By:
/S/ STEVEN J. MCGARRY
 
Steven J. McGarry
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
 
Date: October 21, 201519, 2016


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