Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities | Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities For a description of the fair value hierarchy and the Company’s fair value methodologies, see " Part II - Item 8 - Financial Statements and Supplementary Data - Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies " in the Annual Report. The Company did not transfer any assets or liabilities in or out of level 3 during the third quarter and first nine months of 2015 or the year ended December 31, 2014 . Financial Instruments Recorded at Fair Value See " Part II - Item 8 - Financial Statements and Supplementary Data - Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies " in the Company's Annual Report for a description of the fair value methodology for loans, notes and certificates. In the third quarter of 2015, the Company incorporated cumulative prepayments into the valuation of loans, notes and certificates to better reflect a market participant's view of valuation assumptions underlying unsecured consumer credit obligations. Prior to the third quarter, the effect of prepayments was reflected through an effective adjustment to the discount rates used in the fair value methodology. Cumulative prepayments are estimates of the cumulative amount of principal prepayments that will occur over the entire life of a loan expressed as a percentage of the original principal amount of the loan. The assumption regarding cumulative prepayments reduces the projected balances and expected terms of the loans, notes and certificates. When available, the Company uses quoted prices in active markets to measure the fair value of securities available for sale. When utilizing market data and bid-ask spreads, the Company uses the price within the bid-ask spread that best represents fair value. When quoted prices do not exist, the Company uses prices obtained from independent third-party pricing services to measure the fair value of securities available for sale. The Company's primary independent pricing service provides prices based on observable trades and discounted cash flows that incorporate observable information, such as yields for similar types of securities (a benchmark interest rate plus observable spreads) and weighted-average maturity for the same or similar "to-be-issued" securities. The Company compares the prices obtained from its primary independent pricing service to the prices obtained from the additional independent pricing services to determine if the price obtained from the primary independent pricing service is reasonable. The Company does not adjust the prices received from independent third-party pricing services unless such prices are inconsistent with the definition of fair value and result in a material difference in the recorded amounts. The following tables present the fair value hierarchy for assets and liabilities measured at fair value: September 30, 2015 Level 1 Inputs Level 2 Inputs Level 3 Inputs Balance at Fair Value Assets: Loans $ — $ — $ 4,068,974 $ 4,068,974 Securities available for sale: Corporate debt securities — 250,113 — 250,113 Asset-backed securities — 54,959 — 54,959 U.S. agency securities — 20,603 — 20,603 Municipal securities — 5,843 — 5,843 Other securities — 7,001 — 7,001 Total securities available for sale — 338,519 — 338,519 Servicing assets — — 7,249 7,249 Total assets $ — $ 338,519 $ 4,076,223 $ 4,414,742 Liabilities: Notes and certificates $ — $ — $ 4,095,481 $ 4,095,481 Servicing liabilities — — 4,394 4,394 Total liabilities $ — $ — $ 4,099,875 $ 4,099,875 December 31, 2014 Level 1 Inputs Level 2 Inputs Level 3 Inputs Balance at Fair Value Assets: Loans $ — $ — $ 2,798,505 $ 2,798,505 Servicing assets — — 2,181 2,181 Total assets $ — $ — $ 2,800,686 $ 2,800,686 Liabilities: Notes and certificates $ — $ — $ 2,813,618 $ 2,813,618 Servicing liabilities — — 3,973 3,973 Total liabilities $ — $ — $ 2,817,591 $ 2,817,591 As our loans and related notes and certificates, and loan servicing rights do not trade in an active market with readily observable prices, we use significant unobservable inputs to measure the fair value of these assets and liabilities. Financial instruments are categorized in the level 3 valuation hierarchy based on the significance of unobservable factors in the overall fair value measurement. These fair value estimates may also include observable, actively quoted components derived from external sources. As a result, the realized and unrealized gains and losses for assets and liabilities within the level 3 category may include changes in fair value that were attributable to both observable and unobservable inputs. Significant Unobservable Inputs The following tables present quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs used for our level 3 fair value measurements at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 : September 30, 2015 Range of Inputs Financial Instrument Unobservable Input Minimum Maximum Weighted- Average Loans, notes and certificates Discount rates 3.5 % 17.5 % 8.9 % Net cumulative expected loss rates 0.3 % 22.0 % 9.7 % Cumulative prepayment rates 21.9 % 38.5 % 27.7 % Servicing asset/liability Discount rates 3.5 % 20.5 % 9.6 % Net cumulative expected loss rates 0.3 % 21.5 % 8.7 % Cumulative prepayment rates 8.4 % 48.7 % 29.0 % Base market servicing rates (% per annum on unpaid principal balance) (1) 0.50 % 0.75 % 0.50 % December 31, 2014 Range of Inputs Financial Instrument Unobservable Input Minimum Maximum Weighted- Average Loans, notes and certificates Discount rates 5.2 % 17.4 % 10.1 % Net cumulative expected loss rates 0.3 % 22.0 % 10.0 % Servicing asset/liability Discount rates 5.3 % 23.7 % 10.7 % Net cumulative expected loss rates 0.3 % 22.0 % 10.2 % Cumulative prepayment rates 16.5 % 26.7 % 20.0 % Base market servicing rates (% per annum on unpaid principal balance) (1) 0.50 % 0.70 % 0.50 % (1) Excludes ancillary fees charged to investors that would be passed on to a third-party servicer. At September 30, 2015 , the discounted cash flow methodology used to estimate the notes and certificates fair values used the same projected cash flows as the related loans. As demonstrated in the following table, the fair value adjustments for loans were largely offset by the fair value adjustments of the notes and certificates due to the member payment dependent design of the notes and certificates and because the principal balances of the loans were very close to the combined principal balances of the notes and certificates. The following tables present additional information about level 3 loans, notes and certificates, each measured at fair value on a recurring basis, for the third quarters and first nine months of 2015 and 2014 : Loans Notes and Certificates Outstanding Principal Balance Valuation Adjustment Fair Value Outstanding Principal Balance Valuation Adjustment Fair Value Beginning balance at June 30, 2015 $ 3,694,823 $ (57,440 ) $ 3,637,383 $ 3,717,556 $ (57,432 ) $ 3,660,124 Purchases of loans 1,946,455 — 1,946,455 — — — Issuances of notes and certificates — — — 991,926 — 991,926 Whole loan sales (954,770 ) — (954,770 ) — — — Principal payments (481,701 ) — (481,701 ) (478,189 ) — (478,189 ) Charge-offs (55,365 ) 55,365 — (55,346 ) 55,346 — Recoveries — (5,919 ) (5,919 ) — (5,867 ) (5,867 ) Change in fair value recorded in earnings — (72,474 ) (72,474 ) — (72,513 ) (72,513 ) Ending balance at September 30, 2015 $ 4,149,442 $ (80,468 ) $ 4,068,974 $ 4,175,947 $ (80,466 ) $ 4,095,481 Loans Notes and Certificates Outstanding Principal Balance Valuation Adjustment Fair Value Outstanding Principal Balance Valuation Adjustment Fair Value Beginning balance at June 30, 2014 $ 2,351,515 $ (25,313 ) $ 2,326,202 $ 2,361,902 $ (25,307 ) $ 2,336,595 Purchases of loans 994,497 — 994,497 — — — Issuances of notes and certificates — — — 532,034 — 532,034 Whole loan sales (462,523 ) — (462,523 ) — — — Principal payments (288,102 ) — (288,102 ) (280,643 ) — (280,643 ) Charge-offs (28,910 ) 28,910 — (28,852 ) 28,852 — Recoveries — (2,594 ) (2,594 ) — (2,589 ) (2,589 ) Change in fair value recorded in earnings — (33,809 ) (33,809 ) — (33,757 ) (33,757 ) Ending balance at September 30, 2014 $ 2,566,477 $ (32,806 ) $ 2,533,671 $ 2,584,441 $ (32,801 ) $ 2,551,640 Loans Notes and Certificates Outstanding Principal Balance Valuation Adjustment Fair Value Outstanding Principal Balance Valuation Adjustment Fair Value Beginning balance at December 31, 2014 $ 2,836,729 $ (38,224 ) $ 2,798,505 $ 2,851,837 $ (38,219 ) $ 2,813,618 Purchases of loans 5,075,044 — 5,075,044 — — — Issuances of notes and certificates — — — 2,736,667 — 2,736,667 Whole loan sales (2,338,346 ) — (2,338,346 ) — — — Principal payments (1,280,005 ) — (1,280,005 ) (1,268,622 ) — (1,268,622 ) Charge-offs (143,980 ) 143,980 — (143,935 ) 143,935 — Recoveries — (13,729 ) (13,729 ) — (13,653 ) (13,653 ) Change in fair value recorded in earnings — (172,495 ) (172,495 ) — (172,529 ) (172,529 ) Ending balance at September 30, 2015 $ 4,149,442 $ (80,468 ) $ 4,068,974 $ 4,175,947 $ (80,466 ) $ 4,095,481 Loans Notes and Certificates Outstanding Principal Balance Valuation Adjustment Fair Value Outstanding Principal Balance Valuation Adjustment Fair Value Beginning balance at December 31, 2013 $ 1,849,042 $ (20,000 ) $ 1,829,042 $ 1,859,982 $ (19,992 ) $ 1,839,990 Purchases of loans 2,628,758 — 2,628,758 — — — Issuances of notes and certificates — — — 1,534,011 — 1,534,011 Whole loan sales (1,094,482 ) — (1,094,482 ) — — — Principal payments (739,506 ) — (739,506 ) (732,343 ) — (732,343 ) Charge-offs (77,335 ) 77,335 — (77,209 ) 77,209 — Recoveries — (5,178 ) (5,178 ) — (5,153 ) (5,153 ) Change in fair value recorded in earnings — (84,963 ) (84,963 ) — (84,865 ) (84,865 ) Ending balance at September 30, 2014 $ 2,566,477 $ (32,806 ) $ 2,533,671 $ 2,584,441 $ (32,801 ) $ 2,551,640 The following table presents additional information about level 3 servicing assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the third quarters and first nine months of 2015 and 2014 : Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 Servicing Assets Servicing Liabilities Servicing Assets Servicing Liabilities Fair value at beginning of period $ 5,225 $ 4,831 $ 1,034 $ 2,736 Issuances (1) 3,092 1,402 481 1,809 Changes in fair value, included in servicing fees (1,436 ) (1,839 ) (182 ) (833 ) Additions, included in deferred revenue 368 — 187 — Fair value at end of period $ 7,249 $ 4,394 $ 1,520 $ 3,712 Nine Months Ended Nine Months Ended Servicing Assets Servicing Liabilities Servicing Assets Servicing Liabilities Fair value at beginning of period $ 2,181 $ 3,973 $ 534 $ 936 Issuances (1) 6,476 4,340 1,355 3,464 Changes in fair value, included in servicing fees (2,467 ) (3,919 ) (841 ) (688 ) Additions, included in deferred revenue 1,059 — 472 — Fair value at end of period $ 7,249 $ 4,394 $ 1,520 $ 3,712 (1) Represents the offsets to the gains or losses on sales of the related loans, recorded in other revenue (expense). Significant Recurring Level 3 Fair Value Asset and Liability Input Sensitivity Certain fair valuation adjustments recorded through earnings were related to level 3 instruments for the third quarters and first nine months of 2015 and 2014 . Generally, changes in the net cumulative expected loss rates, cumulative prepayment rates, and discount rates will have an immaterial net impact on the fair value of loans, notes and certificates, and servicing assets and liabilities. Certain of these unobservable inputs may (in isolation) have either a directionally consistent or opposite impact on the fair value of the financial instrument for a given change in that input. When multiple inputs are used within the valuation techniques for loans, notes and certificates, or servicing assets and liabilities, a change in one input in a certain direction may be offset by an opposite change from another input. A specific loan that is projected to have larger future default losses than previously estimated has lower expected future cash flows over its remaining life, which reduces its estimated fair value. Conversely, a specific loan that is projected to have smaller future default losses than previously estimated has increased expected future cash flows over its remaining life, which increases its fair value. Separately, an increase in expected prepayments will reduce the estimated fair value of a loan, whereas a decrease in expected prepayments will increase the estimated fair value of a loan. Our selection of the most representative base market servicing rates for servicing assets and servicing liabilities is inherently judgmental. We reviewed third-party servicing rates for our loans and loans in similar credit sectors, as well as a market servicing benchmarking analysis provided by a third-party valuation firm, and determined that base market servicing rates on our products ranging from 0.40% to 0.75% per anum of outstanding principal are reasonable estimates as of September 30, 2015 . The table below shows the estimated impact on the estimated fair value of servicing assets and liabilities, calculated using different base market servicing rate assumptions as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 : September 30, 2015 December 31, 2014 Servicing Assets Servicing Liabilities Servicing Assets Servicing Liabilities Weighted-average base market servicing rate assumptions 0.50 % 0.50 % 0.50 % 0.50 % Change in fair value from: Servicing rate increase to 0.60% $ (2,566 ) $ 1,764 $ (915 ) $ 1,416 Servicing rate decrease to 0.40% $ 2,682 $ (1,649 ) $ 965 $ (1,366 ) Financial Instruments Not Recorded at Fair Value The following tables present the fair value hierarchy for financial instruments not recorded at fair value: September 30, 2015 Carrying Amount Level 1 Inputs Level 2 Inputs Level 3 Inputs Balance at Fair Value Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 579,206 $ — $ 579,206 $ — $ 579,206 Restricted cash 159,216 — 159,216 — 159,216 Deposits 763 — 763 — 763 Total assets $ 739,185 $ — $ 739,185 $ — $ 739,185 Liabilities: Accounts payable $ 3,756 $ — $ 3,756 $ — $ 3,756 Payables to investors 150,880 — 150,880 — 150,880 Total liabilities $ 154,636 $ — $ 154,636 $ — $ 154,636 December 31, 2014 Carrying Amount Level 1 Inputs Level 2 Inputs Level 3 Inputs Balance at Fair Value Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 869,780 $ — $ 869,780 $ — $ 869,780 Restricted cash 46,763 — 46,763 — 46,763 Deposits 657 — 657 — 657 Total assets $ 917,200 $ — $ 917,200 $ — $ 917,200 Liabilities: Accounts payable $ 5,892 $ — $ 5,892 $ — $ 5,892 Payables to investors 38,741 — 38,741 — 38,741 Total liabilities $ 44,633 $ — $ 44,633 $ — $ 44,633 |