Document



 
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
Form 10-Q
 
(Mark One)
þ
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018
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)
 
Delaware
52-2013874
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
300 Continental Drive, Newark, Delaware
19713
(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, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer
  þ
 
Accelerated filer
  ¨ 
Non-accelerated filer
  ¨
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
  ¨
Emerging growth company
  ¨
 
 
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ¨
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 March 31, 2018
Common Stock, $0.20 par value
435,196,223 shares
 
 






SLM CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
INDEX


Part I. Financial Information
 
 
Item 1.
 
Item 1.
 
Item 2.
 
Item 3.
 
Item 4.
 
PART II. Other Information
 
 
Item 1.
 
Item 1A.
 
Item 2.
 
Item 3.
 
Item 4.
 
Item 5.
 
Item 6.
 



2



SLM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
Assets
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
1,435,649

 
$
1,534,339

Available-for-sale investments at fair value (cost of $236,761 and $247,607, respectively)
 
229,114

 
244,088

Loans held for investment (net of allowance for losses of $272,123 and $251,475, respectively)
 
20,166,604

 
18,567,641

Restricted cash
 
120,084

 
101,836

Other interest-earning assets
 
31,637

 
21,586

Accrued interest receivable
 
1,063,449

 
967,482

Premises and equipment, net
 
97,211

 
89,748

Tax indemnification receivable
 
169,242

 
168,011

Other assets
 
93,332

 
84,853

Total assets
 
$
23,406,322

 
$
21,779,584

 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
Deposits
 
$
16,498,646

 
$
15,505,383

Long-term borrowings
 
3,744,345

 
3,275,270

Income taxes payable, net
 
145,167

 
102,285

Upromise member accounts
 
233,015

 
243,080

Other liabilities
 
175,316

 
179,310

Total liabilities
 
20,796,489

 
19,305,328

 
 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingencies
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
Equity
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock, par value $0.20 per share, 20 million shares authorized:
 
 
 
 
Series B: 4 million and 4 million shares issued, respectively, at stated value of $100 per share
 
400,000

 
400,000

Common stock, par value $0.20 per share, 1.125 billion shares authorized: 449.0 million and 443.5 million shares issued, respectively
 
89,805

 
88,693

Additional paid-in capital
 
1,252,609

 
1,222,277

Accumulated other comprehensive income (net of tax expense of $5,005 and $1,696, respectively)
 
15,601

 
2,748

Retained earnings
 
990,447

 
868,182

Total SLM Corporation stockholders’ equity before treasury stock
 
2,748,462

 
2,581,900

Less: Common stock held in treasury at cost: 13.8 million and 11.1 million shares, respectively
 
(138,629
)
 
(107,644
)
Total equity
 
2,609,833

 
2,474,256

Total liabilities and equity
 
$
23,406,322

 
$
21,779,584


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

3



SLM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Interest income:
 
 
 
 
 
Loans
 
$
430,048

 
$
324,757

 
Investments
 
1,947

 
2,143

 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
5,236

 
2,588

 
Total interest income
 
437,231

 
329,488

 
Interest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits
 
77,456

 
44,853

 
Interest expense on short-term borrowings
 
2,393

 
1,236

 
Interest expense on long-term borrowings
 
24,768

 
15,323

 
Total interest expense
 
104,617

 
61,412

 
Net interest income
 
332,614

 
268,076

 
Less: provisions for credit losses
 
53,931

 
25,296

 
Net interest income after provisions for credit losses
 
278,683

 
242,780

 
Non-interest income:
 
 
 
 
 
Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net
 
3,892

 
(5,378
)
 
Other income
 
9,642

 
11,346

 
Total non-interest income
 
13,534

 
5,968

 
Non-interest expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits
 
68,317

 
55,464

 
FDIC assessment fees
 
8,796

 
7,229

 
Other operating expenses
 
47,761

 
39,984

 
Total operating expenses
 
124,874

 
102,677

 
Acquired intangible asset amortization expense
 
92

 
117

 
Total non-interest expenses
 
124,966

 
102,794

 
Income before income tax expense
 
167,251

 
145,954

 
Income tax expense
 
40,997

 
51,011

 
Net income
 
126,254

 
94,943

 
Preferred stock dividends
 
3,397

 
5,575

 
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock
 
$
122,857

 
$
89,368

 
Basic earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation
 
$
0.28

 
$
0.21

 
Average common shares outstanding
 
433,952

 
429,891

 
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation
 
$
0.28

 
$
0.20

 
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding
 
438,977

 
438,735

 




See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

4



SLM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
Net income
 
$
126,254

 
$
94,943

Other comprehensive income (loss):
 
 
 
 
Unrealized losses on investments
 
(4,127
)
 
(1,567
)
Unrealized gains on cash flow hedges
 
20,290

 
4,779

Total unrealized gains
 
16,163

 
3,212

Income tax expense
 
(3,902
)
 
(1,232
)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax expense
 
12,261

 
1,980

Total comprehensive income
 
$
138,515

 
$
96,923


















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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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, 2016
 
7,300,000

 
436,632,479

 
(7,728,920
)
 
428,903,559

 
$
565,000

 
$
87,327

 
$
1,175,564

 
$
(8,671
)
 
$
595,322

 
$
(67,484
)
 
$
2,347,058

Net income
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
94,943

 

 
94,943

Other comprehensive income, net of tax
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
1,980

 

 

 
1,980

Total comprehensive income
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
96,923

Cumulative effect of the adoption of the new stock compensation standard amendment
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
594

 

 
(429
)
 

 
165

Cash dividends:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred Stock, Series A ($0.87 per share)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(2,875
)
 

 
(2,875
)
Preferred Stock, Series B ($0.67 per share)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(2,700
)
 

 
(2,700
)
Dividend equivalent units related to employee stock-based compensation plans
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
96

 

 
(96
)
 

 

Issuance of common shares
 

 
3,738,717

 

 
3,738,717

 

 
748

 
5,787

 

 

 

 
6,535

Tax benefit related to employee stock-based compensation
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation expense
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
9,425

 

 

 

 
9,425

Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans
 

 

 
(1,603,487
)
 
(1,603,487
)
 

 

 

 

 

 
(19,175
)
 
(19,175
)
Balance at March 31, 2017
 
7,300,000

 
440,371,196

 
(9,332,407
)
 
431,038,789

 
$
565,000

 
$
88,075

 
$
1,191,466

 
$
(6,691
)
 
$
684,165

 
$
(86,659
)
 
$
2,435,356









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
Income
 
Retained Earnings
 
Treasury Stock
 
Total Equity
Balance at December 31, 2017
 
4,000,000

 
443,463,587

 
(11,087,337
)
 
432,376,250

 
$
400,000

 
$
88,693

 
$
1,222,277

 
$
2,748

 
$
868,182

 
$
(107,644
)
 
$
2,474,256

Net income
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
126,254

 

 
126,254

Other comprehensive income, net of tax
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
12,261

 

 

 
12,261

Total comprehensive income
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
138,515

Reclassification resulting from the adoption of ASU No. 2018-02
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
592

 
(592
)
 

 

Cash dividends:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred Stock, Series B ($0.83 per share)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(3,397
)
 

 
(3,397
)
Issuance of common shares
 

 
5,559,991

 

 
5,559,991

 

 
1,112

 
15,587

 

 

 

 
16,699

Stock-based compensation expense
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
14,745

 

 

 

 
14,745

Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans
 

 

 
(2,740,018
)
 
(2,740,018
)
 

 

 

 

 

 
(30,985
)
 
(30,985
)
Balance at March 31, 2018
 
4,000,000

 
449,023,578

 
(13,827,355
)
 
435,196,223

 
$
400,000

 
$
89,805

 
$
1,252,609

 
$
15,601

 
$
990,447

 
$
(138,629
)
 
$
2,609,833
















See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

7



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

 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
Operating activities
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
126,254

 
$
94,943

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Provisions for credit losses
 
53,931

 
25,296

Income tax expense
 
40,997

 
51,011

Amortization of brokered deposit placement fee
 
2,789

 
2,130

Amortization of ABCP Facility upfront fee
 
301

 
352

Amortization of deferred loan origination costs and loan premium/(discounts), net
 
2,607

 
1,777

Net amortization of discount on investments
 
475

 
452

Income on tax indemnification receivable
 
(1,231
)
 
(1,501
)
Depreciation of premises and equipment
 
3,117

 
2,585

Amortization of acquired intangibles
 
92

 
117

Stock-based compensation expense
 
14,745

 
9,425

Unrealized (gains) losses on derivatives and hedging activities, net
 
(3,879
)
 
5,364

Other adjustments to net income, net
 
1,763

 
1,258

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Increase in accrued interest receivable
 
(201,776
)
 
(153,055
)
Increase in other interest-earning assets
 
(10,051
)
 
(1,228
)
Increase in other assets
 
(35,716
)
 
(13,435
)
Decrease in income taxes payable, net
 
(1,159
)
 
(1,689
)
Increase in accrued interest payable
 
11,034

 
6,146

Increase in payable due to entity that is a subsidiary of Navient
 
422

 
227

Decrease in other liabilities
 
(18,873
)
 
(39,424
)
Total adjustments
 
(140,412
)
 
(104,192
)
Total net cash used in operating activities
 
(14,158
)
 
(9,249
)
Investing activities
 
 
 
 
Loans acquired and originated
 
(2,300,135
)
 
(1,892,697
)
Net proceeds from sales of loans held for investment
 
820

 
1,972

Proceeds from claim payments
 
12,084

 
11,932

Net decrease in loans held for investment
 
735,894

 
506,637

Purchases of available-for-sale securities
 

 
(18,481
)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of available-for-sale securities
 
10,371

 
8,170

Total net cash used in investing activities
 
(1,540,966
)
 
(1,382,467
)
Financing activities
 
 
 
 
Brokered deposit placement fee
 
(7,055
)
 
(2,084
)
Net increase (decrease) in certificates of deposit
 
694,982

 
(151,003
)
Net increase in other deposits
 
323,614

 
83,018

Borrowings collateralized by loans in securitization trusts - issued
 
667,848

 
767,994

Borrowings collateralized by loans in securitization trusts - repaid
 
(200,247
)
 
(99,884
)
Issuance costs for unsecured debt offering
 

 
(23
)
Borrowings under ABCP Facility
 
300,000

 

Repayment of borrowings under ABCP Facility
 
(300,000
)
 

Fees paid on ABCP Facility
 
(1,063
)
 
(1,515
)
Preferred stock dividends paid
 
(3,397
)
 
(5,575
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
 
1,474,682

 
590,928

Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
 
(80,442
)
 
(800,788
)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
 
1,636,175

 
1,972,510


8



Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
 
$
1,555,733

 
$
1,171,722

Cash disbursements made for:
 
 
 
 
Interest
 
$
94,737

 
$
54,648

Income taxes paid
 
$
1,894

 
$
1,426

Income taxes refunded
 
$
(990
)
 
$
(32
)
Reconciliation of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
1,435,649

 
$
1,077,576

Restricted cash
 
120,084

 
94,146

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
 
$
1,555,733

 
$
1,171,722

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

9




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 (“Sallie Mae,” “SLM,” the “Company,” “we,” or “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 months ended March 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2018 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, 2017 (the “2017 Form 10-K”).
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.
We 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 (2) the obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE.
Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash.” Whereas restricted cash balances have traditionally been excluded from the statement of cash flows, this ASU requires restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents to be included within the beginning and ending totals of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash presented on the statement of cash flows for all periods presented. Restricted cash and restricted cash equivalent inflows and outflows with external parties are required to be classified within the operating, investing, and/or financing activity sections of the statement of cash flows, whereas transfers between cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should no longer be presented on the statement of cash flows. ASU No. 2016-18 also requires (a) the nature of the restrictions to be disclosed to help provide information about the sources and uses of these balances during a reporting period and (b) a reconciliation of the cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totals on the statement of cash flows to the related balance sheet line items when cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash are presented in more than one line item on the balance sheet. The reconciliation can be presented either on the face of the statement of cash flows or in the notes to the financial statements and must be provided for each period that a balance sheet is presented. We adopted the new accounting pronouncement on January 1, 2018, and the adoption did not have a material impact to our statement of cash flows.
In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, “Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income,” which allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the tax law and tax rate changes under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Act”) enacted on December 22, 2017. Under the Tax Act, deferred taxes were adjusted to reflect the reduction of the historical corporate income tax rate to the newly enacted corporate income tax rate, which left the tax effects on items within accumulated other comprehensive income stranded at an

10




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


inappropriate tax rate. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. We adopted this standard effective January 1, 2018 and recorded a $0.6 million reclass from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings in the first quarter of 2018.

2. Loans Held for Investment
Loans held for investment consist of Private Education Loans, FFELP Loans and Personal Loans. We use “Private Education Loans” to mean education loans to students or their families that are not 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”). We use “Personal Loans” to mean those unsecured loans to individuals that may be used for non-educational purposes. We began to opportunistically acquire Personal Loans in the fourth quarter of 2016.
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 and customers’ resources. Private Education Loans bear the full credit risk of the customer. We manage this risk through risk-performance underwriting strategies and qualified cosigners. Private Education Loans may be fixed rate or may carry a variable interest rate indexed to LIBOR. As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, 74 percent and 77 percent, respectively, of all of our Private Education Loans were indexed to LIBOR. We provide incentives for customers to include a cosigner on the loan, and the vast majority of loans in our portfolio are cosigned. We also encourage customers to make payments while in school.
FFELP Loans are insured as to their principal and accrued interest in the event of default, subject to a risk-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.

11




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

Loans held for investment are summarized as follows:
 
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
Private Education Loans
 
$
18,794,012

 
$
17,432,167

Deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)
 
58,814

 
56,378

Allowance for loan losses
 
(252,103
)
 
(243,715
)
Total Private Education Loans, net
 
18,600,723

 
17,244,830

 
 
 
 
 
FFELP Loans
 
907,842

 
927,660

Deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)
 
2,566

 
2,631

Allowance for loan losses
 
(1,113
)
 
(1,132
)
Total FFELP Loans, net
 
909,295

 
929,159

 
 
 
 
 
Personal Loans
 
675,656

 
400,280

Deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)
 
(163
)
 

Allowance for loan losses
 
(18,907
)
 
(6,628
)
Total Personal Loans, net
 
656,586

 
393,652

 
 
 
 
 
Loans held for investment, net
 
$
20,166,604

 
$
18,567,641


 
The estimated weighted average life of education loans in our portfolio was approximately 5.4 years and 5.5 years at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

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


 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
Average Balance
 
Weighted Average Interest Rate
 
Average Balance
 
Weighted Average Interest Rate
Private Education Loans
 
$
18,659,717

 
8.84
%
 
$
15,449,555

 
8.26
%
FFELP Loans
 
919,717

 
4.25

 
1,003,128

 
3.69

Personal Loans
 
528,644

 
10.64

 
35,830

 
9.16

Total portfolio
 
$
20,108,078

 
 
 
$
16,488,513

 
 

12




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

3. Allowance for Loan Losses
Our provision for credit 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
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
 
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Private Education
Loans
 
Personal
Loans
 
Total
Allowance for Loan Losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
 
$
1,132

 
$
243,715

 
$
6,628

 
$
251,475

Total provision
 
231

 
41,870

 
13,448

 
55,549

Net charge-offs:
 


 


 


 


Charge-offs
 
(250
)
 
(37,353
)
 
(1,200
)
 
(38,803
)
Recoveries
 

 
5,087

 
31

 
5,118

Net charge-offs
 
(250
)
 
(32,266
)
 
(1,169
)
 
(33,685
)
Loan sales(1)
 

 
(1,216
)
 

 
(1,216
)
Ending Balance
 
$
1,113

 
$
252,103

 
$
18,907

 
$
272,123

Allowance:
 

 

 

 

Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment
 
$

 
$
101,824

 
$

 
$
101,824

Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment
 
$
1,113

 
$
150,279

 
$
18,907

 
$
170,299

Loans:
 

 

 

 

Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment
 
$

 
$
1,043,103

 
$

 
$
1,043,103

Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment
 
$
907,842

 
$
17,750,909

 
$
675,656

 
$
19,334,407

Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(2)
 
0.14
%
 
1.01
%
 
0.88
%
 

Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance
 
0.12
%
 
1.34
%
 
2.80
%
 

Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment(2)
 
0.16
%
 
1.95
%
 
2.80
%
 

Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)
 
1.11

 
1.95

 
4.04

 

Ending total loans, gross
 
$
907,842

 
$
18,794,012

 
$
675,656

 

Average loans in repayment(2)
 
$
718,311

 
$
12,747,929

 
$
531,889

 

Ending loans in repayment(2)
 
$
702,965

 
$
12,958,742

 
$
675,656

 

____________
(1) Represents fair value adjustments on loans sold.
(2) 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.

13




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

     
 
 
Allowance for Loan Losses
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
 
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Private Education
Loans
 
Personal
Loans
 
Total
Allowance for Loan Losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
 
$
2,171

 
$
182,472

 
$
58

 
$
184,701

Total provision
 
(316
)
 
26,820

 
288

 
26,792

Net charge-offs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Charge-offs
 
(218
)
 
(26,227
)
 

 
(26,445
)
Recoveries
 

 
3,259

 

 
3,259

Net charge-offs
 
(218
)
 
(22,968
)
 

 
(23,186
)
Loan sales(1)
 

 
(1,221
)
 

 
(1,221
)
Ending Balance
 
$
1,637

 
$
185,103

 
$
346

 
$
187,086

Allowance:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment
 
$

 
$
87,150

 
$

 
$
87,150

Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment
 
$
1,637

 
$
97,953

 
$
346

 
$
99,936

Loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment
 
$

 
$
701,860

 
$

 
$
701,860

Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment
 
$
989,393

 
$
14,952,994

 
$
55,502

 
$
15,997,889

Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(2)
 
0.11
%
 
0.89
%
 
%
 
 
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance
 
0.17
%
 
1.18
%
 
0.62
%
 
 
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment(2)
 
0.22
%
 
1.76
%
 
0.62
%
 
 
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)
 
1.88

 
2.01

 

 
 
Ending total loans, gross
 
$
989,393

 
$
15,654,854

 
$
55,502

 
 
Average loans in repayment(2)
 
$
771,435

 
$
10,265,530

 
$
35,830

 
 
Ending loans in repayment(2)
 
$
757,052

 
$
10,526,782

 
$
55,502

 
 
____________
(1) Represents fair value adjustments on loans sold.
(2) 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.

    

14




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. 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. Once a loan qualifies for TDR status, it remains a TDR for allowance purposes for the remainder of its life. As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, approximately 62 percent and 66 percent, respectively, of TDRs were classified as such due to their forbearance status. For additional information, see Note 6, “Allowance for Loan Losses” in our 2017 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 continue to accrue interest on those loans through the date of claim.
At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, all 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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
TDR Loans
 
$
1,061,046

 
$
1,043,103

 
$
101,824

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
TDR Loans
 
$
1,007,141

 
$
990,351

 
$
94,682


The following table provides the average recorded investment and interest income recognized for our TDR loans.
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
 
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TDR Loans
 
$
1,032,232

 
$
17,847

 
$
669,606

 
$
12,257


    






15




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

The following table provides information regarding the loan status and aging of TDR loans.

 
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
Balance
 
%
 
Balance
 
%
TDR loans in in-school/grace/deferment(1)
 
$
58,939

 
 
 
$
51,745

 
 
TDR loans in forbearance(2)
 
65,036

 
 
 
69,652

 
 
TDR loans in repayment(3) and percentage of each status:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans current
 
823,813

 
89.7
%
 
774,222

 
89.1
%
Loans delinquent 31-60 days(4)
 
47,127

 
5.1

 
48,377

 
5.6

Loans delinquent 61-90 days(4)
 
31,463

 
3.4

 
28,778

 
3.3

Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(4)
 
16,725

 
1.8

 
17,577

 
2.0

Total TDR loans in repayment
 
919,128

 
100.0
%
 
868,954

 
100.0
%
Total TDR loans, gross
 
$
1,043,103

 
 
 
$
990,351

 
 
_____
(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.


16




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


The following table provides the amount of modified loans (which include 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 more than 60 days past due for this disclosure.

 
 
Three Months Ended 
 March 31, 2018
 
Three Months Ended 
 March 31, 2017
 
 
Modified Loans(1)
 
Charge-offs
 
Payment-
Default
 
Modified Loans(1)
 
Charge-offs
 
Payment-
Default
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TDR Loans
 
$
84,174

 
$
15,460

 
$
29,757

 
$
112,206

 
$
10,523

 
$
25,526


_____
(1) 
Represents the principal balance of loans that have been modified during the period and resulted in a TDR.



17




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


Private Education Loan Key Credit Quality Indicators
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.
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 original approval and periodically refreshed/updated through the loan’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
 
 
Credit Quality Indicators
 
 
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Credit Quality Indicators:
 
Balance(1)
 
% of Balance
 
Balance(1)
 
% of Balance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cosigners:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
With cosigner
 
$
16,889,477

 
90
%
 
$
15,658,539

 
90
%
Without cosigner
 
1,904,535

 
10

 
1,773,628

 
10

Total
 
$
18,794,012

 
100
%
 
$
17,432,167

 
100
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FICO at Original Approval(2):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less than 670
 
$
1,257,596

 
6
%
 
$
1,153,591

 
6
%
670-699
 
2,810,526

 
15

 
2,596,959

 
15

700-749
 
6,168,342

 
33

 
5,714,554

 
33

Greater than or equal to 750
 
8,557,548

 
46

 
7,967,063

 
46

Total
 
$
18,794,012

 
100
%
 
$
17,432,167

 
100
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Seasoning(3):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1-12 payments
 
$
4,754,416

 
25
%
 
$
4,256,592

 
24
%
13-24 payments
 
3,256,637

 
17

 
3,229,465

 
19

25-36 payments
 
2,492,490

 
13

 
2,429,238

 
14

37-48 payments
 
1,583,375

 
9

 
1,502,327

 
9

More than 48 payments
 
1,337,110

 
7

 
1,256,813

 
7

Not yet in repayment
 
5,369,984

 
29

 
4,757,732

 
27

Total
 
$
18,794,012

 
100
%
 
$
17,432,167

 
100
%
(1) 
Balance represents gross Private Education Loans.
(2) 
Represents the higher credit score of the cosigner or the borrower.
(3) 
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.

18




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


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

 
 
Private Education Loans
 
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
Balance
 
%
 
Balance
 
%
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)
 
$
5,369,984

 
 
 
$
4,757,732

 
 
Loans in forbearance(2)
 
465,286

 
 
 
468,402

 
 
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans current
 
12,635,627

 
97.5
%
 
11,911,128

 
97.6
%
Loans delinquent 31-60 days(3)
 
179,989

 
1.4

 
179,002

 
1.5

Loans delinquent 61-90 days(3)
 
95,974

 
0.7

 
78,292

 
0.6

Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(3)
 
47,152

 
0.4

 
37,611

 
0.3

Total Private Education Loans in repayment
 
12,958,742

 
100.0
%
 
12,206,033

 
100.0
%
Total Private Education Loans, gross
 
18,794,012

 
 
 
17,432,167

 
 
Private Education Loans deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)
 
58,814

 
 
 
56,378

 
 
Total Private Education Loans
 
18,852,826

 
 
 
17,488,545

 
 
Private Education Loans allowance for losses
 
(252,103
)
 
 
 
(243,715
)
 
 
Private Education Loans, net
 
$
18,600,723

 
 
 
$
17,244,830

 
 
Percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment
 
 
 
69.0
%
 
 
 
70.0
%
Delinquencies as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment
 
 
 
2.5
%
 
 
 
2.4
%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment and forbearance
 
 
 
3.5
%
 
 
 
3.7
%
(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.


19




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

Personal Loan Key Credit Quality Indicators
For Personal Loans, the key credit quality indicators are FICO scores and loan seasoning. The FICO scores are assessed at original approval and periodically refreshed/updated through the loan’s term. The following table highlights the gross principal balance of our Personal Loan portfolio stratified by key credit quality indicators.

 
 
Personal Loans
 
 
Credit Quality Indicators
 
 
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Credit Quality Indicators:
 
Balance(1)
 
% of Balance
 
Balance(1)
 
% of Balance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FICO at Original Approval:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less than 670
 
$
52,417

 
8
%
 
$
32,156

 
8
%
670-699
 
193,246

 
29

 
114,731

 
29

700-749
 
307,539

 
45

 
182,025

 
45

Greater than or equal to 750
 
122,454

 
18

 
71,368

 
18

Total
 
$
675,656

 
100
%
 
$
400,280

 
100
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Seasoning(2):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
0-12 payments
 
$
649,996

 
96
%
 
$
400,280

 
100
%
13-24 payments
 
25,660

 
4

 

 

25-36 payments
 

 

 

 

37-48 payments
 

 

 

 

More than 48 payments
 

 

 

 

Total
 
$
675,656

 
100
%
 
$
400,280

 
100
%
(1) 
Balance represents gross Personal Loans.
(2) 
Number of months in active repayment for which a scheduled payment was due.

















20




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 Loans
 
 
Accrued Interest Receivable
 
 
Total Interest Receivable
 
Greater Than 90 Days Past Due
 
Allowance for Uncollectible Interest
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31, 2018
 
$
1,045,577

 
$
1,783

 
$
4,694

December 31, 2017
 
$
951,138

 
$
1,372

 
$
4,664




 



21




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

4. Deposits

The following table summarizes total deposits at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
 
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Deposits - interest bearing
 
$
16,497,006

 
$
15,504,330

 
Deposits - non-interest bearing
 
1,640

 
1,053

 
Total deposits
 
$
16,498,646

 
$
15,505,383

 

Our total deposits of $16.5 billion were comprised of $8.6 billion in brokered deposits and $7.9 billion in retail and other deposits at March 31, 2018, compared to total deposits of $15.5 billion, which were comprised of $8.2 billion in brokered deposits and $7.3 billion in retail and other deposits, at December 31, 2017.
Interest bearing deposits as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 consisted of retail and brokered non-maturity savings deposits, retail and brokered non-maturity money market deposits (“MMDAs”) and retail and brokered certificates of deposit (“CDs”). Interest bearing deposits include deposits from Educational 529 and Health Savings plans that diversify our funding sources and additional deposits we consider to be core. These and other large omnibus accounts, aggregating the deposits of many individual depositors, represented $5.8 billion of our deposit total as of March 31, 2018, compared with $5.5 billion at December 31, 2017.
Some of our deposit products are serviced by third-party providers. Placement fees associated with the brokered CDs are amortized into interest expense using the effective interest rate method. We recognized placement fee expense of $2.8 million and $2.1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Fees paid to third-party brokers related to brokered CDs were $7.1 million and $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Interest bearing deposits at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 are summarized as follows:
 
 
 
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
 
Amount
 
Qtr.-End Weighted Average Stated Rate(1)
 
Amount
 
Year-End Weighted Average Stated Rate(1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money market
 
$
8,107,996

 
2.01
%
 
$
7,731,966

 
1.80
%
 
Savings
 
681,024

 
1.40

 
738,243

 
1.10

 
Certificates of deposit
 
7,707,986

 
2.13

 
7,034,121

 
1.93

 
Deposits - interest bearing
 
$
16,497,006

 
 
 
$
15,504,330

 


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


 As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were $404.5 million and $395.5 million, respectively, of deposits exceeding Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance limits. Accrued interest on deposits was $36.8 million and $27.8 million at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.



22




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

5. Borrowings

Outstanding borrowings consist of unsecured debt and secured borrowings issued through our term asset-backed securitization (“ABS”) program and our asset-backed commercial paper (“ABCP”) funding facility (the “ABCP Facility”). The following table summarizes our borrowings at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 
 
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
Short-Term
 
Long-Term
 
Total
 
Short-Term
 
Long-Term
 
Total
Unsecured borrowings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unsecured debt
 
$

 
$
196,741

 
$
196,741

 
$

 
$
196,539

 
$
196,539

Total unsecured borrowings
 

 
196,741

 
196,741

 

 
196,539

 
196,539

Secured borrowings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Private Education Loan term securitizations
 

 
3,547,604

 
3,547,604

 

 
3,078,731

 
3,078,731

ABCP Facility
 

 

 

 

 

 

Total secured borrowings
 

 
3,547,604

 
3,547,604

 

 
3,078,731

 
3,078,731

Total
 
$

 
$
3,744,345

 
$
3,744,345

 
$

 
$
3,275,270

 
$
3,275,270


Short-term Borrowings    
Asset-Backed Commercial Paper Funding Facility
On February 21, 2018, we amended and extended the maturity of our $750 million ABCP Facility. 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 0.85 percent on outstandings. The amended ABCP Facility extends the revolving period, during which we may borrow, repay and reborrow funds, until February 20, 2019. The scheduled amortization period, during which amounts outstanding under the ABCP Facility must be repaid, ends on February 20, 2020 (or earlier, if certain material adverse events occur). At both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were no borrowings outstanding under the ABCP Facility. We expect to amend and extend the ABCP Facility on an annual basis.


23




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


Long-term Borrowings    

Unsecured Debt
On April 5, 2017, we issued an unsecured debt offering of $200 million of 5.125 percent Senior Notes due April 5, 2022 at par. At March 31, 2018, the outstanding balance was $197 million.

Secured Financings
On March 21, 2018, we executed our $670 million SMB Private Education Loan Trust 2018-A term ABS transaction, which was accounted for as a secured financing. We sold $670 million of notes to third parties and retained a 100 percent interest in the residual certificates issued in the securitization, raising approximately $668 million of gross proceeds. The Class A and Class B notes had a weighted average life of 4.43 years and priced at a weighted average LIBOR equivalent cost of 1-month LIBOR plus 0.78 percent. At March 31, 2018, $701 million of our Private Education Loans were encumbered because of this transaction.

Secured Financings at Issuance
Issue
 
Date Issued
 
Total Issued
 
Weighted Average Cost of Funds(1)
 
Weighted Average Life
 (in years)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Private Education:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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
2016-C
 
October 2016
 
674,000

 
1-month LIBOR plus 1.15%
 
4.27
Total notes issued in 2016
 
$
1,782,000

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loan and accrued interest amount securitized at inception in 2016
 
$
2,107,042

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2017-A
 
February 2017
 
$
772,000

 
1-month LIBOR plus 0.93%
 
4.27
2017-B
 
November 2017
 
676,000

 
1-month LIBOR plus 0.80%
 
4.07
Total notes issued in 2017
 
$
1,448,000

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loan and accrued interest amount securitized at inception in 2017
 
$
1,606,804

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2018-A
 
March 2018
 
$
670,000

 
1-month LIBOR plus 0.78%
 
4.43
Total notes issued in 2018
 
$
670,000

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loan and accrued interest amount securitized at inception in 2018
 
$
744,917

 
 
 
 
____________
(1) Represents LIBOR equivalent cost of funds for floating and fixed rate bonds, excluding issuance costs.

24




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

Consolidated Funding Vehicles

We consolidate our financing entities that are 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 March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively:

 
 
March 31, 2018
 
 
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 securitizations
 
$

 
$
3,547,604

 
$
3,547,604

 
$
4,243,820

 
$
106,351

 
$
280,646

 
$
4,630,817

ABCP Facility
 

 

 

 

 
8,658

 
9,884

 
18,542

Total
 
$

 
$
3,547,604

 
$
3,547,604

 
$
4,243,820

 
$
115,009

 
$
290,530

 
$
4,649,359


 
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
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 securitizations
 
$

 
$
3,078,731

 
$
3,078,731

 
$
3,691,024

 
$
95,966

 
$
240,208

 
$
4,027,198

ABCP Facility
 

 

 

 

 
1,017

 
161

 
1,178

Total
 
$

 
$
3,078,731

 
$
3,078,731

 
$
3,691,024

 
$
96,983

 
$
240,369

 
$
4,028,376

____
(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 $125 million at March 31, 2018. 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 months ended March 31, 2018 or in the year ended December 31, 2017.
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 (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, as collateral for borrowings at the Window. Generally, collateral value is assigned based on the estimated fair value of the pledged assets. At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the value of our pledged collateral at the FRB totaled $2.5 billion and $2.6 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 months ended March 31, 2018 or in the year ended December 31, 2017.

25




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

6. Derivative Financial Instruments

We maintain an overall interest rate risk management strategy that incorporates the use of derivative instruments to reduce 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 or liabilities so any adverse impacts related to movements in interest rates are managed within low to moderate limits. As a result of interest rate fluctuations, hedged balance sheet positions will appreciate or depreciate in market value or create variability in cash flows. Income or loss on the derivative instruments linked to the hedged item 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 risk. Please refer to Note 11, “Derivative Financial Instruments” in our 2017 Form 10-K for a full discussion of our risk management strategy.
Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (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. Two of the central counterparties we use are the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME”) and the London Clearing House (“LCH”). The CME and the LCH made amendments to their respective rules that resulted in the prospective accounting treatment of certain daily variation margin payments being considered as the legal settlement of the outstanding exposure of the derivative instead of the posting of collateral. The CME rule changes, which became effective in January 2017, and the LCH rule changes, which became effective in January 2018, result in all variation margin payments on derivatives cleared through the CME and LCH being accounted for as legal settlement. As of March 31, 2018, $5.7 billion notional of our derivative contracts were cleared on the CME and $0.7 billion were cleared on the LCH. The derivative contracts cleared through the CME and LCH represent 89.8 percent and 10.2 percent, respectively, of our total notional derivative contracts of $6.4 billion at March 31, 2018.
For derivatives cleared through the CME and LCH, the net gain (loss) position includes the variation margin amounts as settlement of the derivative and not collateral against the fair value of the derivative. Interest income (expense) related to variation margin on derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments or are designated as fair value relationships is recognized as a gain (loss) rather than as interest income (expense). Changes in fair value for derivatives not designated as hedging instruments will be presented as realized gains (losses).
Our exposure is limited to the value of the derivative contracts in a gain position less any collateral held and plus any collateral posted. When there is a net negative exposure, we consider our exposure to the counterparty to be zero. At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had a net positive exposure (derivative gain positions to us, less collateral held by us and plus collateral posted with counterparties) related to derivatives of $31.3 million and $19.6 million, respectively.



26




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
6.
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 March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, and their impact on earnings and other comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. Please refer to Note 11, “Derivative Financial Instruments” in our 2017 Form 10-K for a full discussion of cash flow hedges, fair value hedges, and trading activities.

Impact of Derivatives on the Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
 
 
Cash Flow Hedges
 
Fair Value Hedges
 
Trading
 
Total
 
 
 
March 31,
 
December
31,
 
March 31,
 
December
31,
 
March 31,
 
December
31,
 
March 31,
 
December
31,
 
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Fair Values(1)
Hedged Risk Exposure
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative Assets:(2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
Interest rate
 
$

 
$

 
$
794

 
$
630

 
$

 
$
182

 
$
794

 
$
812

Derivative Liabilities:(2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
Interest rate
 
(1,053
)
 
(2,584
)
 

 

 
(36
)
 

 
(1,089
)
 
(2,584
)
Total net derivatives
 
 
$
(1,053
)
 
$
(2,584
)
 
$
794

 
$
630

 
$
(36
)
 
$
182

 
$
(295
)
 
$
(1,772
)
     ___________
(1)
Fair values reported include variation margin as legal settlement of the derivative contract 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
 
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Gross position(1)
 
$
794

 
$
812

 
$
(1,089
)
 
$
(2,584
)
Impact of master netting agreement
 
(794
)
 
(812
)
 
794

 
812

Derivative values with impact of master netting agreements (as carried on balance sheet)
 

 

 
(295
)
 
(1,772
)
Cash collateral pledged(2)
 

 

 
31,637

 
21,586

Net position
 
$

 
$

 
$
31,342

 
$
19,814

__________
(1)
Gross position amounts include accrued interest and variation margin as legal settlement of the derivative contract.
(2)
Cash collateral pledged excludes amounts that represent legal settlement of the derivative contracts.


27




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
6.
Derivative Financial Instruments (Continued)
 


 
 
Cash Flow
 
Fair Value
 
Derivatives Not
Designated as Hedges
 
Total
 
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Notional Values
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
 
$
1,376,816

 
$
1,408,649

 
$
3,867,204

 
$
3,062,849

 
$
1,161,000

 
$
987,577

 
$
6,405,020

 
$
5,459,075

Other(1)
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
5,476

 
$
3,245

 
$
5,476

 
$
3,245


________
(1) “Other” includes embedded derivatives included in forward purchase contracts.


Impact of Derivatives on the Consolidated Statements of Income

 
 
Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Hedges
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps:
 
 
 
 
 
Hedge ineffectiveness realized gains (losses) recorded in earnings(1)
 
$
5,853

 
$
(4,167
)
 
Realized gains (losses) recorded in interest expense
 
(514
)
 
4,547

 
Total
 
$
5,339

 
$
380

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash Flow Hedges
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps:
 
 
 
 
 
Hedge ineffectiveness gains (losses) recorded in earnings(1)
 
$
2,684

 
$
(72
)
 
Realized losses recorded in interest expense
 
(1,562
)
 
(3,339
)
 
Total
 
$
1,122

 
$
(3,411
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trading
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest reclassification
 
$
110

 
$
80

 
Realized losses recorded in earnings
 
(4,755
)
 
(1,219
)
 
Total(1) 
 
(4,645
)
 
(1,139
)
 
Total
 
$
1,816

 
$
(4,170
)
 

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


28




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
6.
Derivative Financial Instruments (Continued)
 


Impact of Derivatives on the Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amount of gain recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)
 
$
18,728

 
$
1,440

 
Less: amount of loss reclassified in interest expense(1)
 
(1,562
)
 
(3,339
)
 
Total change in other comprehensive income (loss) for unrealized gains on derivatives, before income tax (expense) benefit
 
$
20,290

 
$
4,779

 
___________
(1) Amounts included in “realized losses recorded in interest expense” in the “Impact of Derivatives on the Consolidated Statements of Income” table.
Cash Collateral
As of March 31, 2018, cash collateral held and pledged excludes amounts that represent legal settlement of the derivative contracts held with CME and LCH. Cash collateral held related to derivative exposure between us and our derivatives counterparties was zero at both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. Collateral held is recorded in “Other Liabilities” on the consolidated balance sheets. Cash collateral pledged related to derivative exposure between us and our derivatives counterparties was $31.6 million and $21.6 million at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Collateral pledged is recorded in “Other interest-earning assets” on the consolidated balance sheets.


29




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

7. Stockholders’ Equity

Common Stock
The following table summarizes our common share repurchases and issuances.
 
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
 
(Shares and per share amounts in actuals)
 
2018
 
2017
 
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans(1)(2)
 
2,740,018

 
1,603,487

 
Average purchase price per share
 
$
11.31

 
$
11.96

 
Common shares issued(3)
 
5,559,991

 
3,738,717

 
             
__________________
(1) 
Comprised 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 intend to initiate a publicly announced share repurchase program.
(3) 
Common shares issued under our various compensation and benefit plans.
 

The closing price of our common stock on March 29, 2018 was $11.21.





30




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

8. 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
 
 
 
March 31,
 
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
2018
 
2017
 
Numerator:
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
126,254

 
$
94,943

 
Preferred stock dividends
 
3,397

 
5,575

 
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock
 
$
122,857

 
$
89,368

 
Denominator:
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares used to compute basic EPS
 
433,952

 
429,891

 
Effect of dilutive securities:
 
 
 
 
 
Dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) (1)(2)
 
5,025

 
8,844

 
Weighted average shares used to compute diluted EPS
 
438,977

 
438,735

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation
 
$
0.28

 
$
0.21

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation
 
$
0.28

 
$
0.20

 


________________             
(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 March 31, 2018 and 2017, securities covering approximately 0 and 0 shares, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because they were anti-dilutive.
 


31




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

9. 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 2017 Form 10-K.

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, 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
 
 
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
Level 1 
 
Level 2 
 
Level 3 
 
Total 
 
Level 1 
 
Level 2 
 
Level 3 
 
Total 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale investments
 
$

 
$
229,114

 
$

 
$
229,114

 
$

 
$
244,088

 
$

 
$
244,088

Derivative instruments
 

 
794

 

 
794

 

 
812

 

 
812

Total
 
$

 
$
229,908

 
$

 
$
229,908

 
$

 
$
244,900

 
$

 
$
244,900

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative instruments
 
$

 
$
(1,089
)
 
$

 
$
(1,089
)
 
$

 
$
(2,584
)
 
$

 
$
(2,584
)
Total
 
$

 
$
(1,089
)
 
$

 
$
(1,089
)
 
$

 
$
(2,584
)
 
$

 
$
(2,584
)




 

32




SLM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
9.
Fair Value Measurements (Continued)
 



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

 
 
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
Fair
Value
 
Carrying
Value
 
Difference
 
Fair
Value
 
Carrying
Value
 
Difference
Earning assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans held for investment, net
 
$
22,264,191

 
$
20,166,604

 
$
2,097,587

 
$
20,673,136

 
$
18,567,641

 
$
2,105,495

Cash and cash equivalents
 
1,435,649

 
1,435,649

 

 
1,534,339

 
1,534,339

 

Available-for-sale investments
 
229,114

 
229,114

 

 
244,088

 
244,088

 

Accrued interest receivable
 
1,063,449

 
1,063,449

 

 
967,482

 
967,482

 

Tax indemnification receivable
 
169,242

 
169,242

 

 
168,011

 
168,011

 

Derivative instruments
 
794

 
794

 

 
812

 
812

 

Total earning assets
 
$
25,162,439

 
$
23,064,852

 
$
2,097,587

 
$
23,587,868

 
$
21,482,373

 
$
2,105,495

Interest-bearing liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money-market and savings accounts
 
$
8,789,020

 
$
8,789,020

 
$

 
$
8,470,209

 
$
8,470,209

 
$

Certificates of deposit
 
8,095,950

 
7,707,986

 
(387,964
)
 
7,044,208

 
7,034,121

 
(10,087
)
Long-term borrowings
 
3,731,696

 
3,744,345

 
12,649

 
3,299,871

 
3,275,270

 
(24,601
)
Accrued interest payable
 
46,396

 
46,396

 

 
35,363

 
35,363

 

Derivative instruments
 
1,089

 
1,089

 

 
2,584

 
2,584

 

Total interest-bearing liabilities
 
$
20,664,151

 
$
20,288,836

 
$
(375,315
)
 
$
18,852,235

 
$
18,817,547

 
$
(34,688
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Excess of net asset fair value over carrying value
 
 
 
 
 
$
1,722,272

 
 
 
 
 
$
2,070,807


Please refer to Note 15, “Fair Value Measurements” in our 2017 Form 10-K for a full discussion of the methods and assumptions used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments.






33




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


10. Arrangements with Navient Corporation

In connection with the separation of Navient Corporation (“Navient”) from SLM (“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 Note 16, “Arrangements with Navient Corporation” in our 2017 Form 10-K for a full discussion of these agreements.

Indemnification Obligations

Navient is responsible for, and has agreed to indemnify us against, all claims, actions, damages, losses or expenses that may arise from the conduct of all activities of pre-Spin-Off SLM Corporation (“pre-Spin-Off SLM”) occurring prior to the Spin-Off other than those specifically excluded in the Separation and Distribution Agreement. Some significant examples of the types of indemnification obligations Navient has under the Separation and Distribution Agreement and related ancillary agreements include:

Navient will indemnify the Company and Sallie Mae Bank, a Utah industrial bank subsidiary of the Company (the “Bank”), for any liabilities, costs or expenses they may incur arising from any action or threatened action related to the servicing, operations and collections activities of pre-Spin-Off SLM and its subsidiaries with respect to Private Education Loans and FFELP Loans that were assets of the Bank or Navient at the time of the Spin-Off; provided that written notice was provided to Navient on or prior to April 30, 2017, the third anniversary date of the Spin-Off. Navient will not indemnify for changes in law or changes in prior existing interpretations of law that occur on or after April 30, 2014.
 

Pursuant to a tax sharing agreement, Navient has agreed to indemnify us for $283 million in deferred taxes that we are legally responsible for but that relate to gains recognized by our predecessor on debt repurchases made prior to the Spin-Off. The remaining amount of this indemnification at March 31, 2018 was $35 million. In connection with the Spin-Off, we also recorded a liability related to uncertain tax positions of $27 million for which we are indemnified by Navient. As of March 31, 2018, the remaining balance of the indemnification receivable related to those uncertain tax positions was $25 million. In addition, we believe we are indemnified by Navient for uncertain 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. The remaining balance of the indemnification receivable related to those uncertain tax positions was $109 million at March 31, 2018.


34




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

11. Regulatory Capital
    
The Bank is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the FDIC and the Utah Department of Financial Institutions (the “UDFI”). 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 FDIC’s regulations implementing the Basel III capital framework (“U.S. Basel III”) and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Bank must meet specific capital standards that involve quantitative measures of its 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 of capital, risk weightings and other factors.

The Bank is required to report regulatory capital and ratios in accordance with U.S. Basel III. Among other things, U.S. Basel III established Common Equity Tier 1 as a tier of capital, modified methods for calculating risk-weighted assets, introduced a capital conservation buffer (which is being phased in over several years), and revised the capital thresholds of 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. To qualify as “well capitalized,” the Bank must maintain minimum amounts and ratios (set forth in the table below) of Common Equity Tier 1, Tier 1 and Total capital to risk-weighted assets and of Tier 1 capital to average assets. The following capital amounts and ratios are based upon the Bank’s assets.
 
 
 
Actual
 
“Well Capitalized”
Regulatory Requirements
 
 
Amount
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
As of March 31, 2018:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
 
$
2,494,964

11.7
%
 
$
1,385,322

>
6.5
%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
 
$
2,494,964

11.7
%
 
$
1,705,011

>
8.0
%
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
 
$
2,761,446

13.0
%
 
$
2,131,264

>
10.0
%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)
 
$
2,494,964

11.0
%
 
$
1,138,524

>
5.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2017:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
 
$
2,350,081

11.9
%
 
$
1,288,435

>
6.5
%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
 
$
2,350,081

11.9
%
 
$
1,585,767

>
8.0
%
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
 
$
2,597,926

13.1
%
 
$
1,982,208

>
10.0
%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)
 
$
2,350,081

11.0
%
 
$
1,067,739

>
5.0
%

Bank 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 months ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017.

35




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

12. 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 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 March 31, 2018, we had $0.5 billion of outstanding contractual loan commitments which we expect to fund during the remainder of the 2017/2018 academic year. At March 31, 2018, we had a $0.3 million reserve recorded in “Other Liabilities” to cover expected losses that may occur during the one-year loss emergence period on these unfunded commitments.
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.
It 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.
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 for which reserves should be established.


36



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

The following information is current as of April 23, 2018 (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, 2017 (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 23, 2018) (the “2017 Form 10-K”), and subsequent reports filed with the SEC. Definitions for capitalized terms used in this report not defined herein can be found in the 2017 Form 10-K.

References in this Form 10-Q to “we,” “us,” “our,” “Sallie Mae,” “SLM” and the “Company” refer to SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries, except as otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires.
    
This report contains “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 our 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 our 2017 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; failure to comply with consumer protection, banking and other laws; changes in accounting standards and the impact of related changes in significant accounting estimates; any adverse outcomes in any significant litigation to which we are a party; credit risk associated with our exposure to third-parties, including counterparties to our 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). We could also be affected by, among other things: changes in our funding costs and availability; reductions to our credit ratings; cybersecurity incidents and cyberattacks and other failures or breaches of our operating systems or infrastructure, including those of third-party vendors; damage to our reputation; risks associated with restructuring initiatives, including failures to successfully implement cost-cutting programs and the adverse effects of such initiatives on our business; 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 our customers; changes in the general interest rate environment, including the rate relationships among relevant money-market instruments and those of our earning assets versus our funding arrangements; rates of prepayment on the loans that we make; changes in general economic conditions and our ability to successfully effectuate any acquisitions; and other strategic initiatives. The preparation of our 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 report on Form 10-Q are qualified by these cautionary statements and are made only as of the date of this report. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to conform such statements to actual results or changes in our expectations.

We report financial results on a GAAP basis and also provide certain non-GAAP core earnings performance measures. The difference between our “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. We provide “Core Earnings” measures because this is what management uses when making management decisions regarding our performance and the allocation of corporate resources. Our “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 “ ‘Core Earnings’ ” in this Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 for a further discussion and a complete reconciliation between GAAP net income and “Core Earnings.”

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.


37


Selected Financial Information and Ratios
 
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
(In thousands, except per share data and percentages) 
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock
 
$
122,857

 
$
89,368

Diluted earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation
 
$
0.28

 
$
0.20

Weighted average shares used to compute diluted earnings per share
 
438,977

 
438,735

Return on assets
 
2.2
%
 
2.0
%
Non-GAAP operating efficiency ratio(1)
 
36.5
%
 
36.8
%
 
 
 
 
 
Other Operating Statistics
 
 
 
 
Ending Private Education Loans, net
 
$
18,600,723

 
$
15,516,443

Ending FFELP Loans, net
 
909,295

 
990,611

Ending total education loans, net
 
$
19,510,018

 
$
16,507,054

 
 
 
 
 
Average education loans
 
$
19,579,434

 
$
16,452,683

 
 
 
 
 
(1) We calculate and report our non-GAAP operating efficiency ratio as the ratio of (a) the total non-interest expense numerator to (b) the net revenue denominator (which consists of the sum of net interest income, before provision for credit losses, and non-interest income, and the net impact of derivative accounting as defined in the “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP table set forth in this Form 10-Q.) 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.
 
Overview
The following discussion and analysis presents a review of our business and operations as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2018.
Key Financial Measures
Our operating results are primarily driven by net interest income from our Private Education Loan portfolio, provision expense for credit losses, 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 cost-efficient funding sources to support our originations. A brief summary of our key financial measures (net interest income; secured financings and loan sales; allowance for loan losses; charge-offs and delinquencies; operating expenses; “Core Earnings;” Private Education Loan originations; and funding sources) can be found in Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our 2017 Form 10-K.

38



2018 Management Objectives
For 2018, we have set out the following major goals for ourselves: (1) prudently grow our Private Education Loan assets and revenues while continuing to diversify the mix of our funding sources; (2) maintain our strong capital position; (3) expand our product offerings to increase the level of engagement with our existing customers and attract new customers; (4) manage operating expenses while improving efficiency; (5) maintain our strong governance, risk oversight and compliance infrastructure; and (6) leverage our culture to engage employees, recognize and reward contributions to business results, and develop talent to support our business strategy and growth. Here is how we plan 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 2018 by leveraging our Sallie Mae brand, our relationship with more than 2,000 colleges and universities, and our direct consumer marketing efforts. In 2018, we will introduce six new graduate student loan products tailored to meet the needs of students in their specific fields of study. To help facilitate the expected increase in our Private Education Loan originations, we plan to continue diversifying the mix of our funding sources in 2018. We are determined to maintain overall credit quality and cosigner rates in our Smart Option Student Loan originations. Originations were 7 percent higher in the first three months of 2018 compared with the year-ago period. The average FICO scores at approval and the cosigner rates for originations in the three months ended March 31, 2018 were 746 and 89.3 percent, compared with 748 and 90.2 percent in the three months ended March 31, 2017, respectively.
A key part of our strategy to grow our Private Education Loan volume and market share will be to continue to improve our customers’ experience by maintaining cutting edge technology and providing high quality service, whether our customers choose to contact us online or over the telephone. In 2018, we will continue to improve customer and agent-facing systems to improve the efficiency of customer service and put more self-service at our customers’ fingertips through mobile, online and call center resources.
Maintain Our Strong Capital Position
We intend to maintain levels of capital at the Bank that significantly exceed those necessary to be considered “well capitalized” by the FDIC. 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 2018, these ratios will be stable as we now expect to generate earnings and capital sufficient to cover growth in our risk-weighted assets and remain significantly in excess of the capital levels required to be considered “well capitalized” by our regulators. As of March 31, 2018, the Bank had a Common Equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 11.7 percent, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 11.7 percent, a Total risk-based capital ratio of 13.0 percent and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 11.0 percent, all exceeding the current regulatory guidelines for “well capitalized” institutions by a significant amount.
We do not plan to pay a common stock dividend or repurchase common shares in 2018 (except to repurchase common stock acquired as a result of taxes withheld in connection with award exercises and vesting under our employee stock-based compensation plans).
Expand Our Product Offerings to Increase Level of Engagement With Our Existing Customers and Attract New Customers
We will make investments in 2018 that will accelerate the diversification of our consumer lending platform into the Personal Loan and credit card businesses. In addition, we will offer six new graduate student loan products that are tailored to meet the specific needs of students in their specific fields of study. We expect the diversification of our consumer lending platform and these new product offerings will enhance our Private Education Loan business.
In 2017, we built the infrastructure necessary to originate and service unsecured Personal Loans to be used for non-educational purposes. In the first quarter of 2018, we have begun to test our Personal Loan product and our marketing campaigns, but we do not expect meaningful originations to occur until the second half of the year. In 2018, we have begun to lay the foundation for our credit card business. This process has included preliminary work to begin identifying and selecting a partner to issue and service credit card accounts and to assemble the team to execute our business plan. We believe that these

39


two new consumer finance products are an extension of our core competencies of underwriting, marketing and servicing unsecured credits.
Manage Operating Expenses While Improving Efficiency
We will continue to measure our effectiveness in managing operating expenses by monitoring our operating efficiency ratio. We calculate and report our non-GAAP operating efficiency ratio as the ratio of (a) the total non-interest expense numerator to (b) the net revenue denominator (which consists of the sum of net interest income, before provision for credit losses, and non-interest income, and the net impact of derivative accounting as defined in our “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP table in “- ‘Core Earnings’ ’’ in this Form 10-Q). 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. Our long-term objective is to achieve steady declines in this ratio over the next several years.
The non-GAAP operating efficiency ratio for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was 36.5 percent compared with 36.8 percent for the year-ago period. The improvement in the non-GAAP operating efficiency ratio was primarily due to the 24 percent growth rate in net interest income, which exceeded the 22 percent growth in our expense base. The growth in our expense base in the first quarter of 2018 included approximately $7 million related to stock compensation expense due to retirement eligible employees and to certain severance related expenses.
We expect our operating efficiency ratio to decline steadily over the next several years as the number of loans on which we earn either net interest income or servicing revenue grows to a level commensurate with our loan origination platform and we continue to manage the growth of our expense base.
Maintain Our Strong Governance, Risk Oversight and Compliance Infrastructure
We have built customer protection policies, procedures and compliance management systems sufficient to meet or exceed currently applicable regulatory standards. In addition, we have developed a strong governance framework, which includes robust oversight, education, policies and procedures supported by enterprise risk management, compliance and internal audit functions. Our goal is to consistently comply with or exceed regulatory standards for compliance and risk management.
Leverage Our Culture to Engage Employees, Recognize and Reward Contributions to Business Results, and Develop Talent to Support our Business Strategy and Growth
In first-quarter 2018, we completed focus groups with a cross-functional representative sample of employees to better understand and act upon their feedback through the annual employee engagement survey. We continued to reward top performers during the year-end compensation process through differentiation of pay based on the results of the performance measurement process. We also completed our quarterly Awards of Excellence Program to recognize our highest performing employees who also demonstrate the values of our company in the work they do. Each area of the business completed its organizational planning to identify critical talent needed now and in the future, against which leadership will develop talent and employees will align their development plans.





40


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 
 March 31,
 
Increase
(Decrease) 
(In millions, except per share data)
 
2018
 
2017
 
$
 
%
Interest income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans
 
$
430

 
$
325

 
$
105

 
32
 %
Investments
 
2

 
2

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents
 
5

 
2

 
3

 
150

Total interest income
 
437

 
329

 
108

 
33

Total interest expense
 
104

 
61

 
43

 
70

Net interest income
 
333

 
268

 
65

 
24

Less: provisions for credit losses
 
54

 
25

 
29

 
116

Net interest income after provisions for credit losses
 
279

 
243

 
36

 
15

Non-interest income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net
 
4

 
(5
)
 
9

 
180

Other income
 
9

 
11

 
(2
)
 
(18
)
Total non-interest income
 
13

 
6

 
7

 
117

Non-interest expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total operating expenses
 
125

 
103

 
22

 
22

Acquired intangible asset amortization expense
 

 

 

 

Total non-interest expenses
 
125

 
103

 
22

 
22

Income before income tax expense
 
167

 
146

 
21

 
14

Income tax expense
 
41

 
51

 
(10
)
 
(20
)
Net income
 
126

 
95

 
31

 
33

Preferred stock dividends
 
3

 
6

 
(3
)
 
(50
)
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock
 
$
123

 
$
89

 
$
34

 
38
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation
 
$
0.28

 
$
0.21

 
$
0.07

 
33
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation
 
$
0.28

 
$
0.20

 
$
0.08

 
40
 %

41


 GAAP Consolidated Earnings Summary
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 Compared with Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
For the three months ended March 31, 2018, net income was $126 million, or $0.28 diluted earnings per common share, compared with net income of $95 million, or $0.20 diluted earnings per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The year-over-year net income increase was affected by a $65 million increase in net interest income, and a $7 million increase in total non-interest income, which was offset by a $29 million increase in provisions for credit losses, and a $22 million increase in total non-interest expenses. The reduction of the federal statutory corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent as a result of the Tax Act, which was enacted on December 22, 2017, contributed approximately $23 million to net income.
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 $65 million in the current quarter compared with the year-ago quarter due to a $3.2 billion increase in average Private Education Loans outstanding and a 21 basis point increase in net interest margin. Net interest margin increased primarily as a result of the benefit from an increase in LIBOR rates, which increased the yield on our variable rate Private Education Loan portfolio more than it increased our cost of funds, and of growth in the higher-yielding Personal Loan portfolio. Cost of funds increased due to the increase in LIBOR rates, as well as an increase in the amount of funding from higher-cost, long-term secured borrowings.
Provisions for credit losses increased $29 million compared with the year-ago quarter. This increase was primarily the result of growth in the reserve for our Personal Loans and higher Private Education Loan defaults related to more loans in repayment. In addition, in first-quarter 2017, we recorded an $8 million benefit to the provision as a result of an update to our life-of-loan forecasting model for our TDR portfolio.
Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net, resulted in a net gain of $4 million in the first quarter of 2018 compared with a net loss of $5 million in the year-ago quarter.
Other income decreased $2 million primarily due to lower income related to our Upromise credit card program.
First-quarter 2018 operating expenses and acquired intangible asset amortization expenses were $125 million, compared with $103 million in the year-ago quarter. The increase in operating expenses was driven by growth in the portfolio and costs related to product diversification, platform enhancements, and customer experience. In addition, in the first-quarter 2018, we recognized approximately $5 million in stock compensation expense due to retirement eligible employees and approximately $2 million in severance related expenses. When an employee is retirement eligible, all unrecognized stock compensation expense is recorded immediately although the stock continues to vest according to its original terms (absent the employee actually retiring). Earlier this year, we indicated we intend to invest up to $30 million in 2018 in technology infrastructure and product diversification. In the first-quarter 2018, those investments totaled approximately $0.6 million.
Income tax expense decreased $10 million compared with the year-ago quarter. The effective tax rate decreased in the first-quarter 2018 to 24.5 percent from 35.0 percent in the year-ago quarter. The change was primarily a result of the reduction of the federal statutory corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent under the Tax Act. The effective tax rate in first quarter 2017 was favorably affected by a $6 million benefit from excess tax benefits/deficiencies related to the settlement of employee stock-based awards.

42


“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.” 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 based upon whether a 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 derivative 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 “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-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 “Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, 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 are not recorded in interest income and interest expense; they are recorded in non-interest income: “Gains (losses) on derivatives 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 derivative 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 “Gains (losses) on derivatives 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, (b) the change in fair values related to future expected cash flows for derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment and (c) ineffectiveness on derivatives that receive hedge accounting treatment. For purposes of “Core Earnings”, we are including in GAAP earnings the current period accrual amounts (interest reclassification) on the swaps and excluding the remaining ineffectiveness (and change in fair values for those derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting treatment). “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 derivatives as described above.
The following table shows the amount in “Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net” that relates to the interest reclassification on the derivative contracts.
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hedge ineffectiveness gains (losses)
 
$
8,537

 
$
(4,239
)
 
Unrealized (losses) gains on instruments not in a hedging relationship
 
(4,755
)
 
(1,219
)
 
Interest reclassification
 
110

 
80

 
Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net
 
$
3,892

 
$
(5,378
)
 


43


The following table reflects adjustments associated with our derivative activities.
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
 
 
 
Core Earningsadjustments to GAAP:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GAAP net income attributable to SLM Corporation
 
$
126,254

 
$
94,943

Preferred stock dividends
 
3,397

 
5,575

GAAP net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock
 
$
122,857

 
$
89,368

 
 
 
 
 
Adjustments:
 
 
 
 
Net impact of derivative accounting(1)
 
(3,782
)
 
5,458

Net tax effect(2)
 
(919
)
 
2,084

Total “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP
 
(2,863
)
 
3,374

 
 
 
 
 
“Core Earnings” attributable to SLM Corporation common stock
 
$
119,994

 
$
92,742

 
 
 
 
 
GAAP diluted earnings per common share
 
$
0.28

 
$
0.20

Derivative adjustments, net of tax
 
(0.01
)
 
0.01

“Core Earnings” diluted earnings per common share
 
$
0.27

 
$
0.21

______
(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 (but include current period accruals on the derivative instruments), net of tax. 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.

44


Financial 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 March 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Balance
 
Rate
 
Balance
 
Rate
Average Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Private Education Loans
 
$
18,659,717

 
8.84
%
 
$
15,449,555

 
8.26
%
FFELP Loans
 
919,717

 
4.25

 
1,003,128

 
3.69

Personal Loans
 
528,644

 
10.64

 
35,830

 
9.16

Taxable securities
 
296,512

 
2.65

 
352,164

 
2.47

Cash and other short-term investments
 
1,451,437

 
1.47

 
1,397,921

 
0.75

Total interest-earning assets
 
21,856,027

 
8.11
%
 
18,238,598

 
7.33
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-interest-earning assets
 
1,111,430

 
 
 
922,377

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets
 
$
22,967,457

 
 
 
$
19,160,975

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average Liabilities and Equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brokered deposits
 
$
8,673,261

 
2.04
%
 
$
7,015,338

 
1.46
%
Retail and other deposits
 
7,727,564

 
1.77

 
6,569,535

 
1.21

Other interest-bearing liabilities(1)
 
3,461,050

 
3.18

 
2,562,535

 
2.61

Total interest-bearing liabilities
 
19,861,875

 
2.14
%
 
16,147,408

 
1.54
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-interest-bearing liabilities
 
561,546

 
 
 
628,147

 
 
Equity
 
2,544,036

 
 
 
2,385,420

 
 
Total liabilities and equity
 
$
22,967,457

 
 
 
$
19,160,975

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest margin
 
 
 
6.17
%
 
 
 
5.96
%
 

_________________
(1) 
Includes the average balance of our unsecured borrowing, as well as secured borrowings and amortization expense of transaction costs related to our term asset-backed securitizations and our ABCP Facility.





45



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
 
Change Due To(1)
 
Rate 
 
Volume
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 vs. 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
 
$
107,743

 
$
37,841

 
$
69,902

Interest expense
 
43,205

 
27,044

 
16,161

Net interest income
 
$
64,538

 
$
9,772

 
$
54,766

 
_________________
(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 Loan Portfolio
Ending Loan Balances, net
 
 
 
March 31, 2018
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Private
Education
Loans 
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Personal
Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
Total loan portfolio:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In-school(1)
 
$
4,220,838

 
$
326

 
$

 
$
4,221,164

Grace, repayment and other(2)
 
14,573,174

 
907,516

 
675,656

 
16,156,346

Total, gross
 
18,794,012

 
907,842

 
675,656

 
20,377,510

Deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)
 
58,814

 
2,566

 
(163
)
 
61,217

Allowance for loan losses
 
(252,103
)
 
(1,113
)
 
(18,907
)
 
(272,123
)
Total loan portfolio, net
 
$
18,600,723

 
$
909,295

 
$
656,586

 
$
20,166,604

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
% of total
 
92
%
 
5
%
 
3
%
 
100
%
____________ 
(1)  Loans for customers still attending school and who are not yet required to make payments on the loans.
(2)  Includes loans in deferment or forbearance.


46





 
 
December 31, 2017
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Private
Education
Loans
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Personal
Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
Total loan portfolio:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In-school(1)
 
$
3,740,237

 
$
257

 
$

 
$
3,740,494

Grace, repayment and other(2)
 
13,691,930

 
927,403

 
400,280

 
15,019,613

Total, gross
 
17,432,167

 
927,660

 
400,280

 
18,760,107

Deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)
 
56,378

 
2,631

 

 
59,009

Allowance for loan losses
 
(243,715
)
 
(1,132
)
 
(6,628
)
 
(251,475
)
Total loan portfolio, net
 
$
17,244,830

 
$
929,159

 
$
393,652

 
$
18,567,641

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
% of total
 
93
%
 
5
%
 
2
%
 
100
%
____________ 
(1)  Loans for customers still attending school and who are not yet required to make payments on the loans.
(2)  Includes loans in deferment or forbearance.
 


Average Loan Balances (net of unamortized premium/discount)

 
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
 
2018
 
2017
Private Education Loans
 
$
18,659,717

 
93
%
 
$
15,449,555

 
94
%
FFELP Loans
 
919,717

 
4

 
1,003,128

 
6

Personal Loans
 
528,644

 
3

 
35,830

 

Total portfolio
 
$
20,108,078

 
100
%
 
$
16,488,513

 
100
%




47


Loan Activity
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 Private
Education
Loans
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Personal
Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
Beginning balance
 
$
17,244,830

 
$
929,159

 
$
393,652

 
$
18,567,641

Acquisitions and originations
 
1,972,954

 

 
327,181

 
2,300,135

Capitalized interest and deferred origination cost premium amortization
 
95,398

 
7,777

 

 
103,175

Sales
 
(820
)
 

 

 
(820
)
Loan consolidations to third-parties
 
(223,751
)
 
(7,429
)
 

 
(231,180
)
Repayments and other
 
(487,888
)
 
(20,212
)
 
(64,247
)
 
(572,347
)
Ending balance
 
$
18,600,723

 
$
909,295

 
$
656,586

 
$
20,166,604


 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Private
Education
Loans
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Personal
Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
Beginning balance
 
$
14,113,409

 
$
1,011,678

 
$
12,835

 
$
15,137,922

Acquisitions and originations
 
1,848,447

 

 
44,250

 
1,892,697

Capitalized interest and deferred origination cost premium amortization
 
70,434

 
8,489

 

 
78,923

Sales
 
(1,972
)
 

 

 
(1,972
)
Loan consolidations to third-parties
 
(103,691
)
 
(10,668
)
 

 
(114,359
)
Repayments and other
 
(410,184
)
 
(18,888
)
 
(1,929
)
 
(431,001
)
Ending balance
 
$
15,516,443

 
$
990,611

 
$
55,156

 
$
16,562,210



48



“Loan consolidations to third-parties” and “Repayments and other” are both significantly affected by the volume of loans in our portfolio in full principal and interest repayment status. Loans in full principal and interest repayment status in our Private Education Loan portfolio at March 31, 2018 increased by 36 percent compared with March 31, 2017, and now total 38 percent of our Private Education Loan portfolio at March 31, 2018.

“Loan consolidations to third-parties” for the three months ended March 31, 2018 total 3.1 percent of our Private Education Loan portfolio in full principal and interest repayment status at March 31, 2018, or 1.2 percent of our total loan portfolio at March 31, 2018, compared with the year-ago period of 2.0 percent of our Private Education Loan portfolio in full principal and interest repayment status, or 0.7 percent of our total portfolio, respectively. Historical experience has shown that loan consolidation activity is heightened in the period when the loan initially enters full principal and interest repayment status and then subsides over time.

The “Repayments and other” category includes all scheduled repayments, as well as voluntary prepayments, made on loans in repayment (including loans in full principal and interest repayment status) and also includes charge-offs. Consequently, this category can be significantly affected by the volume of loans in repayment. The increase in the volume of loans in repayment accounts for the vast majority of the aggregate increase in loan consolidations, scheduled repayments, unscheduled prepayments and capitalized interest set forth above.

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 
 March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
 
2018
 
%
 
2017
 
%
Smart Option - interest only(1)
 
$
494,848

 
25
%
 
$
481,154

 
26
%
Smart Option - fixed pay(1)
 
570,366

 
29

 
527,072

 
29

Smart Option - deferred(1)
 
866,815

 
44

 
810,856

 
44

Smart Option - principal and interest
 
2,557

 

 
2,501

 

Parent Loan
 
37,583

 
2

 
25,877

 
1

Total Private Education Loan originations
 
$
1,972,169

 
100
%
 
$
1,847,460

 
100
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Percentage of loans with a cosigner
 
89.3
%
 
 
 
90.2
%
 
 
Average FICO at approval(2)
 
746

 
 
 
748

 
 
      
     _____________
(1) Interest only, fixed pay and deferred describe the payment option while in school or in grace period.
(2) Represents the higher credit score of the cosigner or the borrower.



49


Allowance for Loan Losses

Allowance for Loan Losses Activity
  
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Private
Education
Loans
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Personal Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
 
Private
Education
Loans
 
FFELP
Loans
 
Personal Loans
 
Total
Portfolio
Beginning balance
 
$
243,715

 
$
1,132

 
$
6,628

 
$
251,475

 
$
182,472

 
$
2,171

 
$
58

 
$
184,701

Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Charge-offs
 
(37,353
)
 
(250
)
 
(1,200
)
 
(38,803
)
 
(26,227
)
 
(218
)
 

 
(26,445
)
Loan sales(1)
 
(1,216
)
 

 

 
(1,216
)
 
(1,221
)
 

 

 
(1,221
)
Plus:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recoveries
 
5,087

 

 
31

 
5,118

 
3,259

 

 

 
3,259

Provision for loan losses
 
41,870

 
231

 
13,448

 
55,549

 
26,820

 
(316
)
 
288

 
26,792

Ending balance
 
$
252,103

 
$
1,113

 
$
18,907

 
$
272,123

 
$
185,103

 
$
1,637

 
$
346

 
$
187,086

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Troubled debt restructurings(2)
 
$
1,043,103

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,043,103

 
$
701,860

 
$

 
$

 
$
701,860

_________
(1) 
Represents fair value adjustments on loans sold.
(2) 
Represents the unpaid principal balance of loans classified as troubled debt restructurings.


Private Education Loan Allowance for Loan Losses
In establishing the allowance for Private Education Loan losses as of March 31, 2018, we considered several factors with respect to our Private Education Loan portfolio, in particular, credit quality and delinquency, forbearance and charge-off trends.
Private Education Loans in full principal and interest repayment status were 38 percent of our total Private Education Loan portfolio at March 31, 2018 compared with 33 percent at March 31, 2017.
For a more detailed discussion of our policy for determining the collectability 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 the 2017 Form 10-K.

50


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

 
 
Private Education Loans
 
 
March 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Balance
 
%
 
Balance
 
%
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)
 
$
5,369,984

 
 
 
$
4,778,295

 
 
Loans in forbearance(2)
 
465,286

 
 
 
349,777

 
 
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans current
 
12,635,627

 
97.5
%
 
10,327,843

 
98.1
%
Loans delinquent 31-60 days(3)
 
179,989

 
1.4

 
112,167

 
1.1

Loans delinquent 61-90 days(3)
 
95,974

 
0.7

 
54,128

 
0.5

Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(3)
 
47,152

 
0.4

 
32,644

 
0.3

        Total Private Education Loans in repayment
 
12,958,742

 
100.0
%
 
10,526,782

 
100.0
%
Total Private Education Loans, gross
 
18,794,012

 
 
 
15,654,854

 
 
Private Education Loans deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)
 
58,814

 
 
 
46,692

 
 
Total Private Education Loans
 
18,852,826

 
 
 
15,701,546

 
 
Private Education Loans allowance for losses
 
(252,103
)
 
 
 
(185,103
)
 
 
Private Education Loans, net
 
$
18,600,723

 
 
 
$
15,516,443

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment
 
 
 
69.0
%
 
 
 
67.2
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Delinquencies as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment
 
 
 
2.5
%
 
 
 
1.9
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment and forbearance
 
 
 
3.5
%
 
 
 
3.2
%
________
(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.

The Private Education Loan delinquency rate increased to 2.5 percent at March 31, 2018 from 1.9 percent at March 31, 2017 primarily because of the increase in the percentage of loans in our portfolio that have entered full principal and interest repayment, as well as the size of the recent repayment wave that occurred in late 2017.
 


 




51



Changes in Allowance for Private Education Loan Losses
The following table summarizes changes in the allowance for Private Education Loan losses.
 
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
 
2018
 
2017
Allowance at beginning of period
 
$
243,715

 
$
182,472

Provision for Private Education Loan losses
 
41,870

 
26,820

Net charge-offs:
 
 
 
 
Charge-offs
 
(37,353
)
 
(26,227
)
Recoveries
 
5,087

 
3,259

Net charge-offs
 
(32,266
)
 
(22,968
)
Loan sales(1)
 
(1,216
)
 
(1,221
)
Allowance at end of period
 
$
252,103

 
$
185,103

 
 
 
 
 
Allowance as a percentage of ending total loan balance
 
1.34
%
 
1.18
%
Allowance as a percentage of ending loans in repayment(2)
 
1.95
%
 
1.76
%
Allowance coverage of net charge-offs (annualized)
 
1.95

 
2.01

Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)(2)
 
1.01
%
 
0.89
%
Delinquencies as a percentage of ending loans in repayment(2)
 
2.49
%
 
1.89
%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of ending loans in repayment and forbearance(2)
 
3.47
%
 
3.22
%
Ending total loans, gross
 
$
18,794,012

 
$
15,654,854

Average loans in repayment(2)
 
$
12,747,929

 
$
10,265,530

Ending loans in repayment(2)
 
$
12,958,742

 
$
10,526,782

     _______
(1) 
Represents fair value adjustments on loans sold.
(2) 
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.
 
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 net charge-offs ratio; the allowance as a percentage of ending total loans and of ending loans in repayment; and delinquency and forbearance percentages. The allowance as a percentage of ending total loans and of ending loans in repayment increased at March 31, 2018 compared with March 31, 2017 because of an increase in our TDRs (for which we hold a life-of-loan allowance) and an increase in the percentage of loans in full principal and interest repayment status.

52


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. We grant forbearance in our servicing centers if a borrower who is current requests it for increments of three months at a time, for up to 12 months. Forbearance as a collection tool is used most effectively when applied based on a customer’s unique situation, including historical information and judgments. 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. 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 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 customer will enter repayment status as current and is expected to begin making scheduled monthly payments on a go-forward basis.
Forbearance may also be granted to customers who are delinquent in their payments. If specific requirements are met, the forbearance can cure the delinquency and the customer is returned to a current repayment status. In more limited instances, delinquent customers will also be granted additional forbearance time.
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 or fixed payments, as well as loans that have entered full principal and interest repayment 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 March 31, 2018, loans in forbearance status as a percentage of total loans in repayment and forbearance were 2.5 percent for Private Education Loans that have been in active repayment status for fewer than 25 months. Approximately 73 percent of our Private Education Loans in forbearance status have been in active repayment status fewer than 25 months.


53


(Dollars in millions)
March 31, 2018
 
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
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
5,370

 
$
5,370

Loans in forbearance
 
273

 
68

 
55

 
37

 
32

 

 
465

Loans in repayment - current
 
4,326

 
3,131

 
2,390

 
1,516

 
1,273

 

 
12,636

Loans in repayment - delinquent 31-60 days
 
78

 
36

 
29

 
18

 
19

 

 
180

Loans in repayment - delinquent 61-90 days
 
51

 
15

 
13

 
8

 
9

 

 
96

Loans in repayment - delinquent greater than 90 days
 
26

 
7

 
6

 
4

 
4

 

 
47

Total
 
$
4,754

 
$
3,257

 
$
2,493

 
$
1,583

 
$
1,337

 
$
5,370

 
18,794

Deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
59

Allowance for loan losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(252
)
Total Private Education Loans, net
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
18,601

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of total Private Education Loans in repayment and forbearance
 
2.03
%
 
0.51
%
 
0.41
%
 
0.28
%
 
0.24
%
 
%
 
3.47
%
 

(Dollars in millions)
March 31, 2017
 
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
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
4,778

 
$
4,778

Loans in forbearance
 
210

 
54

 
42

 
25

 
19

 

 
350

Loans in repayment - current
 
3,922

 
2,844

 
1,882

 
938

 
742

 

 
10,328

Loans in repayment - delinquent 31-60 days
 
52

 
24

 
17

 
10

 
9

 

 
112

Loans in repayment - delinquent 61-90 days
 
30

 
10

 
7

 
4

 
3

 

 
54

Loans in repayment - delinquent greater than 90 days
 
20

 
5

 
4

 
2

 
2

 

 
33

Total
 
$
4,234

 
$
2,937

 
$
1,952

 
$
979

 
$
775

 
$
4,778

 
15,655

Deferred origination costs and unamortized premium/(discount)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
46

Allowance for loan losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(185
)
Total Private Education Loans, net
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
15,516

 
 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans in forbearance as a percentage of total Private Education Loans in repayment and forbearance
 
1.93
%
 
0.50
%
 
0.39
%
 
0.23
%
 
0.17
%
 
%
 
3.22
%



54


Private Education Loan Types
The following table provides information regarding the loans in repayment balance and total loan balance by Private Education Loan product type at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
 
 
 
March 31, 2018
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Signature and
Other
 
Parent Loan
 
Smart Option
 
Career
Training
 
Total
$ in repayment(1)
 
$
202,945

 
$
124,647

 
$
12,618,305

 
$
12,845

 
$
12,958,742

$ in total
 
$
352,262

 
$
126,150

 
$
18,302,443

 
$
13,157

 
$
18,794,012

 
 
 
 
December 31, 2017
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Signature and
Other
 
Parent Loan
 
Smart Option
 
Career
Training
 
Total
$ in repayment(1)
 
$
190,571

 
$
94,221

 
$
11,907,047

 
$
14,194

 
$
12,206,033

$ in total
 
$
352,456

 
$
95,293

 
$
16,969,941

 
$
14,477

 
$
17,432,167

_______
(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 Loans
 
 
Accrued Interest Receivable 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Total Interest Receivable
 
Greater Than
90 Days
Past Due
 
Allowance for
Uncollectible
Interest
March 31, 2018
 
$
1,045,577

 
$
1,783

 
$
4,694

December 31, 2017
 
$
951,138

 
$
1,372

 
$
4,664

March 31, 2017
 
$
825,680

 
$
1,108

 
$
2,868

 


     

55


Liquidity and Capital Resources
Funding and Liquidity Risk Management
Our primary liquidity needs include our ongoing ability to fund our businesses throughout market cycles, including during periods of financial stress, our ongoing ability to fund originations of Private Education Loans and servicing our 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. 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, competitive pressures, 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)
 
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Sources of primary liquidity:
 
 
 
 
Unrestricted cash and liquid investments:
 
 
 
 
Holding Company and other non-bank subsidiaries
 
$
22,296

 
$
17,723

Sallie Mae Bank(1)
 
1,413,354

 
1,516,616

Available-for-sale investments
 
229,114

 
244,088

Total unrestricted cash and liquid investments
 
$
1,664,764

 
$
1,778,427

____
(1) This amount will be used primarily to originate Private Education Loans at the Bank.

Average Balances
 
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
 
2018
 
2017
Sources of primary liquidity:
 
 
 
 
Unrestricted cash and liquid investments:
 
 
 
 
Holding Company and other non-bank subsidiaries
 
$
19,125

 
$
25,019

Sallie Mae Bank(1)
 
1,302,703

 
1,254,254

Available-for-sale investments
 
238,281

 
211,018

Total unrestricted cash and liquid investments
 
$
1,560,109

 
$
1,490,291

      ____
(1) This amount will be used primarily to originate Private Education Loans at the Bank.

56


Deposits

The following table summarizes total deposits.
 
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
 
2018
 
2017
Deposits - interest bearing
 
$
16,497,006

 
$
15,504,330

Deposits - non-interest bearing
 
1,640

 
1,053

Total deposits
 
$
16,498,646

 
$
15,505,383


Our total deposits of $16.5 billion were comprised of $8.6 billion in brokered deposits and $7.9 billion in retail and other deposits at March 31, 2018, compared to total deposits of $15.5 billion, which were comprised of $8.2 billion in brokered deposits and $7.3 billion in retail and other deposits, at December 31, 2017.
Interest bearing deposits as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 consisted of retail and brokered non-maturity savings deposits, retail and brokered non-maturity MMDAs and retail and brokered CDs. Interest bearing deposits include deposits from Educational 529 and Health Savings plans that diversify our funding sources and additional deposits we consider to be core. These and other large omnibus accounts, aggregating the deposits of many individual depositors, represented $5.8 billion of our deposit total as of March 31, 2018, compared with $5.5 billion at December 31, 2017.
Some of our deposit products are serviced by third-party providers. Placement fees associated with the brokered CDs are amortized into interest expense using the effective interest rate method. We recognized placement fee expense of $2.8 million and $2.1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Fees paid to third-party brokers related to brokered CDs were $7.1 million and $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Interest bearing deposits at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 are summarized as follows:
 
 
 
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Amount
 
Qtr.-End
Weighted
Average
Stated Rate(1)
 
Amount
 
Year-End
Weighted
Average
Stated Rate(1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money market
 
$
8,107,996

 
2.01
%
 
$
7,731,966

 
1.80
%
 
Savings
 
681,024

 
1.40

 
738,243

 
1.10

 
Certificates of deposit
 
7,707,986

 
2.13

 
7,034,121

 
1.93

 
Deposits - interest bearing
 
$
16,497,006

 
 
 
$
15,504,330

 


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

As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were $404.5 million and $395.5 million, respectively, of deposits exceeding FDIC insurance limits. Accrued interest on deposits was $36.8 million and $27.8 million at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.


57




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 is primarily comprised of 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 International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Credit Support Annexes (“CSAs”), or clearinghouses for over-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 CSAs or clearinghouse 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 by us and plus collateral posted with the counterparty.
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. Two of the central counterparties we use are the CME and the LCH. The CME and the LCH made amendments to their respective rules that resulted in the prospective accounting treatment of certain daily variation margin payments being considered as the legal settlement of the outstanding exposure of the derivative instead of the posting of collateral. The CME rule changes, which became effective in January 2017, and the LCH rule changes, which became effective in January 2018, result in all variation margin payments on derivatives cleared through the CME and LCH being accounted for as legal settlement. As of March 31, 2018, $5.7 billion notional of our derivative contracts were cleared on the CME and $0.7 billion were cleared on the LCH. The derivative contracts cleared through the CME and LCH represent 89.8 percent and 10.2 percent, respectively, of our total notional derivative contracts of $6.4 billion at March 31, 2018.
For derivatives cleared through the CME and LCH, the net gain (loss) position includes the variation margin amounts as settlement of the derivative and not collateral against the fair value of the derivative. Interest income (expense) related to variation margin on derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments or are designated as fair value relationships is recognized as a gain (loss) rather than as interest income (expense). Changes in fair value for derivatives not designated as hedging instruments will be presented as realized gains (losses).
Our exposure is limited to the value of the derivative contracts in a gain position less any collateral held and plus any collateral posted. When there is a net negative exposure, we consider our exposure to the counterparty to be zero. At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had a net positive exposure (derivative gain positions to us, less collateral held by us and plus collateral posted with counterparties) related to derivatives of $31.3 million and $19.6 million, respectively.
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.
As of March 31, 2018, LCH was not rated by any of the major rating agencies. However, all derivative counterparties are evaluated internally for credit worthiness. LCH has been deemed by management to have strong liquidity and robust capital levels as of our most recent credit review, and has been assigned our strongest risk rating.

58


The table below highlights exposure related to our derivative counterparties as of March 31, 2018.
(Dollars in thousands)
 
SLM Corporation
and Sallie Mae Bank
Contracts
Total exposure, net of collateral
 
$
31,342

Exposure to counterparties with credit ratings, net of collateral
 
$
20,901

Percent of exposure to counterparties with credit ratings below S&P AA- or Moody’s Aa3
 
%
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 operations and financial condition. Under U.S. Basel III and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Bank must meet specific capital standards that involve quantitative measures of its 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 of capital, risk weightings and other factors.
“Well capitalized” regulatory requirements are the quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy. To qualify as “well capitalized,” the Bank must maintain minimum amounts and ratios (set forth in the table below) of Common Equity Tier 1, Tier 1 and Total capital to risk-weighted assets and of Tier 1 capital to average assets. The following capital amounts and ratios are based upon the Bank’s assets.
 
 
 
Actual
 
“Well Capitalized” Regulatory Requirements
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Amount
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
As of March 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
 
$
2,494,964

11.7
%
 
$
1,385,322

>
6.5
%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
 
$
2,494,964

11.7
%
 
$
1,705,011

>
8.0
%
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
 
$
2,761,446

13.0
%
 
$
2,131,264

>
10.0
%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)
 
$
2,494,964

11.0
%
 
$
1,138,524

>
5.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2017:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
 
$
2,350,081

11.9
%
 
$
1,288,435

>
6.5
%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
 
$
2,350,081

11.9
%
 
$
1,585,767

>
8.0
%
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
 
$
2,597,926

13.1
%
 
$
1,982,208

>
10.0
%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)
 
$
2,350,081

11.0
%
 
$
1,067,739

>
5.0
%
    

59


 Capital Management
The Bank seeks to remain “well capitalized” at all times with sufficient capital to support asset growth and operating needs, address unexpected credit risks and to protect the interests of depositors and the Deposit Insurance Fund administered by the FDIC. The Bank is required by its regulators, the UDFI 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 believe that current and projected capital levels are appropriate for 2018. As our balance sheet continues to grow in 2018, these ratios will be stable as we now expect to generate earnings and capital sufficient to cover growth in our risk-weighted assets and 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 share repurchase programs as a means to return capital to shareholders. We only expect to repurchase common stock acquired in connection with taxes withheld in connection with award exercises and vesting under our employee stock-based compensation plans. Our Board of Directors will periodically reconsider these matters.
The Bank must comply with U.S. Basel III, which is aimed at increasing both the quantity and quality of regulatory capital. Certain aspects of U.S. Basel III, including new deductions from and adjustments to regulatory capital and a capital conservation buffer, are being phased in over several years. The Bank’s Capital Policy requires management to monitor these capital standards and the Bank’s compliance with them. The Bank is subject to the following minimum regulatory capital ratios under U.S. Basel III: a Common Equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4.5 percent, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0 percent, a Total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0 percent, and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4.0 percent. In addition, the Bank is subject to a phased-in Common Equity Tier 1 capital conservation buffer: 1.25 percent of risk-weighted assets for 2017; 1.875 percent for 2018; and the fully phased-in level of greater than 2.5 percent effective as of January 1, 2019. Failure to maintain the buffer will result in restrictions on the Bank’s ability to make capital distributions, including the payment of dividends, and to pay discretionary 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.
To qualify as “well capitalized” under the prompt corrective action framework for insured depository institutions, the Bank must maintain a Common Equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 6.5 percent, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 8.0 percent, a Total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10.0 percent, and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of at least 5.0 percent.
As of March 31, 2018, the Bank had a Common Equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 11.7 percent, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 11.7 percent, a Total risk-based capital ratio of 13.0 percent and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 11.0 percent, which are each in excess of the current “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 capital levels required under U.S. Basel III and the “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 to the Company 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 months ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017. 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 B Preferred Stock.

60


Borrowings

Outstanding borrowings consist of unsecured debt and secured borrowings issued 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 borrowings at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. For additional information, see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 5, “Borrowings.”

 
 
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
Short-Term
 
Long-Term
 
Total
 
Short-Term
 
Long-Term
 
Total
Unsecured borrowings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unsecured debt
 
$

 
$
196,741

 
$
196,741

 
$

 
$
196,539

 
$
196,539

Total unsecured borrowings
 

 
196,741

 
196,741

 

 
196,539

 
196,539

Secured borrowings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Private Education Loan term securitizations
 

 
3,547,604

 
3,547,604

 

 
3,078,731

 
3,078,731

ABCP Facility
 

 

 

 

 

 

Total secured borrowings
 

 
3,547,604

 
3,547,604

 

 
3,078,731

 
3,078,731

Total
 
$

 
$
3,744,345

 
$
3,744,345

 
$

 
$
3,275,270

 
$
3,275,270

    
Other Borrowing Sources
We maintain discretionary uncommitted Federal Funds lines of credit with various correspondent banks, which totaled $125 million at March 31, 2018. The interest rate charged to us 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 months ended March 31, 2018 or in the year ended December 31, 2017.
We 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 Loans and Private Education Loans, as collateral for borrowings at the Window. Generally, collateral value is assigned based on the estimated fair value of the pledged assets. At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the value of our pledged collateral at the FRB totaled $2.5 billion and $2.6 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 months ended March 31, 2018 or in the year ended December 31, 2017.
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 March 31, 2018, we had $0.5 billion of outstanding contractual loan commitments which we expect to fund during the remainder of the 2017/2018 academic year. At March 31, 2018, we had a $0.3 million reserve recorded in “Other Liabilities” to cover expected losses that may occur during the one-year loss emergence period on these unfunded commitments.

61


 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 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 2017 Form 10-K. There were no significant changes to these critical accounting policies during the first quarter of 2018. However, related to derivative accounting, in the first quarter of 2018 we changed the accounting treatment of variation margin payments on derivatives cleared through the LCH as a result of the LCH adopting rule changes, as described below.
Derivative Accounting
The CME and the LCH made amendments to their respective rules that resulted in the prospective accounting treatment of certain daily variation margin payments being considered as the legal settlement of the outstanding exposure of the derivative instead of the posting of collateral. The CME rule changes, which became effective in January 2017, and the LCH rule changes, which became effective in January 2018, result in all variation margin payments on derivatives cleared through the CME and LCH being accounted for as legal settlement. As of March 31, 2018, $5.7 billion notional of our derivative contracts were cleared on the CME and $0.7 billion were cleared on the LCH. The derivative contracts cleared through the CME and LCH represent 89.8 percent and 10.2 percent, respectively, of our total notional derivative contracts of $6.4 billion at March 31, 2018.
For derivatives cleared through the CME and the LCH, the net gain (loss) position includes the variation margin amounts as settlement of the derivative and not collateral against the fair value of the derivative. Interest income (expense) related to variation margin on derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments or are designated as fair value relationships is recognized as a gain (loss) rather than as interest income (expense). Changes in fair value for derivatives not designated as hedging instruments will be presented as realized gains (losses).


62


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. At present, the majority of the Bank’s earning assets are priced off of 1-month LIBOR. Therefore, 1-month LIBOR is considered a core rate in our interest rate risk analysis. Other interest rate changes are correlated to changes in 1-month LIBOR for analytic purposes, with higher or lower correlations based on historical relationships. In addition, key rates are modeled with a floor, which indicates how low each specific rate is likely to move in practice. Rates are adjusted up or down via a set of scenarios that includes both rate shocks and ramps. Rate shocks represent an immediate and sustained change in 1-month LIBOR, with the resulting changes in other indices correlated accordingly. Interest rate ramps represent a linear increase in 1-month LIBOR over the course of 12 months, with the resulting changes in other indices correlated accordingly.
The following tables summarize the potential effect on earnings over the next 24 months and the potential effect on market values of balance sheet assets and liabilities at March 31, 2018 and 2017, based upon a sensitivity analysis performed by management assuming a hypothetical increase or decrease in market interest rates of 100 basis points and a hypothetical increase in market interest rates of 300 basis 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, commitments or hedging instruments that may arise in the future.
With increases in the level of interest rates, it became possible in the first quarter of 2017 to measure meaningfully the impact of a downward rate shock of 100 basis points. As the results of this interest rate scenario project a more negative impact to both earnings and to the economic value of equity than the upward shock of 100 basis points, the results of the downward rate shock of 100 basis points have been reflected in the table below. At today’s levels of interest rates, a 300 basis point downward rate shock does not provide a meaningful indication of interest rate sensitivity. These results indicate a market risk profile that has changed somewhat from the prior year’s results. The change in sensitivity year-over-year reflects slight changes in the portfolio’s sensitivity as well as several changes in modeling assumptions that are detailed in the following discussion.
 
March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
+300
Basis Points
 
+100
Basis Points
 
-100
Basis Points
 
+300
Basis Points
 
+100
Basis Points
 
-100
Basis Points
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EAR - Shock
+7.0%
 
+2.3%
 
-2.6%
 
+7.6%
 
+2.5%
 
-2.4%
EAR - Ramp
+5.1%
 
+1.7%
 
-2.0%
 
+6.3%
 
+2.3%
 
-1.4%
EVE
+4.5%
 
+1.3%
 
-3.0%
 
+1.8%
 
+0.5%
 
-0.3%
            
The EVE results in the table above for March 31, 2018 reflect two changes in the modeling assumptions. First, we have lengthened the assumed average lives of our indeterminate maturity retail deposit balances, which are now known to persist longer than previously assumed. As an indication of the significance of this change, the December 31, 2017 results showed sensitivity of +6.4 percent for the “+300 basis points shock,” +2.0 percent for the “+100 basis points shock,” and -1.9 percent for the “-100 basis points shock.” Without the modeling changes lengthening the average life of deposits, the December 31, 2017 results would have been +5.4 percent for the “+300 basis points shock,” +1.6 percent for the “+100 basis

63


points shock” and -1.4 percent for the “-100 basis points shock.” A similar impact is noticeable when comparing March 31, 2018 results to March 31, 2017 results; EVE sensitivity has increased. A second modeling change recognizes the more competitive market for indeterminate maturity retail deposits. Beginning with the March 31, 2018 results, we assume that the interest rates offered on these deposits would not reprice below a given level, despite a downward interest rate shock scenario. The model holds retail deposit rates at levels similar to the rates available in the market throughout the low interest rate environment of the past several years. Had this change not been incorporated into the March 31, 2018 EVE results shown in the table above, the EVE sensitivity for March 31, 2018 would have been -1.8 percent in the “-100 basis points shock.” The upward rate scenario results were not impacted by this change.
A primary objective in our funding is to manage 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. Asset securitization and fixed-rate CDs provide intermediate to 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 Company 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, which includes brokered CDs that have been converted to LIBOR through derivative transactions. The analysis does not anticipate that retail MMDAs or retail savings balances, while relatively sensitive to interest rate changes, will reprice to the full extent of interest rate shocks or ramps. Also considered is (i) the impact of FFELP loans, which receive floor income in low interest rate environments, and will therefore not reprice fully with interest rate shocks and (ii) the impact of fixed-rate loans that have not been fully match-funded through derivative transactions and fixed-rate funding from CDs and asset securitization. An additional consideration is the implementation of a loan cap of 25 percent on variable-rate loans originated on and after September 25, 2016. As of March 31, 2018, there were $5.4 billion of loans with 25 percent interest rate caps on the balance sheet. The overall slightly asset-sensitive position will generally cause net interest income to increase somewhat when interest rates rise, and decrease somewhat when interest rates fall. However, this sensitivity position will fluctuate somewhat during the year, depending on the funding mix in place at the time of the analysis.
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 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.



64


Asset and Liability Funding Gap
The table below presents our assets and liabilities (funding) arranged by underlying indices as of March 31, 2018. In the following GAAP presentation, the funding gap only includes derivatives that qualify as effective hedges (those derivatives which are reflected in net interest income, as opposed to those reflected in the “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 at a high level 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 millions)
Index
 
Frequency of
Variable
Resets
 
Assets
 
Funding (1) 
 
Funding
Gap
3-month Treasury bill
 
weekly
 
$
132.8

 
$

 
$
132.8

Prime
 
monthly
 
4.5

 

 
4.5

3-month LIBOR
 
quarterly
 

 
399.2

 
(399.2
)
1-month LIBOR
 
monthly
 
13,929.4

 
8,661.7

 
5,267.7

1-month LIBOR
 
daily
 
775.0

 

 
775.0

Non-Discrete reset(2)
 
daily/weekly
 
1,555.7

 
3,096.9

 
(1,541.2
)
Fixed Rate(3)
 
 
 
7,008.9

 
11,248.5

 
(4,239.6
)
Total
 
 
 
$
23,406.3

 
$
23,406.3

 
$

          ______________________
(1) 
Funding (by index) includes the impact of all derivatives that qualify as effective 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 MMDAs swapped to fixed rates and stockholders' equity.

 The “Funding Gap” in the above table shows primarily mismatches in the 1-month LIBOR, fixed-rate, Non-Discrete reset and 3-month LIBOR 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, and the funding in the fixed-rate bucket includes $2.2 billion of equity and $0.5 billion of non-interest bearing liabilities.
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 this risk is low, as all of these indices are short-term with rate movements that are highly correlated over a long period of time, market disruptions (which have occurred in recent years) can lead to a temporary divergence between indices, resulting in a negative impact to our earnings.


65



Weighted Average Life
The following table reflects the weighted average lives of our earning assets and liabilities at March 31, 2018.
 
 
Weighted
 
Average
(Averages in Years)
Life
Earning assets
 
Education loans
5.41

Personal loans
1.49

Cash and investments
0.94

Total earning assets
4.92

 
 
Deposits
 
Short-term deposits
0.38

Long-term deposits
2.74

Total deposits
0.90

 
 
Borrowings
 
Long-term borrowings
4.06

Total borrowings
4.06






66


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 March 31, 2018. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of March 31, 2018, 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 March 31, 2018 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


67


PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.
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. It 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 SLM. 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 in 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.
On January 18, 2017, the Illinois Attorney General filed a separate lawsuit in Illinois state court against Navient - its subsidiaries Navient Solutions, Inc., Pioneer Credit Recovery, Inc., and General Revenue Corporation - and the Bank arising out of the Multi-State Investigation. On March 20, 2017, the Bank moved to dismiss the Illinois Attorney General action as to the Bank, arguing, among other things, the complaint failed to allege with sufficient particularity or specificity how the Bank was responsible for any of the alleged conduct, most of which predated the Bank’s existence. Following argument on the Bank’s motion on July 18, 2017, the Illinois court took the Bank’s motion under advisement. As of the date of this report, the court has not ruled on the Bank’s motion. As contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement relating to, and the structure of, the Spin-Off, Navient is legally responsible for, has assumed, and has accepted responsibility to indemnify the Company against, all costs, expenses, losses and remediation that may arise from these matters.
To date, two other state attorneys general (Washington and Pennsylvania) have filed suits against Navient and one or more of its current subsidiaries arising out of matters arising from the Multi-State Investigation. Neither SLM, the Bank, nor any of their current subsidiaries are named in, or otherwise a party to, the Washington or Pennsylvania lawsuits, and no claims are asserted against them. Each complaint asserts in its own fashion that Navient assumed responsibility for these matters under the Separation and Distribution Agreement for the alleged conduct in the complaints.
Regulatory Update
On May 13, 2014, the Bank reached settlements with (a) the FDIC regarding disclosures and assessments of certain late fees, as well as compliance with the SCRA, and (b) the Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) regarding compliance with the SCRA. In connection with the settlements, the Bank became subject to the FDIC Consent Order and the DOJ Consent Order, which was approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware on September 29, 2014. Under the terms of the Separation and Distribution Agreement, Navient is responsible for funding all liabilities under the regulatory orders and, as of the date hereof, has funded all liabilities other than fines directly levied against the Bank in connection with these matters which the Bank is required to pay.
On March 27, 2017, the Bank received confirmation from the FDIC that effective March 23, 2017, the FDIC terminated the FDIC Consent Order. The termination was issued with no conditions.

68


The Bank continues to be in full compliance with the DOJ Consent Order, including policy and procedure updates. 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 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the “CFPB”) as part of the CFPB Investigation. Two state attorneys general also provided the Bank identical CIDs and other state attorneys general have become involved in the Multi-State Investigation. To the extent requested, the Bank has been cooperating fully with the CFPB and the attorneys general conducting the Multi-State Investigation. Given the timeframe covered by the CIDs, the CFPB Investigation and the Multi-State Investigation, and the focus on practices and procedures previously conducted by Navient and its servicing subsidiaries prior to the Spin-Off, Navient is leading the response to these investigations. Consequently, we have no basis from which to estimate either the duration or ultimate outcome of these investigations. Additional lawsuits may arise from the Multi-State Investigation which may or may not name the Company, the Bank or any of their current subsidiaries as parties to these suits. As with the Illinois lawsuit described above, the Bank is not responsible for any of the alleged conduct in the Multi-State Investigation or any claims that may arise from related lawsuits. As contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement relating to, and the structure of, the Spin-Off, Navient is legally responsible for, has assumed, and has accepted responsibility to indemnify the Company against, all costs, expenses, losses and remediation that may arise from these matters.
With regard to the CFPB Investigation, we note that on January 18, 2017, the CFPB filed a complaint in federal court in Pennsylvania against Navient, along with its subsidiaries, Navient Solutions, Inc. and Pioneer Credit Recovery, Inc. The complaint alleges these Navient entities, among other things, engaged in deceptive practices with respect to their historic servicing and debt collection practices. Neither SLM, the Bank, nor any of their current subsidiaries are named in, or otherwise a party to, the lawsuit and are not alleged to have engaged in any wrongdoing. The CFPB’s complaint asserts Navient’s assumption of these liabilities pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Item 1A. Risk Factors
Our business activities involve a variety of risks. Readers should carefully consider the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our 2017 Form 10-K.


69


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 March 31, 2018.
 
(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:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
January 1 - January 31, 2018
1,684

 
$
11.48

 

 

February 1 - February 28, 2018
1,050

 
$
11.04

 

 

March 1 - March 31, 2018
6

 
$
11.02

 

 

Total first-quarter 2018
2,740

 
$
11.31

 

 
 
_________
(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 March 29, 2018 was $11.21.

Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Nothing to report.
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5.
Other Information
Nothing to report.
 


70


Item 6.
Exhibits
The following exhibits are furnished or filed, as applicable:
10.1
 
 
10.2

 
 
10.3
 
 
10.4
 
 
12.1
 
 
31.1
 
 
31.2
 
 
32.1
 
 
32.2
 
 
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document.
 
 
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
 
 
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
 
 
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
 
 
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
 
 
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
 


71


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: April 23, 2018


72