e10vq
 
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, 2011
or
o
  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) 283-8000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
12061 Bluemont Way, Reston, Virginia 20190
(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 o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer þ Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes þ     No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o     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 April 30, 2011
 
Voting common stock, $.20 par value   527,420,754 shares
 


 

 
SLM CORPORATION

FORM 10-Q
INDEX
March 31, 2011
 
                 
Part I. Financial Information
       
 
Item 1.
    Financial Statements     2  
 
Item 2.
    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations     35  
 
Item 3.
    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk     73  
 
Item 4.
    Controls and Procedures     79  
PART II. Other Information
       
 
Item 1.
    Legal Proceedings     80  
 
Item 1A.
    Risk Factors     80  
 
Item 2.
    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds     81  
 
Item 3.
    Defaults Upon Senior Securities     81  
 
Item 4.
    (Removed and Reserved)     81  
 
Item 5.
    Other Information     81  
 
Item 6.
    Exhibits     82  
Signatures
    83  
Glossary(1)
    84  
 
 
(1) Definitions for capitalized terms used in this document can be found in the “Glossary” at the end of this document.


1


 

 
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1.   Financial Statements
 
SLM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
                 
    March 31,
    December 31,
 
    2011     2010  
 
Assets
               
FFELP Loans (net of allowance for losses of $190,235 and $188,858, respectively)
  $ 145,558,134     $ 148,649,400  
Private Education Loans (net of allowance for losses of $2,034,318 and $2,021,580, respectively)
    35,966,019       35,655,724  
Investments
               
Available-for-sale
    78,296       83,048  
Other
    813,322       873,376  
                 
Total investments
    891,618       956,424  
Cash and cash equivalents
    3,871,476       4,342,327  
Restricted cash and investments
    6,393,243       6,254,493  
Goodwill and acquired intangible assets, net
    472,345       478,409  
Other assets
    10,201,973       8,970,272  
                 
Total assets
  $ 203,354,808     $ 205,307,049  
                 
Liabilities
               
Short-term borrowings
  $ 32,316,856     $ 33,615,856  
Long-term borrowings
    161,886,309       163,543,504  
Other liabilities
    3,944,556       3,136,111  
                 
Total liabilities
    198,147,721       200,295,471  
                 
Commitments and contingencies
               
Equity
               
Preferred stock, par value $.20 per share, 20,000 shares authorized:
               
Series A: 3,300 and 3,300 shares, respectively, issued at stated value of $50 per share
    165,000       165,000  
Series B: 4,000 and 4,000 shares, respectively, issued at stated value of $100 per share
    400,000       400,000  
Common stock, par value $.20 per share, 1,125,000 shares authorized: 527,494 and 595,263 shares issued, respectively
    105,499       119,053  
Additional paid-in capital
    4,092,334       5,939,838  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (net of tax benefit of $20,417 and $25,758, respectively)
    (35,401 )     (44,664 )
Retained earnings
    479,655       308,839  
                 
Total equity before treasury stock
    5,207,087       6,888,066  
Common stock held in treasury at cost: 0 and 68,320 shares, respectively
          1,876,488  
                 
Total equity
    5,207,087       5,011,578  
                 
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 203,354,808     $ 205,307,049  
                 
 
Supplemental information — assets and liabilities of consolidated variable interest entities:
 
                 
    March 31,
    December 31,
 
    2011     2010  
 
FFELP Loans, net
  $ 142,271,427     $ 145,750,016  
Private Education Loans, net
    23,898,923       24,355,683  
Restricted cash and investments
    6,083,081       5,983,080  
Other assets
    4,173,741       3,705,716  
Short-term borrowings
    23,897,738       24,484,353  
Long-term borrowings
    139,928,763       142,243,771  
                 
Net assets of consolidated variable interest entities
  $ 12,600,671     $ 13,066,371  
                 
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


2


 

SLM CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2011     2010  
 
Interest income:
               
FFELP Loans
  $ 877,378     $ 806,762  
Private Education Loans
    603,933       565,154  
Other loans
    5,911       8,996  
Cash and investments
    5,339       4,949  
                 
Total interest income
    1,492,561       1,385,861  
Total interest expense
    594,595       531,384  
                 
Net interest income
    897,966       854,477  
Less: provisions for loan losses
    303,405       359,120  
                 
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses
    594,561       495,357  
                 
Other income (loss):
               
Gains on sales of loans and securities, net
          8,653  
Losses on derivative and hedging activities, net
    (241,882 )     (82,410 )
Servicing revenue
    98,252       122,272  
Contingency revenue
    78,381       80,312  
Gains on debt repurchases
    37,903       90,081  
Other
    21,745       13,800  
                 
Total other income (loss)
    (5,601 )     232,708  
                 
Expenses:
               
Salaries and benefits
    135,441       149,102  
Other operating expenses
    167,759       138,533  
                 
Total operating expenses
    303,200       287,635  
Goodwill and acquired intangible assets impairment and amortization expense
    6,064       9,712  
Restructuring expenses
    3,561       24,804  
                 
Total expenses
    312,825       322,151  
                 
Income from continuing operations, before income tax expense
    276,135       405,914  
Income tax expense
    99,711       159,160  
                 
Net income from continuing operations
    176,424       246,754  
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit
    (1,730 )     (6,614 )
                 
Net income
    174,694       240,140  
Preferred stock dividends
    3,878       18,678  
                 
Net income attributable to common stock
  $ 170,816     $ 221,462  
                 
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
               
Continuing operations
  $ .32     $ .47  
Discontinued operations
          (.01 )
                 
Total
  $ .32     $ .46  
                 
Average common shares outstanding
    526,746       484,259  
                 
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
               
Continuing operations
  $ .32     $ .46  
Discontinued operations
          (.01 )
                 
Total
  $ .32     $ .45  
                 
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding
    531,964       526,631  
                 
Dividends per common share
  $     $  
                 
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


3


 

 
SLM CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
                                                                                                         
                                              Accumulated
                               
    Preferred
                                  Additional
    Other
                Total
             
    Stock
    Common Stock Shares     Preferred
    Common
    Paid-In
    Comprehensive
    Retained
    Treasury
    Stockholders’
    Noncontrolling
    Total
 
    Shares     Issued     Treasury     Outstanding     Stock     Stock     Capital     Income (Loss)     Earnings     Stock     Equity     Interest     Equity  
 
Balance at December 31, 2009
    8,110,370       552,219,576       (67,221,942 )     484,997,634     $ 1,375,370     $ 110,444     $ 5,090,891     $ (40,825 )   $ 604,467     $ (1,861,738 )   $ 5,278,609     $ 13     $ 5,278,622  
Comprehensive income:
                                                                                                       
Net income
                                                                    240,140               240,140               240,140  
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
                                                                                                       
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of tax
                                                            63                       63               63  
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives, net of tax
                                                            (1,712 )                     (1,712 )             (1,712 )
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment
                                                            (37 )                     (37 )             (37 )
                                                                                                         
Comprehensive income
                                                                                    238,454               238,454  
Cash dividends:
                                                                                                       
Preferred stock, series A ($.87 per share)
                                                                    (2,875 )             (2,875 )             (2,875 )
Preferred stock, series B ($.24 per share)
                                                                    (955 )             (955 )             (955 )
Preferred stock, series C ($18.13 per share)
                                                                    (14,688 )             (14,688 )             (14,688 )
Restricted stock dividend
                                                                    (11 )             (11 )             (11 )
Issuance of common shares
            1,188,209               1,188,209               238       6,401                               6,639               6,639  
Preferred stock issuance costs and related amortization
                                                    160               (160 )                            
Tax benefit related to employee stock option and purchase plans
                                                    (3,593 )                             (3,593 )             (3,593 )
Stock-based compensation cost
                                                    12,235                               12,235               12,235  
Cumulative effect of accounting change
                                                                    (753,856 )             (753,856 )             (753,856 )
Repurchase of common shares:
                                                                                                       
Benefit plans
                    (341,846 )     (341,846 )                                             (4,282 )     (4,282 )             (4,282 )
Noncontrolling interest — other
                                                                                          6       6  
                                                                                                         
Balance at March 31, 2010
    8,110,370       553,407,785       (67,563,788 )     485,843,997     $ 1,375,370     $ 110,682     $ 5,106,094     $ (42,511 )   $ 72,062     $ (1,866,020 )   $ 4,755,677     $ 19     $ 4,755,696  
                                                                                                         
Balance at December 31, 2010
    7,300,000       595,263,474       (68,319,589 )     526,943,885     $ 565,000     $ 119,053     $ 5,939,838     $ (44,664 )   $ 308,839     $ (1,876,488 )   $ 5,011,578     $     $ 5,011,578  
Comprehensive income:
                                                                                                       
Net income
                                                                    174,694               174,694               174,694  
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
                                                                                                       
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of tax
                                                            (319 )                     (319 )             (319 )
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives, net of tax
                                                            9,374                       9,374               9,374  
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment
                                                            208                       208               208  
                                                                                                         
Comprehensive income
                                                                                    183,957               183,957  
Cash dividends:
                                                                                                       
Preferred stock, series A ($.87 per share)
                                                                    (2,875 )             (2,875 )             (2,875 )
Preferred stock, series B ($.32 per share)
                                                                    (1,003 )             (1,003 )             (1,003 )
Issuance of common shares
            2,304,659               2,304,659               461       22,474                               22,935               22,935  
Retirement of common stock in treasury
            (70,074,369 )     70,074,369                     (14,015 )     (1,889,891 )                     1,903,906                      
Tax benefit related to employee stock option and purchase plans
                                                    (5,079 )                             (5,079 )             (5,079 )
Stock-based compensation cost
                                                    24,992                               24,992               24,992  
Repurchase of common shares:
                                                                                                       
Benefit plans
                    (1,754,780 )     (1,754,780 )                                             (27,418 )     (27,418 )             (27,418 )
                                                                                                         
Balance at March 31, 2011
    7,300,000       527,493,764             527,493,764     $ 565,000     $ 105,499     $ 4,092,334     $ (35,401 )   $ 479,655     $     $ 5,207,087     $     $ 5,207,087  
                                                                                                         
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


4


 

 
SLM CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
                 
    Three Months Ended
 
    March 31,  
    2011     2010  
 
Operating activities
               
Net income
  $ 174,694     $ 240,140  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
               
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
    1,730       6,614  
Gains on sale of loans and securities, net
          (8,653 )
Gains on debt repurchases
    (37,903 )     (90,081 )
Goodwill and acquired intangible assets impairment and amortization expense
    6,064       9,712  
Stock-based compensation expense
    24,992       12,278  
Unrealized (gains)/losses on derivative and hedging activities
    56,796       (122,044 )
Provisions for loan losses
    303,405       359,120  
Student loans originated for sale, net
          (6,722,387 )
Decrease in restricted cash — other
    53,904       25,755  
(Increase) in accrued interest receivable
    (103,934 )     (158,066 )
Increase in accrued interest payable
    145,645       79,833  
Decrease in other assets
    212,287       821,729  
(Decrease) in other liabilities
    (78,761 )     (3,366 )
                 
Total adjustments
    584,225       (5,789,556 )
                 
Total net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
    758,919       (5,549,416 )
                 
Investing activities
               
Student loans acquired and originated
    (1,278,529 )     (1,689,074 )
Reduction of student loans:
               
Installment payments, claims and other
    4,551,933       3,484,121  
Proceeds from sales of student loans
    188,520       75,493  
Other loans — repaid
    14,699       82,688  
Other investing activities, net
    (955,202 )     (911,947 )
Purchases of available-for-sale securities
    (70,534 )     (18,688,583 )
Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale securities
    53,444       19,182,117  
Purchases of other securities
    (50,063 )     (10,458 )
Proceeds from maturities of other securities
    67,394       39,007  
(Increase) in restricted cash
    (91,823 )     (52,489 )
                 
Cash provided by investing activities — continuing operations
    2,429,839       1,510,875  
                 
Cash provided by investing activities — discontinued operations
    28,424       42,752  
                 
Total net cash provided by investing activities
    2,458,263       1,553,627  
                 
Financing activities
               
Borrowings collateralized by loans in trust — issued
    818,447       1,544,073  
Borrowings collateralized by loans in trust — repaid
    (2,712,317 )     (2,099,724 )
Asset-backed commercial paper conduits, net
    (1,237,935 )     (441,723 )
ED Participation Program, net
          6,740,199  
ED Conduit Program facility, net
    (911,868 )     368,537  
Other long-term borrowings issued
    1,966,802       1,463,534  
Other long-term borrowings repaid
    (1,814,721 )     (2,541,703 )
Other financing activities, net
    206,605       (247,746 )
Excess tax benefit from the exercise of stock-based awards
    832       100  
Common stock issued
          11  
Preferred dividends paid
    (3,878 )     (18,517 )
Noncontrolling interest, net
          (363 )
                 
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (3,688,033 )     4,766,678  
                 
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
    (470,851 )     770,889  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    4,342,327       6,070,013  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 3,871,476     $ 6,840,902  
                 
Cash disbursements made (refunds received) for:
               
Interest
  $ 612,519     $ 549,075  
                 
Income taxes paid
  $ 165,243     $ 5,097  
                 
Income taxes (received)
  $ (18,008 )   $ (498,229 )
                 
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


5


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
1.   Significant Accounting Policies
 
Basis of Presentation
 
The accompanying unaudited, consolidated financial statements of SLM Corporation (“we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”) 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 of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete consolidated financial statements. 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, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2011. 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, 2010 (the “2010 Form 10-K”).
 
Reclassifications
 
Certain reclassifications have been made to the balances as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2010 to be consistent with classifications adopted for 2011, and had no effect on net income, total assets, or total liabilities.
 
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
 
Troubled Debt Restructurings
 
In April 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board released Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-02, Receivables, which provides clarification for creditors in determining whether or not a restructuring of a loan is considered a troubled debt restructuring. This new guidance is effective for us as of July 1, 2011; but will be applied retrospectively to January 1, 2011 upon adoption. We may identify student loans that are considered a troubled debt restructuring that were previously not and this may require us to increase the amount of recorded impairment. We are currently evaluating the new guidance and have not yet determined what effect, if any, it will have on our consolidated financial statements.
 
2.   Allowance for Loan Losses
 
Our provisions for loan losses represent the periodic expense of maintaining an allowance sufficient to absorb incurred losses, net of expected recoveries, in the held-for-investment loan portfolios. The evaluation of the provisions for student loan losses is inherently subjective as it requires material estimates that may be susceptible to significant changes. We believe that the allowance for student loan losses is appropriate to cover probable losses incurred in the loan portfolios. We segregate our Private Education Loan portfolio into two classes of loans — traditional and non-traditional. Non-traditional loans are loans to borrowers attending for-profit schools with an original FICO score of less than 670 and borrowers attending not-for-profit schools with an original FICO score of less than 640. The FICO score used in determining whether a loan is non-traditional is the greater of the borrower or co-borrower FICO score at origination. Traditional loans are defined as all other Private Education Loans that are not classified as non-traditional.


6


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
2.   Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued)
 
In determining the allowance for loan losses, we estimate the principal amount of loans that will default over the next two years (two years being the expected period between a loss event and default). In the first quarter of 2011, we implemented a new model to estimate these Private Education Loan defaults. Both the prior model and new model are considered “migration models”. Our prior allowance model (in place through December 31, 2010) segmented the portfolio into categories of similar risk characteristics based on loan program type, school type, loan status, seasoning, underwriting criteria (credit scores) and the existence or absence of a cosigner using school type, credit scores, cosigner status, loan status and seasoning as the primary risk characteristics. Our new model uses these same primary risk characteristics but also further segments the portfolio by the number of months the loan is in its repayment period (seasoning). While our previous allowance process incorporated the impact of seasoning, the new model more directly incorporates this aspect. Another change in the new allowance model relates to the historical period of experience that we use as a starting point for projecting future defaults. Our new model is based upon a seasonal average, adjusted to the previous three to six months of actual collection experience as the starting point and applies expected macroeconomic changes and collection procedure changes to estimate expected losses caused by loss events incurred as of the balance sheet date. Our previous model primarily used a one year historical default experience period and did not include the ability to directly model an economic expectation or collection procedure change. As a result, the previous allowance process included qualitative adjustments for these factors. As such, the new model is less dependent on a long look-back period because we do not believe that our delinquency and default experience over the past few years is indicative of the probable losses incurred in the loan portfolio today. While the model we use as a part of the allowance for loan losses process changed in the first quarter, the overall process for calculating the appropriate amount of allowance for Private Education Loan loss as disclosed in the 2010 Form 10-K has not changed. The new model is more reactive to recent borrower behavior, loan performance, and collection performance, as well as expectations about economic factors. There was no adjustment to our allowance for loan loss upon implementing this new default projection model in the first quarter of 2011. In addition, there was no change in how we estimate the amount we will recover over time related to these defaulted amounts.
 


7


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
2.   Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued)
 
                                 
    Allowance for Loan Losses
 
    Three Months Ended March 31, 2011  
          Private Education
    Other
       
    FFELP Loans     Loans     Loans     Total  
 
Allowance for Loan Losses
                               
Beginning balance
  $ 188,858     $ 2,021,580     $ 72,516     $ 2,282,954  
Total provision
    23,122       275,048       5,235       303,405  
Charge-offs
    (20,313 )     (273,002 )     (3,954 )     (297,269 )
Loan sales
    (1,432 )                 (1,432 )
Reclassification of interest reserve(1)
          10,692             10,692  
                                 
Ending Balance
  $ 190,235     $ 2,034,318     $ 73,797     $ 2,298,350  
                                 
Allowance:
                               
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment
  $     $ 122,862     $ 61,309     $ 184,171  
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment
  $ 190,235     $ 1,911,456     $ 12,488     $ 2,114,179  
Ending balance: loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality
  $     $     $     $  
Loans:
                               
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment
  $     $ 474,550     $ 115,693     $ 590,243  
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment
  $ 143,916,560     $ 38,402,114     $ 207,657       182,526,331  
Ending balance: loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality
  $     $     $     $  
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment and forbearance (annualized)
    .07 %     3.8 %     %        
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)
    .09 %     3.9 %     %        
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance
    .13 %     5.2 %     22.8 %        
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment
    .20 %     7.2 %     %        
Allowance coverage of charge-offs (annualized)
    2.3       1.8       4.6          
Ending total loans(2)
  $ 143,916,560     $ 38,876,664     $ 323,350          
Average loans in repayment
  $ 95,504,452     $ 28,127,066     $          
Ending loans in repayment
  $ 94,309,517     $ 28,120,260     $          
 
 
(1) Represents the additional allowance related to the amount of uncollectible interest reserved within interest income that is transferred in the period to the allowance for loan losses when interest is capitalized to a loan’s principal balance.
 
(2) Ending total loans for Private Education Loans includes the receivable for partially charged-off loans.
 

8


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
2.   Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued)
 
                                 
    Allowance for Loan Losses
 
    Three Months Ended March 31, 2010  
          Private Education
    Other
       
    FFELP Loans     Loans     Loans     Total  
 
Allowance for Loan Losses
                               
Beginning balance
  $ 161,168     $ 1,443,440     $ 76,261     $ 1,680,869  
Total provision
    22,996       325,022       11,102       359,120  
Charge-offs
    (21,404 )     (284,478 )     (8,699 )     (314,581 )
Loan sales
    (1,694 )                 (1,694 )
Reclassification of interest reserve(1)
          10,642             10,642  
Consolidation of securitization trusts(2)
    25,149       524,050             549,199  
                                 
Ending Balance
  $ 186,215     $ 2,018,676     $ 78,664     $ 2,283,555  
                                 
Allowance:
                               
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment
  $     $ 63,503     $ 60,844     $ 124,347  
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment
  $ 186,215     $ 1,955,173     $ 17,820     $ 2,159,208  
Ending balance: loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality
  $     $     $     $  
Loans:
                               
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment
  $     $ 314,910     $ 125,286     $ 440,196  
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment
  $ 143,914,476     $ 37,978,010     $ 286,449     $ 182,178,935  
Ending balance: loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality
  $     $     $     $  
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment and forbearance (annualized)
    .09 %     4.4 %     %        
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)
    .11 %     4.7 %     %        
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance
    .13 %     5.3 %     19.1 %        
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment
    .23 %     8.2 %     %        
Allowance coverage of charge-offs (annualized)
    2.1       1.7       2.2          
Ending total loans(3)
  $ 143,914,476     $ 38,292,920     $ 411,735          
Average loans in repayment
  $ 82,437,527     $ 24,645,633     $          
Ending loans in repayment
  $ 82,457,392     $ 24,705,990     $          
 
 
(1) Represents the additional allowance related to the amount of uncollectible interest reserved within interest income that is transferred in the period to the allowance for loan losses when interest is capitalized to a loan’s principal balance.
 
(2) Upon the adoption of the new consolidation accounting guidance on January 1, 2010, we consolidated all of our previously off-balance sheet securitization trusts.
 
(3) Ending total loans for Private Education Loans includes the receivable for partially charged-off loans.

9


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
2.   Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued)
 
 
The following tables provide information regarding the loan status and aging of past due loans as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010.
 
                                 
    FFELP Loan Delinquencies  
    March 31,
    December 31,
 
    2011     2010  
(Dollars in millions)   Balance     %     Balance     %  
 
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)
  $ 27,773             $ 28,214          
Loans in forbearance(2)
    21,834               22,028          
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
                               
Loans current
    78,756       83.5 %     80,026       82.8 %
Loans delinquent 31-60 days(3)
    5,050       5.4       5,500       5.7  
Loans delinquent 61-90 days(3)
    3,069       3.2       3,178       3.3  
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(3)
    7,434       7.9       7,992       8.2  
                                 
Total FFELP Loans in repayment
    94,309       100 %     96,696       100 %
                                 
Total FFELP Loans, gross
    143,916               146,938          
FFELP Loan unamortized premium
    1,832               1,900          
                                 
Total FFELP Loans
    145,748               148,838          
FFELP Loan allowance for losses
    (190 )             (189 )        
                                 
FFELP Loans, net
  $ 145,558             $ 148,649          
                                 
Percentage of FFELP Loans in repayment
            65.5 %             65.8 %
                                 
Delinquencies as a percentage of FFELP Loans in repayment
            16.5 %             17.2 %
                                 
FFELP Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance
            18.8 %             18.6 %
                                 
 
 
(1) Loans for borrowers who may still be attending school or engaging 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, as well as loans for borrowers who have requested extension of grace period during employment transition.
 
(2) Loans for borrowers who have used their allowable deferment time or do not qualify for deferment, that need additional time to obtain employment or who have temporarily ceased making payments due to hardship or other factors.
 
(3) The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.
 


10


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
2.   Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued)
 
                                 
    Private Education Traditional Loan Delinquencies  
    March 31,
    December 31,
 
    2011     2010  
(Dollars in millions)   Balance     %     Balance     %  
 
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)
  $ 7,414             $ 7,419          
Loans in forbearance(2)
    1,155               1,156          
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
                               
Loans current
    23,193       91.3 %     22,850       91.2 %
Loans delinquent 31-60 days(3)
    745       2.9       794       3.2  
Loans delinquent 61-90 days(3)
    424       1.7       340       1.4  
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(3)
    1,039       4.1       1,060       4.2  
                                 
Total traditional loans in repayment
    25,401       100 %     25,044       100 %
                                 
Total traditional loans, gross
    33,970               33,619          
Traditional loans unamortized discount
    (788 )             (801 )        
                                 
Total traditional loans
    33,182               32,818          
Traditional loans receivable for partially charged-off loans
    593               558          
Traditional loans allowance for losses
    (1,298 )             (1,231 )        
                                 
Traditional loans, net
  $ 32,477             $ 32,145          
                                 
Percentage of traditional loans in repayment
            74.8 %             74.5 %
                                 
Delinquencies as a percentage of traditional loans in repayment
            8.7 %             8.8 %
                                 
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance
            4.4 %             4.4 %
                                 
Loans in repayment greater than 12 months as a percentage of loans in repayment(4)
            69.8 %             67.9 %
                                 
 
 
(1) Loans for borrowers who may still be attending school or engaging 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 borrowers who have requested extension of grace period generally during employment transition or who have temporarily ceased making 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.
 
(4) Based on number of months in an active repayment status for which a scheduled monthly payment was due.
 

11


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
2.   Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued)
 
                                 
    Private Education Non-Traditional Loan Delinquencies  
    March 31,
    December 31,
 
    2011     2010  
(Dollars in millions)   Balance     %     Balance     %  
 
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)
  $ 909             $ 921          
Loans in forbearance(2)
    188               184          
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
                               
Loans current
    2,002       73.6 %     2,038       72.6 %
Loans delinquent 31-60 days(3)
    185       6.8       217       7.7  
Loans delinquent 61-90 days(3)
    140       5.2       131       4.7  
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(3)
    392       14.4       422       15.0  
                                 
Total non-traditional loans in repayment
    2,719       100 %     2,808       100 %
                                 
Total non-traditional loans, gross
    3,816               3,913          
Non-traditional loans unamortized discount
    (88 )             (93 )        
                                 
Total non-traditional loans
    3,728               3,820          
Non-traditional loans receivable for partially charged-off loans
    497               482          
Non-traditional loans allowance for losses
    (736 )             (791 )        
                                 
Non-traditional loans, net
  $ 3,489             $ 3,511          
                                 
Percentage of non-traditional loans in repayment
            71.3 %             71.8 %
                                 
Delinquencies as a percentage of non-traditional loans in repayment
            26.4 %             27.4 %
                                 
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance
            6.5 %             6.1 %
                                 
Loans in repayment greater than 12 months as a percentage of loans in repayment(4)
            64.8 %             61.3 %
                                 
 
 
(1) Loans for borrowers who may still be attending school or engaging 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 borrowers who have requested extension of grace period generally during employment transition or who have temporarily ceased making 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.
 
(4) Based on number of months in an active repayment status for which a scheduled monthly payment was due.

12


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
2.   Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued)
 
 
The following table provides information regarding accrued interest receivable on our Private Education Loans at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010. 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.
 
                         
    Accrued Interest Receivable  
          Greater than
    Allowance for
 
          90 days
    Uncollectible
 
    Total     Past Due     Interest  
 
March 31, 2011
                       
Private Education Loans — Traditional
  $ 1,033,242     $ 34,922     $ 47,527  
Private Education Loans — Non-Traditional
    195,200       19,287       36,810  
                         
Total
  $ 1,228,442     $ 54,209     $ 84,337  
                         
December 31, 2010
                       
Private Education Loans — Traditional
  $ 1,062,289     $ 34,644     $ 56,755  
Private Education Loans — Non-Traditional
    208,587       20,270       37,057  
                         
Total
  $ 1,270,876     $ 54,914     $ 93,812  
                         
 
FFELP Loans are substantially guaranteed as to their principal and accrued interest in the event of default, therefore, the key credit quality indicator for this portfolio is loan status. The impact of changes in loan status is incorporated quarterly into the allowance for loan losses calculation. For Private Education Loans, the key credit quality indicators are the school type/FICO scores, the existence of a cosigner, the loan status and loan seasoning. The school type/FICO score are assessed at origination and maintained through the traditional/non-traditional loan designation. The other Private Education Loan key quality indicators can


13


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
2.   Allowance for Loan Losses (Continued)
 
change and are incorporated quarterly into the allowance for loan losses calculation. The following table highlights the principal balance (excluding the receivable for partially charged-off loans) of our Private Education Loan portfolio stratified by the key credit quality indicators.
 
                                 
    Private Education Loans
 
    Credit Quality Indicators  
    March 31, 2011     December 31, 2010  
(Dollars in millions)   Balance(3)     % of Balance     Balance(3)     % of Balance  
 
Credit Quality Indicators
                               
School Type/FICO Scores:
                               
Traditional
  $ 33,970       90 %   $ 33,619       90 %
Non-Traditional(1)
    3,816       10       3,913       10  
                                 
Total
  $ 37,786       100 %   $ 37,532       100 %
                                 
Cosigners:
                               
With cosigner
  $ 22,727       60 %   $ 22,259       59 %
Without cosigner
    15,059       40       15,273       41  
                                 
Total
  $ 37,786       100 %   $ 37,532       100 %
                                 
Seasoning(2):
                               
1-12 payments
  $ 9,453       25 %   $ 9,963       27 %
13-24 payments
    6,934       18       6,951       19  
25-36 payments
    4,765       13       4,675       12  
37-48 payments
    3,200       8       3,019       8  
More than 48 payments
    5,111       14       4,584       12  
Not yet in repayment
    8,323       22       8,340       22  
                                 
Total
  $ 37,786       100 %   $ 37,532       100 %
                                 
 
 
(1) Defined as loans to borrowers attending for-profit schools (with a FICO score of less than 670 at origination) and borrowers attending not-for-profit schools (with a FICO score of less than 640 at origination).
 
(2) Number of months in active repayment for which a scheduled payment was due.
 
(3) Balance represents gross Private Education Loans.
 
We offer temporary interest rate reductions to Private Education Loan borrowers who are both experiencing financial difficulties and meet other criteria. At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, approximately $475 million and $444 million, respectively, had qualified at some point for an interest rate reduction modification since the inception of the program in May 2009. These modifications met the criteria of a troubled debt restructuring in accordance with ASC 310-40 Receivables — Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors and are individually evaluated for impairment. The allowance for loan losses associated with these loans was $123 million and $114 million at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. Subsequent to modification, $70 million and $53 million defaulted through March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, approximately $235 million and $257 million, respectively, had qualified for the program and were currently receiving a reduction in their interest rate.


14


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
3.   Borrowings
 
The following table summarizes our borrowings as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010.
 
                                                 
    March 31, 2011     December 31, 2010  
    Short
    Long
          Short
    Long
       
(Dollars in millions)   Term     Term     Total     Term     Term     Total  
 
Unsecured borrowings:
                                               
Senior unsecured debt
  $ 3,741     $ 16,894     $ 20,635     $ 4,361     $ 15,742     $ 20,103  
Brokered deposits
    1,324       2,808       4,132       1,387       3,160       4,547  
Retail and other deposits
    1,500             1,500       1,370             1,370  
Other(1)
    1,064             1,064       887             887  
                                                 
Subtotal unsecured borrowings
    7,629       19,702       27,331       8,005       18,902       26,907  
                                                 
Secured borrowings:
                                               
FFELP Loans securitizations
          111,042       111,042             112,425       112,425  
Private Education Loans securitizations
          20,983       20,983             21,409       21,409  
ED Conduit Program facility
    23,573             23,573       24,484             24,484  
ABCP borrowings
    325       4,671       4,996             5,853       5,853  
Acquisition financing(2)
          1,064       1,064             1,064       1,064  
FHLB-DM facility
    525             525       900             900  
Indentured trusts
          1,187       1,187             1,246       1,246  
                                                 
Subtotal secured borrowings
    24,423       138,947       163,370       25,384       141,997       167,381  
                                                 
Total before hedge accounting adjustments
    32,052       158,649       190,701       33,389       160,899       194,288  
Hedge accounting adjustments
    265       3,237       3,502       227       2,644       2,871  
                                                 
Total
  $ 32,317     $ 161,886     $ 194,203     $ 33,616     $ 163,543     $ 197,159  
                                                 
 
 
(1) “Other” primarily consists of cash collateral held related to derivative exposures that are recorded as a short-term debt obligation.
 
(2) Relates to the acquisition of the $25 billion of student loans at the end of 2010.


15


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
3.   Borrowings (Continued)
 
 
Secured Borrowings
 
We currently consolidate all of our financing entities that are VIEs as a result of 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, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
 
                                                         
    March 31, 2011  
    Debt Outstanding     Carrying Amount of Assets Securing Debt
 
    Short
    Long
          Outstanding  
(Dollars in millions)   Term     Term     Total     Loans     Cash     Other Assets     Total  
 
Secured Borrowings:
                                                       
ED Conduit Program Facility
  $ 23,573     $     $ 23,573     $ 23,572     $ 680     $ 619     $ 24,871  
ABCP borrowings
    325       4,671       4,996       5,383       91       46       5,520  
Securitizations — FFELP Loans
          111,042       111,042       111,833       3,924       609       116,366  
Securitizations — Private Education Loans
          20,983       20,983       23,899       1,246       958       26,103  
Indentured trusts
          1,187       1,187       1,484       141       14       1,639  
                                                         
Total before hedge accounting adjustments
    23,898       137,883       161,781       166,171       6,082       2,246       174,499  
Hedge accounting adjustments
          2,046       2,046                   1,929       1,929  
                                                         
Total
  $ 23,898     $ 139,929     $ 163,827     $ 166,171     $ 6,082     $ 4,175     $ 176,428  
                                                         
 


16


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
3.   Borrowings (Continued)
 
                                                         
    December 31, 2010  
    Debt Outstanding     Carrying Amount of Assets Securing Debt
 
    Short
    Long
          Outstanding  
(Dollars in millions)   Term     Term     Total     Loans     Cash     Other Assets     Total  
 
Secured Borrowings:
                                                       
ED Conduit Program Facility
  $ 24,484     $     $ 24,484     $ 24,511     $ 819     $ 634     $ 25,964  
ABCP borrowings
          5,853       5,853       6,290       94       53       6,437  
Securitizations — FFELP Loans
          112,425       112,425       113,400       3,728       966       118,094  
Securitizations — Private Education Loans
          21,409       21,409       24,355       1,213       690       26,258  
Indentured trusts
          1,246       1,246       1,549       129       15       1,693  
                                                         
Total before hedge accounting adjustments
    24,484       140,933       165,417       170,105       5,983       2,358       178,446  
Hedge accounting adjustments
          1,311       1,311                   1,348       1,348  
                                                         
Total
  $ 24,484     $ 142,244     $ 166,728     $ 170,105     $ 5,983     $ 3,706     $ 179,794  
                                                         
 
On April 26, 2011, we issued a $562 million Private Education Loan ABS transaction at an all-in LIBOR equivalent cost of one-month LIBOR plus 1.99 percent. This issue has a weighted average life of 3.8 years and initial over-collateralization of approximately 21 percent.
 
On March 3, 2011, we issued an $812 million FFELP ABS transaction at an all-in LIBOR equivalent cost of one-month LIBOR plus 1.14 percent. This issue has a weighted average life of 5.8 years and initial over-collateralization of approximately 3 percent.
 
On January 14, 2011, we issued a $2 billion five-year 6.25 percent fixed rate unsecured bond. The bond was issued to yield 6.50 percent before underwriting fees. The rate on the bond was swapped from a fixed rate to a floating rate equal to an all-in cost of one-month LIBOR plus 4.46 percent. The proceeds of this bond were designated for general corporate purposes.
 
We also repurchase our outstanding unsecured debt in both open-market repurchases and public tender offers. Repurchasing debt helps us to better manage our short-term and long-term funding needs. In the first quarter of 2011 we repurchased $825 million face amount of our senior unsecured notes in the aggregate, with maturity dates ranging from 2011 to 2014, which resulted in a total gain of $64 million.
 
We have $5.2 billion in Private Education Loan securitization bonds outstanding at March 31, 2011, where we have the ability to call the bonds at a discount to par between the fourth quarter of 2011 and 2014. We have concluded that it is probable we will call these bonds at the call date at the respective discount. Probability is based on our assessment of whether these bonds can be refinanced at the call date at or lower than a breakeven cost of funds based on the call discount. As a result, we are accreting this call discount as a reduction to interest expense through the call date. If it becomes less than probable that we will call these bonds at a future date, it will result in our reversing this prior accretion as a cumulative catch-up adjustment.

17


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
3.   Borrowings (Continued)
 
We have accreted approximately $200 million, cumulatively, and $28 million in the three months ended March 31, 2011 as a reduction of interest expense.
 
Securitization Activity
 
The following table summarizes our securitization activity for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010. The securitizations in the periods presented below were accounted for as financings.
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2011     2010  
          Loan
          Loan
 
    No. of
    Amount
    No. of
    Amount
 
(Dollars in millions)   Transactions     Securitized     Transactions     Securitized  
 
Securitizations:
                               
FFELP Consolidation Loans
    1     $ 773           $  
Private Education Loans
                1       1,929  
                                 
Total securitizations
    1     $ 773       1     $ 1,929  
                                 


18


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
4.   Derivative Financial Instruments
 
Our risk management strategy, use and accounting of derivatives has not materially changed from that discussed in our 2010 Form 10-K. Please refer to Note 9, “Derivative Financial Instruments” in our 2010 Form 10-K for a full discussion.
 
Summary of Derivative Financial Statement Impact
 
The following tables summarize the fair values and notional amounts of all derivative instruments at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, and their impact on other comprehensive income and earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
Impact of Derivatives on Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
                                                                     
        Cash Flow     Fair Value     Trading     Total  
    Hedged Risk
  March 31,
    Dec. 31,
    March 31,
    Dec. 31,
    March 31,
    Dec. 31,
    March 31,
    Dec. 31,
 
(Dollars in millions)   Exposure   2011     2010     2011     2010     2011     2010     2011     2010  
 
Fair Values(1)
                                                                   
Derivative Assets
                                                                   
Interest rate swaps
  Interest rate   $     $     $ 787     $ 967     $ 161     $ 200     $ 948     $ 1,167  
Cross currency interest rate swaps
  Foreign currency and interest rate                 2,592       1,925       84       101       2,676       2,026  
Other(2)
  Interest rate                             26       26       26       26  
                                                                     
Total derivative assets(3)
                    3,379       2,892       271       327       3,650       3,219  
Derivative Liabilities
                                                                   
Interest rate swaps
  Interest rate     (46 )     (75 )     (18 )           (348 )     (348 )     (412 )     (423 )
Floor Income Contracts
  Interest rate                             (2,106 )     (1,315 )     (2,106 )     (1,315 )
Cross currency interest rate swaps
  Foreign currency and interest rate                 (181 )     (215 )     (1 )           (182 )     (215 )
Other(2)
  Interest rate                                   (1 )           (1 )
                                                                     
Total derivative liabilities(3)
        (46 )     (75 )     (199 )     (215 )     (2,455 )     (1,664 )     (2,700 )     (1,954 )
                                                                     
Net total derivatives
      $ (46 )   $ (75 )   $ 3,180     $ 2,677     $ (2,184 )   $ (1,337 )   $ 950     $ 1,265  
                                                                     
 
 
(1) Fair values reported are exclusive of collateral held and pledged and accrued interest. Assets and liabilities are presented without consideration of master netting agreements. Derivatives are carried on the balance sheet based on net position by counterparty under master netting agreements, and classified in other assets or other liabilities depending on whether in a net positive or negative position.
 
(2) “Other” includes the fair value of Euro-dollar futures contracts, the embedded derivatives in asset-backed financings, and derivatives related to our Total Return Swap Facility. The embedded derivatives are required to be accounted for as derivatives.
 
(3) The following table reconciles gross positions without the impact of master netting agreements to the balance sheet classification:
 
                                 
    Other Assets     Other Liabilities  
    March 31,
    December 31,
    March 31,
    December 31,
 
(Dollars in millions)   2011     2010     2011     2010  
 
Gross position
  $ 3,650     $ 3,219     $ (2,700 )   $ (1,954 )
Impact of master netting agreements
    (792 )     (782 )     792       782  
                                 
Derivative values with impact of master netting agreements (as carried on balance sheet)
    2,858       2,437       (1,908 )     (1,172 )
Cash collateral (held) pledged
    (1,063 )     (886 )     749       809  
                                 
Net position
  $ 1,795     $ 1,551     $ (1,159 )   $ (363 )
                                 


19


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
4.   Derivative Financial Instruments (Continued)
 
 
The above fair values include adjustments for counterparty credit risk for both when we are exposed to the counterparty, net of collateral postings, and when the counterparty is exposed to us, net of collateral postings. The net adjustments decreased the overall net asset position at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 by $60 million and $72 million, respectively. In addition, the above fair values reflect adjustments for illiquid derivatives as indicated by a wide bid/ask spread in the interest rate indices to which the derivatives are indexed. These adjustments decreased the overall net asset position at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 by $116 million and $129 million, respectively.
 
                                                                 
    Cash Flow     Fair Value     Trading     Total  
    March 31,
    Dec. 31,
    March 31,
    Dec. 31,
    March 31,
    Dec. 31,
    March 31,
    Dec. 31,
 
(Dollars in billions)   2011     2010     2011     2010     2011     2010     2011     2010  
 
Notional Values
                                                               
Interest rate swaps
  $ 1.1     $ 1.6     $ 15.2     $ 13.5     $ 111.2     $ 118.9     $ 127.5     $ 134.0  
Floor Income Contracts
                            74.2       39.3       74.2       39.3  
Cross currency interest rate swaps
                17.3       17.5       .3       .3       17.6       17.8  
Other(1)
                            1.6       1.0       1.6       1.0  
                                                                 
Total derivatives
  $ 1.1     $ 1.6     $ 32.5     $ 31.0     $ 187.3     $ 159.5     $ 220.9     $ 192.1  
                                                                 
 
 
(1) “Other” includes Euro-dollar futures contracts, embedded derivatives bifurcated from securitization debt, as well as derivatives related to our Total Return Swap Facility.
 
Impact of Derivatives on Consolidated Statements of Income
 
                                                                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,  
          Realized Gain
             
    Unrealized Gain
    (Loss)
    Unrealized Gain
       
    (Loss) on
    on
    (Loss)
    Total Gain
 
    Derivatives(1)(2)     Derivatives(3)     on Hedged Item(1)     (Loss)  
(Dollars in millions)   2011     2010     2011     2010     2011     2010     2011     2010  
 
Fair Value Hedges:
                                                               
Interest rate swaps
  $ (198 )   $ 55     $ 128     $ 120     $ 205     $ (63 )   $ 135     $ 112  
Cross currency interest rate swaps
    701       (1,348 )     76       101       (878 )     1,363       (101 )     116  
                                                                 
Total fair value derivatives
    503       (1,293 )     204       221       (673 )     1,300       34       228  
Cash Flow Hedges:
                                                               
Interest rate swaps
    (2 )     (1 )     (14 )     (15 )                 (16 )     (16 )
                                                                 
Total cash flow derivatives
    (2 )     (1 )     (14 )     (15 )                 (16 )     (16 )
Trading:
                                                               
Interest rate swaps
    (22 )     110       40       6                   18       116  
Floor Income Contracts
    151       19       (226 )     (210 )                 (75 )     (191 )
Cross currency interest rate swaps
    (17 )     (7 )     2       2                   (15 )     (5 )
Other
    3       (6 )     (1 )     (2 )                 2       (8 )
                                                                 
Total trading derivatives
    115       116       (185 )     (204 )                 (70 )     (88 )
                                                                 
Total
    616       (1,178 )     5       2       (673 )     1,300       (52 )     124  
Less: realized gains (losses) recorded in interest expense
                190       206                   190       206  
                                                                 
Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net
  $ 616     $ (1,178 )   $ (185 )   $ (204 )   $ (673 )   $ 1,300     $ (242 )   $ (82 )
                                                                 
 
 
(1) Recorded in “Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” in the consolidated statements of income.
 
(2) Represents ineffectiveness related to cash flow hedges.
 
(3) For fair value and cash flow hedges, recorded in interest expense. For trading derivatives, recorded in “Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net.”


20


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
4.   Derivative Financial Instruments (Continued)
 
 
Impact of Derivatives on Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (net of tax)
 
                 
    Three Months
 
    Ended
 
    March 31,  
(Dollars in millions)   2011     2010  
 
Total gains (losses) on cash flow hedges
  $ (2 )   $ (15 )
Realized (gains) losses reclassified to interest expense(1)(2)(3)
    10       12  
Hedge ineffectiveness reclassified to earnings(1)(4)
    1       1  
                 
Total change in stockholders’ equity for unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives
  $ 9     $ (2 )
                 
 
 
     (1)  Amounts included in “Realized gains (losses) on derivatives” in the “Impact of Derivatives on Consolidated Statements of Income” table above.
 
     (2)  Includes net settlement income/expense.
 
     (3)  We expect to reclassify $10 million of after-tax net losses from accumulated other comprehensive income to earnings during the next 12 months related to amortization of cash flow hedges that were hedging debt instruments that are outstanding as of the reporting date.
 
     (4)  Recorded in “Gains (losses) derivatives and hedging activities, net” in the consolidated statements of income.
 
Collateral
 
Collateral held and pledged at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 related to derivative exposures between us and our derivative counterparties are detailed in the following table:
 
                 
(Dollars in millions)   March 31, 2011     December 31, 2010  
 
Collateral held:
               
Cash (obligation to return cash collateral is recorded in short-term borrowings)(1)
  $ 1,063     $ 886  
Securities at fair value (not recorded in financial statements)(2)
    975       585  
                 
Total collateral held
  $ 2,038     $ 1,471  
                 
Derivative asset at fair value including accrued interest
  $ 3,157     $ 2,540  
                 
Collateral pledged to others:
               
Cash (right to receive return of cash collateral is recorded in investments)
  $ 749     $ 809  
Securities at fair value (recorded in restricted investments)(3)
    49       36  
                 
Total collateral pledged
  $ 798     $ 845  
                 
Derivative liability at fair value including accrued interest and premium receivable
  $ 782     $ 747  
                 
 
 
(1) At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, $204 million and $108 million, respectively, were held in restricted cash accounts.
 
(2) We do not have the ability to sell or re-pledge these securities. As such the securities are not recorded in the financial statements.
 
(3) Counterparty has the right to sell or re-pledge securities.
 
Our corporate derivatives contain credit contingent features. At our current unsecured credit rating, we have fully collateralized our corporate derivative liability position (including accrued interest and net of premiums receivable) of $750 million with our counterparties as of the collateral call date. Further downgrades would not result in any additional collateral requirements, except to increase the frequency of collateral calls. Two counterparties have the right to terminate the contracts with further downgrades. We currently have a liability position with these derivative counterparties (including accrued interest and net of premiums receivable) of $124 million and have posted $118 million of collateral to these counterparties. If the credit


21


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
4.   Derivative Financial Instruments (Continued)
 
contingent feature was triggered for these two counterparties and the counterparties exercised their right to terminate, we would be required to deliver additional assets totaling $6 million to settle the contracts. Trust related derivatives do not contain credit contingent features related to our or the trusts’ credit ratings.
 
5.   Other Assets
 
The following table provides detail on our other assets at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010.
 
                                 
    March 31, 2011     December 31, 2010  
    Ending
    % of
    Ending
    % of
 
(Dollars in millions)   Balance     Balance     Balance     Balance  
 
Accrued interest receivable
  $ 3,031       30 %     2,927       33 %
Derivatives at fair value
    2,858       28       2,437       27  
Accounts receivable — general
    1,430       14       730       8  
Income tax asset, net current and deferred
    1,322       13       1,283       14  
Benefit and insurance-related investments
    461       4       462       5  
Fixed assets, net
    284       3       291       4  
Purchased paper-related receivables
    68       1       96       1  
Other loans
    251       2       271       3  
Other
    496       5       473       5  
                                 
Total
  $ 10,201       100 %   $ 8,970       100 %
                                 
 
The “Derivatives at fair value” line in the above table represents the fair value of our derivatives in a net asset position by counterparty, exclusive of accrued interest and collateral. At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, these balances included $3.2 billion and $2.7 billion, respectively, of cross-currency interest rate swaps and interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges that were offset by an increase in interest-bearing liabilities related to the hedged debt. As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the cumulative mark-to-market adjustment to the hedged debt was $(3.4) billion and $(2.7) billion, respectively.


22


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
6.   Stockholders’ Equity and Stock-Based Compensation
 
The following table summarizes our common share repurchases and issuances for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
                 
    Three Months Ended
 
    March 31,  
(Shares in millions)   2011     2010  
 
Common shares repurchased:
               
Benefit plans(1)
    1.8       .3  
                 
Total shares repurchased
    1.8       .3  
                 
Average purchase price per share
  $ 15.62     $ 12.53  
                 
Common shares issued
    2.3       1.2  
                 
Authority remaining at end of period for repurchases
    38.8       38.8  
                 
 
 
     (1)  Includes 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.
 
The closing price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on March 31, 2011 was $15.30.
 
In March 2011, we retired all 70 million shares of common stock held in treasury. This retirement decreased the balance in treasury stock by $1.9 billion, with corresponding decreases of $14 million in common stock and $1.9 billion in additional paid-in capital. There was no impact to total equity from this transaction.
 
In the first quarter, we changed our stock-based compensation plans so that retirement eligible employees would not forfeit unvested stock-based compensation upon their retirement. This change had the effect of accelerating $11 million of future stock-based compensation expenses associated with these unvested stock grants into the current period for those employees that are retirement eligible or who will become retirement eligible prior to the vesting date.
 
Dividend and Share Repurchase Program
 
On April 20, 2011, we declared a quarterly dividend of $.10 per share on our common stock, the first since early 2007. The dividend is payable June 17, 2011, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 3, 2011. We also authorized the repurchase of up to $300 million of outstanding common stock in open-market transactions and terminated all previous authorizations.


23


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
7.   Earnings (Loss) per Common Share
 
Basic earnings (loss) 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 for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
                 
    Three Months Ended
 
    March 31,  
    2011     2010  
 
Numerator:
               
Net income from continuing operations
  $ 176,424     $ 246,754  
Less: preferred stock dividends
    3,878       18,678  
                 
Net income from continuing operations attributable to common stock
    172,546       228,076  
Adjusted for dividends of Series C Preferred Stock(1)
          14,688  
                 
Net income from continuing operations attributable to common stock, adjusted
    172,546       242,764  
Loss from discontinued operations
    (1,730 )     (6,614 )
                 
Net income attributable to common stock, adjusted
  $ 170,816     $ 236,150  
                 
Denominator (shares in thousands):
               
Weighted average shares used to compute basic EPS
    526,746       484,259  
Effect of dilutive securities:
               
Dilutive effect of convertible preferred stock Series C(1)
          41,240  
Dilutive effect of stock options, non-vested deferred compensation and restricted stock, restricted stock units and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”)(2)
    5,218       1,132  
                 
Dilutive potential common shares(3)
    5,218       42,372  
                 
Weighted average shares used to compute diluted EPS
    531,964       526,631  
                 
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
               
Continuing operations
  $ .32     $ .47  
Discontinued operations
          (.01 )
                 
Total
  $ .32     $ .46  
                 
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
               
Continuing operations
  $ .32     $ .46  
Discontinued operations
          (.01 )
                 
Total
  $ .32     $ .45  
                 
 
 
     (1)  Our 7.25 percent mandatory convertible preferred stock Series C was issued on December 31, 2007. The Series C Preferred Stock was fully converted to common shares on December 15, 2010.
 
     (2)  Includes the potential dilutive effect of additional common shares that are issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options, non-vested deferred compensation and restricted stock, restricted stock units, and the outstanding commitment to issue shares under the ESPP, determined by the treasury stock method.
 
     (3)  For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, stock options covering approximately 16 million and 33 million shares, respectively, and restricted stock of 2 million shares and 0 shares, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because they were anti-dilutive.


24


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
8.   Restructuring Activities
 
Total restructuring expenses of $4 million and $26 million were recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
The following table summarizes the restructuring expenses incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 and cumulative restructuring expenses incurred through March 31, 2011 associated with our restructuring plans.
 
                         
                Cumulative
 
    Three Months Ended
    Expense(1) as of
 
    March 31,     March 31,
 
    2011     2010     2011  
 
Severance costs
  $ 1,380     $ 24,797     $ 164,182  
Lease and other contract termination costs
                10,929  
Exit and other costs
    2,181       7       18,424  
                         
Total restructuring costs from continuing operations(1)
    3,561       24,804       193,535  
Total restructuring costs from discontinued operations
    (22 )     1,478       29,211  
                         
Total
  $ 3,539     $ 26,282     $ 222,746  
                         
 
 
     (1)  Aggregate restructuring expenses from continuing operations incurred across our reportable segments during the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 totaled $1 million and $19 million, respectively, in our FFELP Loans reportable segment; $1 million and $2 million, respectively, in our Consumer Lending reportable segment; $1 million and $3 million, respectively, in our Business Services reportable segment; and $1 million and $1 million, respectively, in our Other reportable segment.
 
Since the fourth quarter of 2007 through March 31, 2011, cumulative severance costs were incurred in conjunction with aggregate completed and planned position eliminations of approximately 5,500 positions. Position eliminations were across all of our reportable segments, ranging from senior executives to servicing center personnel.
 
The following table summarizes changes in the restructuring liability balance, which is included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
 
                                 
          Lease and
             
          Other
             
          Contract
             
    Severance
    Termination
    Exit and
       
    Costs     Costs     Other Costs     Total  
 
Balance at December 31, 2009
  $ 9,195     $ 3,781     $     $ 12,976  
Net accruals from continuing operations
    80,536       1,430       3,270       85,236  
Net accruals from discontinued operations
    3,108       2,384       70       5,562  
Cash paid
    (45,235 )     (3,440 )     (1,678 )     (50,353 )
                                 
Balance at December 31, 2010
    47,604       4,155       1,662       53,421  
Net accruals from continuing operations
    1,380             2,181       3,561  
Net accruals from discontinued operations
    (24 )           2       (22 )
Cash paid
    (25,478 )     (492 )     (3,845 )     (29,815 )
                                 
Balance at March 31, 2011
  $ 23,482     $ 3,663     $     $ 27,145  
                                 


25


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, 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. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, there were no significant transfers of financial instruments between levels, or changes in our methodology or assumptions used to value our financial instruments. Please refer to Note 15, “Fair Value Measurements” in our 2010 Form 10-K for a full discussion.
 
The following tables summarize the valuation of our financial instruments that are marked-to-market on a recurring basis in the consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010.
 
                                                                 
    Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring
    Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring
 
    Basis as of March 31, 2011     Basis as of December 31, 2010  
(Dollars in millions)   Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total     Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
 
Assets
                                                               
Available-for-sale investments:
                                                               
U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 50     $     $     $ 50     $ 39     $     $     $ 39  
Agency residential mortgage backed securities
          65             65             68             68  
Guaranteed investment contracts
          28             28             20             20  
Other
          13             13             12             12  
                                                                 
Total available-for-sale investments
    50       106             156       39       100             139  
Derivative instruments:(1)
                                                               
Interest rate swaps
          821       127       948             1,017       150       1,167  
Cross currency interest rate swaps
          521       2,155       2,676             427       1,599       2,026  
Other
                26       26                   26       26  
                                                                 
Total derivative assets
          1,342       2,308       3,650             1,444       1,775       3,219  
Counterparty netting
                            (792 )                             (782 )
                                                                 
Subtotal(3)
                            2,858                               2,437  
Cash collateral held
                            (1,063 )                             (886 )
                                                                 
Net derivative assets
                            1,795                               1,551  
                                                                 
Total
  $ 50     $ 1,448     $ 2,308     $ 1,951     $ 39     $ 1,544     $ 1,775     $ 1,690  
                                                                 
Liabilities(2)
                                                               
Derivative instruments(1)
                                                               
Interest rate swaps
  $     $ (200 )   $ (212 )   $ (412 )   $     $ (183 )   $ (240 )   $ (423 )
Floor Income Contracts
          (2,106 )           (2,106 )           (1,315 )           (1,315 )
Cross currency interest rate swaps
          (38 )     (144 )     (182 )           (43 )     (172 )     (215 )
Other
                            (1 )                 (1 )
                                                                 
Total derivative instruments
          (2,344 )     (356 )     (2,700 )     (1 )     (1,541 )     (412 )     (1,954 )
Counterparty netting
                            792                               782  
                                                                 
Subtotal(3)
                            (1,908 )                             (1,172 )
Cash collateral pledged
                            749                               809  
Net derivative liabilities
                            (1,159 )                             (363 )
                                                                 
Total
  $     $ (2,344 )   $ (356 )   $ (1,159 )   $ (1 )   $ (1,541 )   $ (412 )   $ (363 )
                                                                 
 
 
(1) Fair value of derivative instruments excludes accrued interest and the value of collateral.
 
(2) Borrowings which are the hedged items in a fair value hedge relationship and which are adjusted for changes in value due to benchmark interest rates only are not carried at full fair value and are not reflected in this table.
 
(3) As carried on the balance sheet.


26


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
9.   Fair Value Measurements (Continued)
 
 
The following tables summarize the change in balance sheet carrying value associated with Level 3 financial instruments carried at fair value on a recurring basis during the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended March 31, 2011(3)  
    Derivative instruments  
          Cross
             
          Currency
          Total
 
    Interest
    Interest
          Derivative
 
(Dollars in millions)   Rate Swaps     Rate Swaps     Other     Instruments  
 
Balance, beginning of period
  $ (90 )   $ 1,427     $ 26     $ 1,363  
Total gains/(losses) (realized and unrealized):
                               
Included in earnings(1)
    27       633       2       662  
Included in other comprehensive income
                       
Settlements
    (22 )     (49 )     (2 )     (73 )
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
                       
                                 
Balance, end of period
  $ (85 )   $ 2,011     $ 26     $ 1,952  
                                 
Change in unrealized gains/(losses) relating to instruments still held at the reporting date(2)
  $ 5     $ 582     $ 3     $ 590  
                                 
 
                                                         
    Three Months Ended March 31, 2010  
          Derivative instruments        
                      Cross
                   
                      Currency
          Total
       
    Residual
    Interest
    Floor Income
    Interest
          Derivative
       
(Dollars in millions)   Interests     Rate Swaps     Contracts     Rate Swaps     Other     Instruments     Total  
 
Balance, beginning of period
  $ 1,828     $ (272 )   $ (54 )   $ 1,596     $ (18 )   $ 1,252     $ 3,080  
Total gains/(losses) (realized and unrealized):
                                                       
Included in earnings(1)
          (5 )     3       (873 )     (7 )     (882 )     (882 )
Included in other comprehensive income
                                         
Settlements
          4       51       (48 )     3       10       10  
Cumulative effect of accounting change(3)
    (1,828 )     (56 )           873             817       (1,011 )
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
                                         
                                                         
Balance, end of period
  $     $ (329 )   $     $ 1,548     $ (22 )   $ 1,197     $ 1,197  
                                                         
Change in unrealized gains/(losses) relating to instruments still held at the reporting date(2)
  $     $ 3     $     $ (921 )   $ (6 )   $ (924 )   $ (924 )
                                                         
 
     (1)  “Included in earnings” is comprised of the following amounts recorded in the specified line item in the consolidated statements of income:
 
                 
    Three Months Ended
 
    March 31,  
(Dollars in millions)   2011     2010  
 
Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net
  $ 613     $ (928 )
Interest expense
    49       46  
                 
Total
  $ 662     $ (882 )
                 
 
     (2)  Recorded in “gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” in the consolidated statements of income.
 
     (3)  Upon adoption of new consolidation accounting guidance on January 1, 2010, we consolidated previously off-balance sheet securitization trusts. This resulted in the removal of the Residual Interests and the recording of the fair value of swaps previously not in our consolidated results.


27


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, 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, as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010.
 
                                                 
    March 31, 2011     December 31, 2010  
    Fair
    Carrying
          Fair
    Carrying
       
(Dollars in millions)   Value     Value     Difference     Value     Value     Difference  
 
Earning assets
                                               
FFELP loans
  $ 143,790     $ 145,558     $ (1,768 )   $ 147,163     $ 148,649     $ (1,486 )
Private Education Loans
    32,572       35,966       (3,394 )     30,949       35,656       (4,707 )
Other loans (presented in “other assets” on the balance sheet)
    90       251       (161 )     88       270       (182 )
Cash and investments
    11,156       11,156             11,553       11,553        
                                                 
Total earning assets
    187,608       192,931       (5,323 )     189,753       196,128       (6,375 )
                                                 
Interest-bearing liabilities
                                               
Short-term borrowings
    32,311       32,317       6       33,604       33,616       12  
Long-term borrowings
    154,776       161,886       7,110       154,355       163,544       9,189  
                                                 
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    187,087       194,203       7,116       187,959       197,160       9,201  
                                                 
Derivative financial instruments
                                               
Floor Income/Cap contracts
    (2,106 )     (2,106 )           (1,315 )     (1,315 )      
Interest rate swaps
    536       536             744       744        
Cross currency interest rate swaps
    2,494       2,494             1,811       1,811        
Other
    26       26             25       25        
                                                 
Excess of net asset fair value over carrying value
                  $ 1,793                     $ 2,826  
                                                 
 
10.   Commitments and Contingencies
 
Mark A. Arthur et al. v. SLM Corporation.  As previously disclosed, this suit involves allegations we contacted consumers on their cellular telephones via autodialer without their consent in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, 47 U.S.C. § 227 et seq. (“TCPA”). Each violation under the TCPA provides for $500 in statutory damages ($1,500 if a willful violation is shown). Plaintiffs seek statutory damages, damages for willful violations, attorneys’ fees, costs, and injunctive relief. We have vigorously denied all claims asserted against us, but agreed to the settlement to avoid the burden and expense of continued litigation. On January 21, 2011, and February 7, 2011, we filed submissions with the Court to advise that approximately 1.76 million individuals had been omitted from the original notice list for a total of approximately 6.6 million class members. In response, Class Counsel asked us to contribute additional unspecified amounts to the previously negotiated $19.5 million settlement fund. On February 10, 2011, the Court granted a Consented Motion to Stay Implementation of Settlement and Certain Deadlines. The Court ordered Class Counsel to file a status report on March 18, 2011.
 
As of the date of this filing, we are continuing our efforts to determine the number of class members who were omitted from the notice list of class members and the additional amounts to be contributed to the settlement fund.


28


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
10.   Commitments and Contingencies (Continued)
 
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 are asserted against us and our subsidiaries.
 
In the ordinary course of business, we and our subsidiaries are subject to regulatory examinations, information gathering requests, inquiries and investigations. In connection with formal and informal inquiries in these cases, we and our subsidiaries receive numerous requests, subpoenas and orders for documents, testimony and information in connection with various aspects of our regulated activities.
 
In view of the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of such litigation and regulatory matters, we cannot predict what the eventual outcome of the pending matters will be, what the timing or the ultimate resolution of these matters will be, or what the eventual loss, fines or penalties related to each pending matter may be.
 
We are required to establish reserves for litigation and regulatory matters where those matters present loss contingencies that are both probable and estimable. When loss contingencies are not both probable and estimable, we do not establish reserves.
 
Based on current knowledge, reserves have been established for certain litigation or regulatory matters where the loss is both probable and estimable. Based on current knowledge, management does not believe that loss contingencies, if any, arising from pending investigations, litigation or regulatory matters will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, liquidity, results of operations or cash flows.
 
11.   Segment Reporting
 
FFELP Loans Segment
 
Our FFELP Loans segment consists of our $145.6 billion FFELP Loan portfolio as of March 31, 2011 and the underlying debt and capital funding the loans. We no longer originate FFELP Loans; however, we are actively seeking to acquire FFELP Loan portfolios.
 
The following table includes asset information for our FFELP Loans segment.
 
                 
    March 31,
    December 31,
 
    2011     2010  
 
FFELP Loans, net
  $ 145,558     $ 148,649  
Cash and investments(1)
    5,978       5,963  
Other
    4,627       3,911  
                 
Total assets
  $ 156,163     $ 158,523  
                 
 
 
 
(1) Includes restricted cash and investments.
 
Consumer Lending Segment
 
We originate, acquire, finance and service Private Education Loans. The portfolio totaled $36.0 billion at March 31, 2011. We also provide savings products, primarily in the form of retail deposits, to help customers save for a college education.


29


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
11.   Segment Reporting (Continued)
 
The following table includes asset information for our Consumer Lending segment.
 
                 
    March 31,
    December 31,
 
    2011     2010  
 
Private Education Loans, net
  $ 35,966     $ 35,656  
Cash and investments(1)
    2,679       3,372  
Other
    4,454       4,004  
                 
Total assets
  $ 43,099     $ 43,032  
                 
 
 
 
(1) Includes restricted cash and investments.
 
Business Services Segment
 
The Business Services segment generates its revenue from servicing our FFELP Loan portfolio as well as servicing FFELP and other loans for other financial institutions, Guarantors and ED. The segment also performs default aversion work and contingency collections on behalf of Guarantors and ED, Campus Solutions, account asset servicing and transaction processing activities.
 
At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Business Services segment had total assets of $829 million and $930 million, respectively.
 
Other Segment
 
The Other segment primarily consists of the financial results related to the repurchase of debt, the corporate liquidity portfolio and all overhead. We also include results from smaller wind-down and discontinued operations within this segment.
 
At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Other segment had total assets of $3.3 billion and $2.8 billion, respectively.
 
Measure of Profitability
 
The tables below include the condensed operating results for each of our reportable segments. Management, including the chief operating decision makers, evaluates the Company on certain performance measures that we refer to as “Core Earnings” performance measures for each operating segment. We use “Core Earnings” to manage each business segment because “Core Earnings” reflect adjustments to GAAP financial results for three items, discussed below, that create significant volatility mostly due to timing factors generally beyond the control of management. Accordingly, we believe that “Core Earnings” provide management with a useful basis from which to better evaluate results from ongoing operations against the business plan or against results from prior periods. Consequently, we disclose this information as we believe it provides investors with additional information regarding the operational and performance indicators that are most closely assessed by management. The two items adjusted for in our “Core Earnings” presentations are: (1) our use of derivatives instruments to hedge our economic risks that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment or do qualify for hedge accounting treatment but result in ineffectiveness and (2) the accounting for goodwill and acquired intangible assets. The tables presented below reflect “Core Earnings” operating measures reviewed and utilized by management to manage the business. Reconciliation of the “Core Earnings” segment totals to our consolidated operating results in accordance with GAAP is also included in the tables below.


30


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
11.   Segment Reporting (Continued)
 
Our “Core Earnings” performance measures are not defined terms within GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Unlike financial accounting, there is no comprehensive, authoritative guidance for management reporting. The management reporting process measures the performance of the operating segments based on the management structure of the Company and is not necessarily comparable with similar information for any other financial institution. Our operating segments are defined by the products and services they offer or the types of customers they serve, and they reflect the manner in which financial information is currently evaluated by management. Intersegment revenues and expenses are netted within the appropriate financial statement line items consistent with the income statement presentation provided to management. Changes in management structure or allocation methodologies and procedures may result in changes in reported segment financial information.
 
Segment Results and Reconciliations to GAAP
 
                                                                 
    Quarter Ended March 31, 2011  
    FFELP
    Consumer
    Business
                Total “Core
          Total
 
(Dollars in millions)   Loans     Lending     Services     Other     Eliminations(1)     Earnings”     Adjustments(2)     GAAP  
Interest income:
                                                               
Student loans
  $ 736     $ 604     $     $     $     $ 1,340     $ 141     $ 1,481  
Other loans
                      6             6             6  
Cash and investments
    1       3       3       1       (3 )     5             5  
                                                                 
Total interest income
    737       607       3       7       (3 )     1,351       141       1,492  
Total interest expense
    370       197             15       (3 )     579       15       594  
                                                                 
Net interest income
    367       410       3       (8 )           772       126       898  
Less: provisions for loan losses
    23       275             5             303             303  
                                                                 
Net interest income (loss) after provisions for loan losses
    344       135       3       (13 )           469       126       595  
Servicing revenue
    25       17       245             (189 )     98             98  
Contingency revenue
                78                   78             78  
Gains on debt repurchases
                      64             64       (26 )     38  
Other income (loss)
                11       2             13       (233 )     (220 )
                                                                 
Total other income (loss)
    25       17       334       66       (189 )     253       (259 )     (6 )
Expenses:
                                                               
Direct operating expenses
    195       82       128       8       (189 )     224             224  
Overhead expenses
                      79             79             79  
                                                                 
Operating expenses
    195       82       128       87       (189 )     303             303  
Goodwill and acquired intangible assets impairment and amortization
                                        6       6  
Restructuring expenses
    1       1       1       1             4             4  
                                                                 
Total expenses
    196       83       129       88       (189 )     307       6       313  
                                                                 
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)
    173       69       208       (35 )           415       (139 )     276  
Income tax expense (benefit)(3)
    64       25       76       (12 )           153       (54 )     99  
                                                                 
Net income (loss) from continuing operations
    109       44       132       (23 )           262       (85 )     177  
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes
                      (2 )           (2 )           (2 )
                                                                 
Net income (loss)
  $ 109     $ 44     $ 132     $ (25 )   $     $ 260     $ (85 )   $ 175  
                                                                 
 
(1) The eliminations in servicing revenue and direct operating expense represent the elimination of intercompany servicing revenue where the Business Services segment performs the loan servicing function for the FFELP Loans segment.
 
(2) “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP:
                         
    Quarter Ended March 31, 2011  
          Net Impact
       
    Net Impact of
    of Goodwill and
       
    Derivative
    Acquired
       
(Dollars in millions)   Accounting     Intangibles     Total  
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses
  $ 126     $     $ 126  
Total other loss
    (259 )           (259 )
Goodwill and acquired intangible assets impairment and amortization
          6       6  
                         
Total “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP
  $ (133 )   $ (6 )     (139 )
                         
Income tax benefit
                    (54 )
                         
Net loss
                  $ (85 )
                         
(3) Income taxes are based on a percentage of net income before tax for the individual reportable segment.


31


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
11.   Segment Reporting (Continued)
 
 
                                                                 
    Quarter Ended March 31, 2010  
    FFELP
    Consumer
    Business
                Total “Core
          Total
 
(Dollars in millions)   Loans     Lending     Services     Other     Eliminations(1)     Earnings”     Adjustments(2)     GAAP  
 
Interest income:
                                                               
Student loans
  $ 643     $ 565     $     $     $     $ 1,208     $ 164     $ 1,372  
Other loans
                      9             9             9  
Cash and investments
    2       3       5             (5 )     5             5  
                                                                 
Total interest income
    645       568       5       9       (5 )     1,222       164       1,386  
Total interest expense
    336       173             11       (5 )     515       17       532  
                                                                 
Net interest income (loss)
    309       395       5       (2 )           707       147       854  
Less: provisions for loan losses
    23       325             11             359             359  
                                                                 
Net interest income (loss) after provisions for loan losses
    286       70       5       (13 )           348       147       495  
Servicing revenue
    21       19       245       1       (164 )     122             122  
Contingency revenue
                80                   80             80  
Gains on debt repurchases
                      90             90             90  
Other income
                11       10             21       (80 )     (59 )
                                                                 
Total other income
    21       19       336       101       (164 )     313       (80 )     233  
Expenses:
                                                               
Direct operating expenses
    188       80       118       2       (164 )     224             224  
Overhead expenses
                      63             63             63  
                                                                 
Operating expenses
    188       80       118       65       (164 )     287             287  
Goodwill and acquired intangible assets impairment and amortization
                                        10       10  
Restructuring expenses
    19       2       3       1             25             25  
                                                                 
Total expenses
    207       82       121       66       (164 )     312       10       322  
                                                                 
Income from continuing operations, before income tax expense
    100       7       220       22             349       57       406  
Income tax expense(3)
    36       2       79       10             127       32       159  
                                                                 
Net income from continuing operations
    64       5       141       12             222       25       247  
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes
                      (7 )           (7 )           (7 )
                                                                 
Net income
  $ 64     $ 5     $ 141     $ 5     $     $ 215     $ 25     $ 240  
                                                                 
 
 
(1) The eliminations in servicing revenue and direct operating expense represent the elimination of intercompany servicing revenue where the Business Services segment performs the loan servicing function for the FFELP Loans segment.
 
(2) “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP:
 
                         
    Quarter Ended March 31, 2010  
          Net Impact of
       
    Net Impact of
    Goodwill and
       
    Derivative
    Acquired
       
(Dollars in millions)   Accounting     Intangibles     Total  
 
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses
  $ 147     $     $ 147  
Total other loss
    (80 )           (80 )
Goodwill and acquired intangible assets impairment and amortization
          10       10  
                         
Total “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP
  $ 67     $ (10 )     57  
                         
Income tax expense
                    32  
                         
Net income
                  $ 25  
                         
 
(3) Income taxes are based on a percentage of net income before tax for the individual reportable segment.


32


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
11.   Segment Reporting (Continued)
 
 
Summary of “Core Earnings” Adjustments to GAAP
 
The two adjustments required to reconcile from our “Core Earnings” results to our GAAP results of operations relate to differing treatments for: (1) our use of derivatives instruments to hedge our economic risks that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment or do qualify for hedge accounting treatment but result in ineffectiveness and (2) the accounting for goodwill and acquired intangible assets. The following table reflects aggregate adjustments associated with these areas for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
                 
    Three Months Ended
 
    March 31,  
(Dollars in millions)   2011     2010  
 
“Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP:
               
Net impact of derivative accounting(1)
  $ (133 )   $ 67  
Net impact of acquired intangibles(2)
    (6 )     (10 )
Net tax effect(3)
    54       (32 )
                 
Total “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP
  $ (85 )   $ 25  
                 
 
 
(1) Derivative accounting: “Core Earnings” exclude periodic unrealized gains and losses that are caused by the mark-to-market derivative valuations on derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment under GAAP and periodic unrealized gains and losses that are a result of ineffectiveness recognized related to effective hedges. These unrealized gains and losses occur in our FFELP Loans, Consumer Lending and Other business segments. Under GAAP, for derivatives that are held to maturity, the cumulative net unrealized gain or loss at the time of maturity will equal $0 except for Floor Income Contracts where the cumulative unrealized gain will equal the amount for which we sold the contract. In our “Core Earnings” presentation, we recognized the economic effect of these hedges, which generally results in any net settlement cash paid or received being recognized ratably as an interest expense or revenue over the hedged item’s life.
 
(2) Goodwill and Acquired Intangibles: We exclude goodwill and intangible impairment and amortization of acquired intangibles.
 
(3) Net Tax Effect: Such tax effect is based upon our “Core Earnings” effective tax rate for the year.


33


 

SLM CORPORATION
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Information at March 31, 2011 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010 is unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
 
12.   Discontinued Operations
 
Our Purchased Paper businesses are presented in discontinued operations for the current and prior periods. In the fourth quarter of 2010, we began actively marketing our Purchased Paper — Non-Mortgage business for sale and have concluded it is probable this business will be sold within one year and that we would have no continuing involvement in this business after the sale. The Purchased Paper — Non-Mortgage business comprises operations and cash flows that can be clearly distinguished operationally and for financial reporting purposes, from the rest of the Company. As a result, we have classified the business as held for sale, and, as such, the results of operations of this business were required to be presented in discontinued operations beginning in the fourth quarter of 2010. In connection with this classification, we are required to carry this business at the lower of fair value or historical cost basis. This resulted in us recording an after-tax loss of $52 million from discontinued operations in the fourth quarter of 2010, primarily due to adjusting the value of this business to its estimated fair value.
 
The following table summarizes the discontinued assets and liabilities at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.
 
                 
    March 31,
    December 31,
 
    2011     2010  
 
Assets:
               
Cash and equivalents
  $ 10,697     $ 3,848  
Other assets
    148,547       176,916  
                 
Assets of discontinued operations
  $ 159,244     $ 180,764  
                 
Liabilities:
               
Liabilities of discontinued operations
  $ 5,636     $ 6,300  
                 
 
At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, other assets of our discontinued operations consist primarily of the Purchased Paper — Non-Mortgage loan portfolio and a deferred tax asset for intangibles that will be realized upon the sale of our Purchased Paper — Non-Mortgage business. At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, liabilities of our discontinued operations consist primarily of restructuring liabilities related to severance and contract termination costs.
 
The following table summarizes the discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
                 
    Three Months Ended
 
    March 31,  
    2011     2010  
 
Discontinued operations:
               
Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes
  $ (2,944 )   $ (9,979 )
Income tax benefit
    (1,214 )     (3,365 )
                 
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes
  $ (1,730 )   $ (6,614 )
                 
 


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Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
 
This report contains forward-looking statements and information based on management’s current expectations as of the date of this document. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs 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” in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q; increases in financing costs; limits on liquidity; increases in costs associated with compliance with laws and regulations; 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 student 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; failures of our operating systems or infrastructure, including those of third-party vendors; damage to our reputation; failures to successfully implement cost-cutting and restructuring initiatives and 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; 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; changes in general economic conditions; and changes in the demand for debt management services. 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 report are qualified by these cautionary statements and are made only as of the date of this document. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to conform the statement to actual results or changes in our expectations.
 
Definitions for capitalized terms used in this document can be found in the “Glossary” at the end of this document.
 
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.


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Selected Financial Information and Ratios
 
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,
    March 31,
 
(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)   2011     2010  
 
GAAP Basis
               
Net income
  $ 175     $ 240  
Diluted earnings per common share(1)
  $ .32     $ .45  
Weighted average shares used to compute diluted earnings per share
    532       527  
Return on assets
    .36 %     .50 %
“Core Earnings” Basis(2)
               
“Core Earnings” net income
  $ 260     $ 215  
“Core Earnings” diluted earnings per common share(1)
  $ .48     $ .40  
Weighted average shares used to compute diluted earnings per share
    532       527  
“Core Earnings” return on assets
    .54 %     .45 %
Other Operating Statistics(3)
               
Ending FFELP Loans, net
  $ 145,558     $ 146,524  
Ending Private Education Loans, net
    35,966       35,362  
                 
Ending total student loans, net
  $ 181,524     $ 181,886  
                 
Average student loans
  $ 184,387     $ 181,533  
 
 
(1) Preferred dividends of $15 million, applicable to our convertible Series C Preferred Stock, were added back to the numerator in the year-ago quarter in computing diluted earnings per share, as the Series C Preferred Stock was dilutive. The Series C Preferred Stock was fully converted to common shares on December 15, 2010.
 
(2) “Core Earnings” are non-GAAP measures and do not represent a comprehensive basis of accounting. For a greater explanation of “Core Earnings,” see the section titled “ ‘Core Earnings’ — Definition and Limitations” and subsequent sections.
 
(3) Subsequent to the adoption of the new consolidation accounting guidance on January 1, 2010, our GAAP and “Core Earnings” loan portfolios are identical, as all of our securitization trusts are treated as on-balance sheet for GAAP now. Hence, in referencing the total loan portfolio, ending and average loan balances, provision for loan loss and charge-offs we no longer distinguish between the two as they are the same, unless otherwise noted.
 
Overview
 
Our primary business is to originate, service and collect loans made to students and/or their parents to finance the cost of their education. We provide funding, delivery and servicing support for education loans in the United States, through our non-federally guaranteed Private Education Loan programs and as a servicer and collector of loans for the U.S. Department of Education (“ED”). In addition we are the largest holder, servicer and collector of loans made under the Federal Family Education Loan Program (“FFELP”), a program that was recently discontinued.
 
We have used internal growth and strategic acquisitions to attain our leadership position in the education finance market. The core of our marketing strategy is to generate student loan originations by promoting our products on campus through the financial aid office and through direct marketing to students and their parents. These sales and marketing efforts are supported by the largest and most diversified servicing capabilities in the industry.
 
We earn fee income by providing student loan-related services including student loan servicing, loan default aversion and defaulted loan collections, processing capabilities and information technology to educational institutions, and 529 college-savings plan program management services and a consumer savings network.
 
We monitor and assess our ongoing operations and results based on the following four reportable segments:
 
  •  FFELP Loans segment — Consists of our $145.6 billion and $148.7 billion FFELP Loan portfolio and the underlying debt and capital funding the loans for March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010,


36


 

  respectively. We no longer originate FFELP Loans; however, we are actively seeking to acquire FFELP Loan portfolios. Because we no longer originate FFELP Loans the portfolio is in runoff with the weighted average remaining life of 7.75 years.
 
  •  Consumer Lending segment — We originate, acquire, finance and service Private Education Loans. The portfolio totaled $36.0 billion and $35.7 billion at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. We also provide savings products, primarily in the form of retail deposits, to help customers save for a college education.
 
  •  Business Services segment — In this segment we provide loan servicing to our FFELP Loans segment, ED and other third parties. We provide default aversion work and contingency collections on behalf of Guarantors, colleges, ED and other third parties. Through our Campus Solutions business we provide comprehensive financing and transaction processing solutions to college financial aid offices and students to streamline the financial aid process. We also perform account asset servicing and other transaction processing activities.
 
  •  Other segment — primarily consists of the financial results related to the repurchase of debt, the corporate liquidity portfolio and all overhead. We also include results from smaller wind-down and discontinued operations within this segment.
 
Key Financial Measures
 
Our operating results are primarily driven by net interest income from our student loan portfolios, provision for loan losses, financing costs, costs necessary to generate new assets, the revenues and expenses generated by our service businesses and gains and losses on loan sales, debt repurchases and derivatives. We manage and assess the performance of each business segment separately as each is focused on different customer bases and derive their revenue from different activities and services. A brief summary of our key financial measures (net interest income; provision for loan losses; charge-offs and delinquencies; servicing and contingency revenues; other income/(loss); operating expenses; and “Core Earnings”) can be found in Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our 2010 Form 10-K.
 
First Quarter 2011 Summary of Results
 
We continue to operate in a challenging macroeconomic environment marked by high unemployment and uncertainty. On July 1, 2010, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (“HCERA”), which included the SAFRA Act, eliminated FFELP Loan originations, a major source of our net income. All federal loans to students are now made through the Direct Student Loan Program (“DSLP”) and as discussed above, we no longer originate FFELP Loans. In addition, on July 21, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) that represents a comprehensive change to banking laws, imposing significant new regulation on almost every aspect of the U.S. financial services industry. A discussion of HCERA and the Dodd-Frank Act can be found in Item 1 “Business” and in Item 1A “Risk Factors” in our 2010 Form 10-K.
 
In this environment, we were able to achieve significant accomplishments in the first quarter of 2011 as discussed below.
 
We report financial results on a GAAP basis and also present certain “Core Earnings” performance measures. Our management, equity investors, credit rating agencies and debt capital providers use these “Core Earnings” measures to monitor our business performance. See “‘Core Earnings’ — Definition and Limitations” for a further discussion and a complete reconciliation between GAAP net income and “Core Earnings.”
 
GAAP first quarter 2011 net income was $175 million ($.32 diluted earnings per share), versus $240 million ($.45 diluted earnings per share) in the same quarter last year. We manage our business segments on a “Core Earnings” basis. The primary difference between our “Core Earnings” and GAAP results for the first quarter of 2011 is a $133 million unrealized, mark-to-market loss on certain derivative contracts recognized in GAAP but not in “Core Earnings” results.


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“Core Earnings” were $260 million ($.48 diluted earnings per share) for the first quarter 2011, compared with $215 million ($.40 diluted earnings per share) for the year-ago period. These results include $40 million and $57 million of after-tax debt repurchase gains, respectively. Year-over-year improvement reflects increased net interest income and a lower loan loss provision.
 
During the first quarter of 2011, we raised $2 billion of unsecured debt and issued $812 million of FFELP asset-backed securities. We also repurchased $825 million of debt and realized gains of $64 million, compared to $1.3 billion and $90 million in the year-ago quarter, respectively.
 
On April 20, 2011, we declared a quarterly dividend of $.10 per share on our common stock, the first since early 2007. The dividend is payable June 17, 2011, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 3, 2011. We also authorized the repurchase of up to $300 million of outstanding common stock in open-market transactions and terminated all previous authorizations.
 
On April 26, 2011, we issued $562 million in Private Education Loan asset-backed securities with a cost of funds of one-month LIBOR plus 1.99 percent.
 
Effective March 31, 2011, we completed the relocation of our headquarters to Newark, Delaware from Reston, Virginia.
 
2011 Management Objectives
 
In 2011 we have set out five major goals to create shareholder value. They are: (1) Reduce our operating expenses; (2) Maximize cash flows from FFELP Loans; (3) Prudently grow Consumer Lending segment assets and revenue; (4) Increase Business Services segment revenue; and (5) Reinstate dividends and/or share repurchases. Here is how we plan to achieve these objectives and the progress we have made to date.
 
Reduce Operating Expenses
 
The elimination of FFELP by HCERA greatly reduced the scope of our historical revenue generating capabilities. In 2010 we originated $14 billion of loans, 84 percent of them FFELP Loans; in 2011 we expect to originate $2.5 billion of new loans, all of them Private Education Loans. Our FFELP related revenues will decline over the coming years. As a result, we must effectively match our cost structure to our ongoing business. We have set a goal of getting to an annualized operating expense quarterly run rate of $250 million by the fourth quarter of 2011 and are on track to achieve this goal. Operating expenses were $303 million in the first quarter of 2011. Operating expenses in the first quarter of 2011 included the following $33 million of charges: $10 million for litigation contingencies, $11 million for accelerated stock-based compensation expense, and $12 million of servicing costs related to the $25 billion student loan portfolio acquisition at the end of last year. These charges notwithstanding, we expect to achieve our quarterly operating expense target of $250 million by the fourth quarter of 2011.
 
Maximize Cash Flows from FFELP Loans
 
We have a $145.6 billion portfolio of FFELP Loans that is expected to generate significant amounts of cash flow and earnings in the coming years. We plan to reduce related costs, minimize income volatility and opportunistically purchase additional FFELP Loan portfolios like the portfolio we purchased at the end of 2010.
 
Prudently Grow Consumer Lending Segment Assets and Revenue
 
Successfully growing Private Education Loan lending is the key component of our long-term plan to grow shareholder value. We must originate increasing numbers of high quality Private Education Loans, increase net interest margins and further reduce charge-offs and provision for loan losses. Originations were 12 percent higher in the first quarter of 2011 compared with the year-ago quarter.


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Increase Business Services Segment Revenue
 
Our Business Services segment is comprised of several businesses with customers related to FFELP that will experience revenue declines and several businesses with customers that provide growth opportunities. Our growth businesses are ED servicing, ED collections, other school-based asset type servicing and collections, Campus Solutions, transaction processing and 529 college-savings plan account asset servicing. We currently service 22 percent of new borrower loan originations under the ED Servicing Contract. This volume will grow organically as more loans are originated under DSLP. Our goal is to further expand our market share and broaden the services we provide to ED and other third party servicing clients. We can expand our market share under the ED Servicing Contract by having a better performance ranking than the three other servicing companies. Campus Solutions is a business line that we expect to grow by expanding our product offerings and leveraging our deep relationships with colleges and universities. During the quarter, we announced a Sallie Mae Bank No-Fee Student Checking Account with Debit as an enhanced refund disbursement choice for schools and students to help higher education institutions rapidly process financial aid and tuition refunds. This new option complements existing refund disbursement choices that include electronic deposit to the bank account of the student’s choice, debit card or a check. Assets under management in 529 college-savings plans total $37.0 billion and have been growing at a rate of 21 percent over the last three years. Our goal is to service additional 529 plans.
 
Reinstate Dividends and/or Share Repurchases
 
Our objective was to begin either paying dividends or repurchasing shares, or a combination of both, in the second half of 2011. On April 20, 2011, we declared a quarterly dividend of $.10 per share on our common stock, the first since early 2007. The dividend is payable June 17, 2011, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 3, 2011. We also authorized the repurchase of up to $300 million of outstanding common stock in open-market transactions and terminated all previous authorizations.


39


 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
We present the results of operations below first on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP. Following our discussion of consolidated earnings results on a GAAP basis, we present our results on a segment basis. We have four business segments: FFELP Loans, Consumer Lending, Business Services and Other. Since these segments operate in distinct business environments and we manage and evaluate the financial performance of these segments using non-GAAP financial measures, these segments are presented on a “Core Earnings” basis (see “ ‘Core Earnings’ Definition and Limitations”).
 
GAAP Statements of Income (Unaudited)
 
                                 
                Increase (Decrease)
 
    Three Months Ended
    March 31, 2011 vs.
 
    March 31,     March 31, 2010  
(Dollars in millions, except per share data)   2011     2010     $     %  
 
Interest income:
                               
FFELP Loans
  $ 877     $ 807     $ 70       9 %
Private Education Loans
    604       565       39       7  
Other loans
    6       9       (3 )     (33 )
Cash and investments
    5       5              
                                 
Total interest income
    1,492       1,386       106       8  
Total interest expense
    594       532       62       12  
                                 
Net interest income
    898       854       44       5  
Less: provisions for loan losses
    303       359       (56 )     (16 )
                                 
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses
    595       495       100       20  
Other income (loss):
                               
Gains on sales of loans and securities, net
          9       (9 )     (100 )
Losses on derivative and hedging activities, net
    (242 )     (82 )     (160 )     195  
Servicing revenue
    98       122       (24 )     (20 )
Contingency revenue
    78       80       (2 )     (3 )
Gains on debt repurchases
    38       90       (52 )     (58 )
Other income
    22       14       8       57  
                                 
Total other income (loss)
    (6 )     233       (239 )     (103 )
Expenses:
                               
Operating expenses
    303       287       16       6  
Goodwill and acquired intangible assets impairment and amortization expense
    6       10       (4 )     (40 )
Restructuring expenses
    4       25       (21 )     (84 )
                                 
Total expenses
    313       322       (9 )     (3 )
Income from continuing operations, before income tax expense
    276       406       (130 )     (32 )
Income tax expense
    99       159       (60 )     (38 )
                                 
Net income from continuing operations
    177       247       (70 )     (28 )
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
    (2 )     (7 )     5       (71 )
                                 
Net income
    175       240       (65 )     (27 )
Preferred stock dividends
    4       19       (15 )     (79 )
                                 
Net income attributable to common stock
  $ 171     $ 221     $ (50 )     (23 )%
                                 
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
                               
Continuing operations
  $ .32     $ .47     $ (.15 )     (32 )%
Discontinued operations
          (.01 )     .01       100  
                                 
Total
  $ .32     $ .46     $ (.14 )     (30 )%
                                 
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
                               
Continuing operations
  $ .32     $ .46     $ (.14 )     (30 )%
Discontinued operations
          (.01 )     .01       100  
                                 
Total
  $ .32     $ .45     $ (.13 )     (29 )%
                                 
Dividends per common share
  $     $     $       %
                                 


40


 

Consolidated Earnings Summary — GAAP-basis
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 Compared with Three Months Ended March 31, 2010
 
For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, net income was $175 million, or $.32 diluted earnings per common share, and $240 million, or $.45 diluted earnings per common share, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, net income from continuing operations was $177 million, or $.32 diluted earnings per common share, and $247 million, or $.46 diluted earnings per common share, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, net loss from discontinued operations was $2 million, which had less than 1 cent per share effect on diluted loss per common share, and $7 million, or $.01 diluted loss per common share, respectively.
 
Income from Continuing Operations
 
Income from continuing operations before income tax expenses decreased $130 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, as compared with the year-ago quarter primarily due to a $160 million increase in net losses on derivative and hedging activities, a $52 million decrease in gains on debt repurchases and a $24 million decline in servicing revenue. These reductions were partially offset by a $100 million increase in net interest income after provisions for loan losses.
 
The primary contributors to each of the identified drivers of changes in income from continuing operations before income tax expense for the year-over-year period are as follows:
 
  •  Net interest income increased by $44 million primarily as a result of the replacement of the $20 billion of lower margin loans sold to ED in the third quarter of 2010, by the $25 billion in higher margin securitized loans acquired on December 31, 2010. Offsetting these items was primarily the impact of the higher funding costs in the first quarter of 2011 compared with the first quarter of 2010.
 
  •  Provisions for loan losses decreased by $56 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2011 from the quarter ended March 31, 2010 primarily as a result of the improving performance of the Private Education Loan portfolio.
 
  •  Losses on derivatives and hedging activities, net, declined by $160 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2011 compared with the year-ago quarter. The primary factors affecting the change in losses in the first quarter of 2011 were interest rates and foreign currency fluctuations. Valuations of derivative instruments vary based upon many factors including changes in interest rates, credit risk, foreign currency fluctuations and other market factors. As a result, we expect gains and (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net, to vary significantly in future periods.
 
  •  Servicing revenue decreased by $24 million primarily due to H.R. 4872, HCERA, which included the SAFRA Act, signed into law on March 30, 2010. Effective July 1, 2010, this legislation eliminated the FFELP, thereby eliminating our ability to earn Guarantor issuance fees on new FFELP Loans. In addition there was a decline in outstanding FFELP Loans on which we earn other loan servicing fees.
 
  •  Gains on debt repurchases decreased $52 million year-over-year while the principal amount of debt repurchased decreased to $825 million, as compared with the $1.3 billion repurchased in the quarter ended March 31, 2010.
 
  •  Operating expenses increased $16 million from the year-ago quarter primarily due to $33 million of expenses in the first quarter of 2011 related to $10 million in litigation contingency expense, $11 million from the acceleration of stock-based compensation expense and $12 million third-party servicing expense related to the $25 billion loan portfolio acquired on December 31, 2010. These significant expenses were partially offset by reduced costs as a result of our cost savings initiative.
 
  •  Restructuring expenses decreased $22 million in the first quarter of 2011, which is a result of a $21 million decrease in restructuring expenses in continuing operations and a $1 million decrease in restructuring expenses attributable to discontinued operations. The decline in restructuring expenses


41


 

  was the result of our having materially completed our plan for restructuring the Company during 2010 in response to the HCERA legislation. The following details our ongoing restructuring efforts:
 
  ○  Restructuring our operations in response to HCERA and the elimination of the FFELP requires a significant reduction of operating costs from the elimination of positions and facilities associated with the origination of FFELP Loans. Expenses associated with continuing operations under this restructuring plan were $3 million in the first quarter of 2011 and $23 million in the first quarter of 2010. We currently expect to incur an estimated $9 million of additional restructuring costs in 2011. The majority of these expenses are severance costs related to the partially completed and planned elimination of approximately 2,500 positions, approximately 30 percent of our workforce that existed as of the first quarter of 2010.
 
  ○  In response to the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 (“CCRAA”) and challenges in the capital markets, we also initiated a restructuring plan in the fourth quarter of 2007. The majority of these restructuring expenses were also severance costs related to the elimination of approximately 3,000 positions, or approximately 25 percent of our workforce that existed as of the fourth quarter 2007. Under this ongoing plan, restructuring expenses associated with continuing operations were $.3 million and $2 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2011 and March 31, 2010, respectively.
 
  •  Income tax expense from continuing operations decreased $60 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 as compared with the year-ago quarter. The effective tax rates for the first quarters of 2011 and 2010 were 36 percent and 39 percent, respectively. The change in the effective tax rate for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 was primarily driven by the impact of state tax rate changes recorded in the year-ago quarter.
 
Net Loss from Discontinued Operations
 
Net loss from discontinued operations in the three months ended March 31, 2011 decreased $5 million from the year-ago period. In the fourth quarter of 2010, we began actively marketing our Purchased Paper — Non-Mortgage business for sale and have concluded it is probable this business will be sold within one year at which time we would exit the business. As a result, the results of operations of this business were also required to be presented in discontinued operations beginning in the fourth quarter of 2010. Our Purchased Paper businesses are presented in discontinued operations for the current and prior periods.
 
“Core Earnings” — Definition and Limitations
 
We prepare financial statements in accordance with GAAP. However, we also evaluate our business segments on a basis that differs from GAAP. We refer to this different basis of presentation as “Core Earnings”. We provide this “Core Earnings” basis of presentation on a consolidated basis for each business segment because this is what we internally review when making management decisions regarding our performance and how we allocate resources. We also refer to this information in our presentations with equity investors, credit rating agencies and debt capital providers. Because our “Core Earnings” basis of presentation corresponds to our segment financial presentations, we are required by GAAP to provide “Core Earnings” disclosure in the notes to our consolidated financial statements for our business segments.
 
“Core Earnings” are not a substitute for reported results under GAAP. We use “Core Earnings” to manage each business segment because “Core Earnings” reflect adjustments to GAAP financial results for two items, discussed below, that create significant volatility mostly due to timing factors generally beyond the control of management. Accordingly, we believe that “Core Earnings” provide management with a useful basis from which to better evaluate results from ongoing operations against the business plan or against results from prior periods. Consequently, we disclose this information as we believe it provides investors with additional information regarding the operational and performance indicators that are most closely assessed by management. The two items adjusted for in our “Core Earnings” presentations are: (1) our use of derivatives instruments to hedge our economic risks that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment or do qualify for hedge accounting treatment but result in ineffectiveness and (2) the accounting for goodwill and acquired intangible assets.


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While GAAP provides a uniform, comprehensive basis of accounting, for the reasons described above, our “Core Earnings” basis of presentation does not. “Core Earnings” are subject to certain general and specific limitations that investors should carefully consider. For example, there is no comprehensive, authoritative guidance for management reporting. Our “Core Earnings” are not defined terms within GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Accordingly, our “Core Earnings” presentation does not represent a comprehensive basis of accounting. Investors, therefore, may not be able to compare our performance with that of other financial services companies based upon “Core Earnings.” “Core Earnings” results are only meant to supplement GAAP results by providing additional information regarding the operational and performance indicators that are most closely used by management, our board of directors, rating agencies, lenders and investors to assess performance.
 
Specific adjustments that management makes to GAAP results to derive our “Core Earnings” basis of presentation are described in detail in the section entitled “ ‘Core Earnings’ — Definition and Limitations — Differences between ‘Core Earnings’ and GAAP” below.
 
The following tables show “Core Earnings” for each business segment and our business as a whole along with the adjustments made to the income/expense items to reconcile the amounts to our reported GAAP results as required by GAAP and reported in “Note 11 — Segment Reporting.”
 
                                                                 
    Three Months Ended March 31, 2011  
    FFELP
    Consumer
    Business
                Total “Core
          Total
 
(Dollars in millions)   Loans     Lending     Services     Other     Eliminations(1)     Earnings”     Adjustments(2)     GAAP  
 
Interest income:
                                                               
Student loans
  $ 736     $ 604     $     $     $     $ 1,340     $ 141     $ 1,481  
Other loans
                      6             6             6  
Cash and investments
    1       3       3       1       (3 )     5             5  
                                                                 
Total interest income
    737       607       3       7       (3 )     1,351       141       1,492  
Total interest expense
    370       197             15       (3 )     579       15       594  
                                                                 
Net interest income
    367       410       3       (8 )           772       126       898  
Less: provisions for loan losses
    23       275             5             303             303  
                                                                 
Net interest income (loss) after provisions for loan losses
    344       135       3       (13 )           469       126       595  
Servicing revenue
    25       17       245             (189 )     98             98  
Contingency revenue
                78                   78             78  
Gains on debt repurchases
                      64             64       (26 )     38  
Other income (loss)
                11       2             13       (233 )     (220 )
                                                                 
Total other income (loss)
    25       17       334       66       (189 )     253       (259 )     (6 )
Expenses:
                                                               
Direct operating expenses
    195       82       128       8       (189 )     224             224  
Overhead expenses
                      79             79             79  
                                                                 
Operating expenses
    195       82       128       87       (189 )     303             303  
Goodwill and acquired intangible assets impairment and amortization
                                        6       6  
Restructuring expenses
    1       1       1       1             4             4  
                                                                 
Total expenses
    196       83       129       88       (189 )     307       6       313  
                                                                 
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)
    173       69       208       (35 )           415       (139 )     276  
Income tax expense (benefit)(3)
    64       25       76       (12 )           153       (54 )     99  
                                                                 
Net income (loss) from continuing operations
    109       44       132       (23 )           262       (85 )     177  
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes
                      (2 )           (2 )           (2 )
                                                                 
Net income (loss)
  $ 109     $ 44     $ 132     $ (25 )   $     $ 260     $ (85 )   $ 175  
                                                                 
 
 
(1) The eliminations in servicing revenue and direct operating expense represent the elimination of intercompany servicing revenue where the Business Services segment performs the loan servicing function for the FFELP Loans segment.
 
(2) “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP:
                         
    Quarter Ended March 31, 2011  
          Net Impact
       
    Net Impact of
    of Goodwill and
       
    Derivative
    Acquired
       
(Dollars in millions)   Accounting     Intangibles     Total  
 
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses
  $ 126     $     $ 126  
Total other loss
    (259 )           (259 )
Goodwill and acquired intangible assets impairment and amortization
          6       6  
                         
Total “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP
  $ (133 )   $ (6 )     (139 )
                         
Income tax benefit
                    (54 )
                         
Net loss
                  $ (85 )
                         
 
(3) Income taxes are based on a percentage of net income before tax for the individual reportable segment.


43


 

 
                                                                 
    Three Months Ended March 31, 2010  
    FFELP
    Consumer
    Business
                Total “Core
          Total
 
(Dollars in millions)   Loans     Lending     Services     Other     Eliminations(1)     Earnings”     Adjustments(2)     GAAP  
 
Interest income:
                                                               
Student loans
  $ 643     $ 565     $     $     $     $ 1,208     $ 164     $ 1,372  
Other loans
                      9             9             9  
Cash and investments
    2       3       5             (5 )     5             5  
                                                                 
Total interest income
    645       568       5       9       (5 )     1,222       164       1,386  
Total interest expense
    336       173             11       (5 )     515       17       532  
                                                                 
Net interest income (loss)
    309       395       5       (2 )           707       147       854  
Less: provisions for loan losses
    23       325             11             359             359  
                                                                 
Net interest income (loss) after provisions for loan losses
    286       70       5       (13 )           348       147       495  
Servicing revenue
    21       19       245       1       (164 )     122             122  
Contingency revenue
                80                   80             80  
Gains on debt repurchases
                      90             90             90  
Other income
                11       10             21       (80 )     (59 )
                                                                 
Total other income
    21       19       336       101       (164 )     313       (80 )     233  
Expenses:
                                                               
Direct operating expenses
    188       80       118       2       (164 )     224             224  
Overhead expenses
                      63             63             63  
                                                                 
Operating expenses
    188       80       118       65       (164 )     287             287  
Goodwill and acquired intangible assets impairment and amortization
                                        10       10  
Restructuring expenses
    19       2       3       1             25             25  
                                                                 
Total expenses
    207       82       121       66       (164 )     312       10       322  
                                                                 
Income from continuing operations, before income tax expense
    100       7       220       22             349       57       406  
Income tax expense(3)
    36       2       79       10             127       32       159  
                                                                 
Net income from continuing operations
    64       5       141       12             222       25       247  
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes
                      (7 )           (7 )           (7 )
                                                                 
Net income
  $ 64     $ 5     $ 141     $ 5     $     $ 215     $ 25     $ 240  
                                                                 
 
 
(1) The eliminations in servicing revenue and direct operating expense represent the elimination of intercompany servicing revenue where the Business Services segment performs the loan servicing function for the FFELP Loans segment.
 
(2) “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP:
 
                         
    Quarter Ended March 31, 2010  
          Net Impact
       
    Net Impact of
    of Goodwill and
       
    Derivative
    Acquired
       
(Dollars in millions)   Accounting     Intangibles     Total  
 
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses
  $ 147     $     $ 147  
Total other loss
    (80 )           (80 )
Goodwill and acquired intangible assets impairment and amortization
          10       10  
                         
Total “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP
  $ 67     $ (10 )     57  
                         
Income tax expense
                    32  
                         
Net income
                  $ 25  
                         
 
(3) Income taxes are based on a percentage of net income before tax for the individual reportable segment.


44


 

 
Differences between “Core Earnings” and GAAP
 
The following discussion summarizes the differences between “Core Earnings” and GAAP net income, and details each specific adjustment required to reconcile our “Core Earnings” segment presentation to our GAAP earnings.
 
                 
    Three Months Ended
 
    March 31,  
(Dollars in millions)   2011     2010  
 
“Core Earnings”
  $ 260     $ 215  
“Core Earnings” adjustments:
               
Net impact of derivative accounting
    (133 )     67  
Net impact of goodwill and acquired intangibles
    (6 )     (10 )
                 
Total “Core Earnings” adjustments before income tax effect
    (139 )     57  
Net income tax effect
    54       (32 )
                 
Total “Core Earnings” adjustments
    (85 )     25  
                 
GAAP net income
  $ 175     $ 240  
                 
 
1) Derivative Accounting: “Core Earnings” exclude periodic unrealized gains and losses that are caused by the mark-to-market valuations on derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment under GAAP and periodic unrealized gains and losses that are a result of ineffectiveness recognized related to effective hedges. These unrealized gains and losses occur in our FFELP Loans, Consumer Lending and Other business segments. Under GAAP, for derivatives that are held to maturity, the cumulative net unrealized gain or loss at the time of maturity will equal $0 except for Floor Income Contracts where the cumulative unrealized gain will equal the amount for which we sold the contract. In our “Core Earnings” presentation, we recognize the economic effect of these hedges, which generally results in any net settlement cash paid or received being recognized ratably as an interest expense or revenue over the hedged item’s life.
 
The accounting for derivatives requires that changes in the fair value of derivative instruments be recognized currently in earnings, with no fair value adjustment of the hedged item, unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met. We believe that our derivatives are effective economic hedges, and as such, are a critical element of our interest rate and foreign currency risk management strategy. However, some of our derivatives, primarily Floor Income Contracts and certain basis swaps, do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment and the stand-alone derivative must be marked-to-market 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 derivative and hedging activities, net” are primarily caused by interest rate and foreign currency exchange rate volatility and changing credit spreads during the period as well as the volume and term of derivatives not receiving hedge accounting treatment.
 
Our Floor Income Contracts are written options that must meet more stringent requirements than other hedging relationships to achieve hedge effectiveness. Specifically, our Floor Income Contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment because the pay down of principal of the student loans underlying the Floor Income embedded in those student loans does not exactly match the change in the notional amount of our written Floor Income Contracts. Under derivatives accounting treatment, the upfront payment is deemed a liability and changes in fair value are recorded through income throughout the life of the contract. The change in the value of Floor Income Contracts is primarily caused by changing interest rates that cause the amount of Floor Income earned on the underlying student loans and paid to the counterparties to vary. This is economically offset by the change in value of the student loan portfolio earning Floor Income but that offsetting change in value is not recognized. We believe the Floor Income Contracts are economic hedges because they effectively fix the amount of Floor Income earned over the contract period, thus eliminating the timing and uncertainty that changes in interest rates can have on Floor Income for that period. Therefore, for purposes of “Core Earnings”, we have removed the unrealized gains and losses related to these contracts and added back the amortization of the net premiums received on the Floor Income Contracts. The amortization of


45


 

the net premiums received on the Floor Income Contracts for “Core Earnings” is reflected in student loan interest income. Under GAAP accounting, the premium received on the Floor Income Contracts is recorded as revenue in the “gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net” line item by the end of the contracts’ life.
 
Basis swaps are used to convert floating rate debt from one floating interest rate index to another to better match the interest rate characteristics of the assets financed by that debt. We primarily use basis swaps to hedge our student loan assets that are primarily indexed to a commercial paper, Prime or Treasury bill index. In addition, we use basis swaps to convert debt indexed to the Consumer Price Index to three-month LIBOR debt. The accounting for derivatives requires that when using basis swaps, the change in the cash flows of the hedge effectively offset both the change in the cash flows of the asset and the change in the cash flows of the liability. Our basis swaps hedge variable interest rate risk; however, they generally do not meet this effectiveness test because the index of the swap does not exactly match the index of the hedged assets as required for hedge accounting treatment. Additionally, some of our FFELP Loans can earn at either a variable or a fixed interest rate depending on market interest rates and therefore swaps written on the FFELP Loans do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting treatment. As a result, under GAAP, these swaps are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value reflected currently in the income statement.
 
The table below quantifies the adjustments for derivative accounting on our net income for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
                 
    Three Months Ended
 
    March 31,  
(Dollars in millions)   2011     2010  
 
“Core Earnings” derivative adjustments:
               
Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net, included in other income(1)
  $ (242 )   $ (82 )
Plus: Realized losses on derivative and hedging activities, net(1)
    186       204  
                 
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net
    (56 )     122  
Amortization of net premiums on Floor Income Contracts in net interest income for “Core Earnings”
    (85 )     (53 )
Other pre-change in derivatives accounting adjustments
    8       (2 )
                 
Total net impact derivative accounting(2)
  $ (133 )   $ 67  
                 
 
 
     (1)  See “Reclassification of Realized Gains (Losses) on Derivative and Hedging Activities” below for a detailed breakdown of the components of realized losses on derivative and hedging activities.
 
     (2)  Negative amounts are subtracted from “Core Earnings” net income to arrive at GAAP net income and positive amounts are added to “Core Earnings” net income to arrive at GAAP net income.
 
Reclassification of Realized Gains (Losses) on Derivative and Hedging Activities
 
The accounting for derivative instruments requires net settlement income/expense on derivatives and realized gains/losses related to derivative dispositions (collectively referred to as “realized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities”) that do not qualify as hedges to be recorded in a separate income statement line item below net interest income. Under our “Core Earnings” presentation, these gains and (losses) are reclassified to the income statement line item of the economically hedged item. For our “Core Earnings” net interest margin, this would primarily include: (a) reclassifying the net settlement amounts related to our Floor Income Contracts to student loan interest income and (b) reclassifying the net settlement amounts related to certain of our basis swaps to debt interest expense. The table below summarizes the realized losses on


46


 

derivative and hedging activities and the associated reclassification on a “Core Earnings” basis for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
                 
    Three Months Ended
 
    March 31,  
(Dollars in millions)   2011     2010  
 
Reclassification of realized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities:
               
Net settlement expense on Floor Income Contracts reclassified to net interest income
  $ (226 )   $ (210 )
Net settlement income on interest rate swaps reclassified to net interest income
    16       6  
Foreign exchange derivatives losses reclassified to other income
    (1 )      
Net realized gains (losses) on terminated derivative contracts reclassified to other income
    25        
                 
Total reclassifications of realized losses on derivative and hedging activities
    (186 )     (204 )
Add: Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net(1)
    (56 )     122  
                 
Losses on derivative and hedging activities, net
  $ (242 )   $ (82 )
                 
 
 
     (1)  “Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” comprises the following unrealized mark-to-market gains (losses):
 
                 
    Three Months Ended
 
    March 31,  
(Dollars in millions)   2011     2010  
 
Floor Income Contracts
  $ 151     $ 19  
Basis swaps
    (6 )     63  
Foreign currency hedges
    (194 )     8  
Other
    (7 )     32  
                 
Total unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net
  $ (56 )   $ 122  
                 
 
2) Goodwill and Acquired Intangibles: Our “Core Earnings” exclude goodwill and intangible impairment and the amortization of acquired intangibles. The following table summarizes the goodwill and acquired intangible adjustments for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
                 
    Three Months Ended
 
    March 31,  
(Dollars in millions)   2011     2010  
 
“Core Earnings” goodwill and acquired intangibles adjustments(1):
               
Amortization of acquired intangibles from continuing operations
  $ (6 )   $ (10 )
                 
Total “Core Earnings” goodwill and acquired intangibles adjustments
  $ (6 )   $ (10 )
                 
 
 
     (1)  Negative amounts are subtracted from “Core Earnings” net income to arrive at GAAP net income.


47


 

 
Business Segment Earnings Summary — “Core Earnings” Basis
 
FFELP Loans Segment
 
The following table includes “Core Earnings” results for our FFELP Loans segment.
 
                         
    Three Months Ended
       
    March 31,     % Increase (Decrease)  
(Dollars in millions)   2011     2010     2011 vs. 2010  
 
“Core Earnings” interest income:
                       
FFELP Loans
  $ 736     $ 643       14 %
Cash and investments
    1       2       (50 )
                         
Total “Core Earnings” interest income
    737       645       14  
Total “Core Earnings” interest expense
    370       336       10  
                         
Net “Core Earnings” interest income
    367       309       19  
Less: provisions for loan losses
    23       23        
                         
Net “Core Earnings” interest income after provisions for loan losses
    344       286       20  
Servicing revenue
    25       21       19  
Direct operating expenses
    195       188       4  
Restructuring expenses
    1       19       (95 )
                         
Total expenses
    196       207       (5 )
                         
Income from continuing operations, before income tax expense
    173       100       73  
Income tax expense
    64       36       78  
                         
“Core Earnings”
  $ 109     $ 64       70 %
                         
 
“Core Earnings” from the FFELP Loan segment were $109 million in the first quarter of 2011, compared with $64 million in the year-ago quarter. The increase was primarily driven by the purchase of $25 billion of loans at the end of last year. Key financial measures:
 
  •  Net interest margin of .98 percent in the first quarter of 2011 compared with .83 percent in the year-ago quarter.
 
  •  The provision of loan losses of $23 million in the first quarter of 2011 remained unchanged from the year-ago quarter.


48


 

 
FFELP Loans Net Interest Margin
 
The following table shows the FFELP Loans “Core Earnings” net interest margin along with reconciliation to the GAAP-basis FFELP Loans net interest margin.
 
                 
    Three Months Ended
 
    March 31,  
    2011     2010  
 
“Core Earnings” basis FFELP student loan yield
      2.63 %       2.50 %
Hedged Floor Income
    .23       .18  
Unhedged Floor Income
    .08       .01  
Consolidation Loan Rebate Fees
    (.66 )     (.60 )
Repayment Borrower Benefits
    (.10 )     (.09 )
Premium amortization
    (.15 )     (.20 )
                 
“Core Earnings” basis FFELP student loan net yield
    2.03       1.80  
“Core Earnings” basis FFELP student loan cost of funds
    (.96 )     (.89 )
                 
“Core Earnings” basis FFELP student loan spread
    1.07       .91  
“Core Earnings” basis FFELP other asset spread impact
    (.09 )     (.08 )
                 
“Core Earnings” basis FFELP Loans net interest margin(1)
    .98 %     .83 %
                 
“Core Earnings” basis FFELP Loans net interest margin(1)
    .98 %     .83 %
Adjustment for GAAP accounting treatment
    .35       .41  
                 
GAAP-basis FFELP Loans net interest margin(1)
    1.33 %     1.24 %
                 
 
 
     (1)  The average balances of our FFELP interest-earning assets for the respective periods are:
 
                 
(Dollars in millions)            
 
FFELP Loans
  $ 147,381     $ 144,854  
Other interest-earning assets
    5,016       5,661  
                 
Total FFELP “Core Earnings” basis interest-earning assets
  $ 152,397     $ 150,515  
                 
 
The “Core Earnings” basis FFELP Loans net interest margin for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 increased by 15 basis points from the year-ago quarter. This was primarily the result of the replacement of the $20 billion lower margin loans sold to ED in third quarter 2010 by the $25 billion in higher margin loans acquired on December 31, 2010 and an increase in Floor Income. These increases were partially offset by a higher cost of funds in the current quarter as higher cost debt has been issued in the past year compared to the historical funding portfolio.
 
As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, our FFELP Loan portfolio was comprised of $54.4 billion and $56.3 billion of FFELP Stafford and $91.2 billion and $92.4 billion of FFELP Consolidation Loans, respectively. The weighted average life of these portfolios was 4.9 years and 9.4 years, at both March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, assuming a CPR of 6 percent and 3 percent, respectively.


49


 

Floor Income
 
The following table analyzes the ability of the FFELP Loans in our portfolio to earn Floor Income after March 31, 2011 and 2010, based on interest rates as of those dates.
 
                                                 
    March 31, 2011     March 31, 2010  
    Fixed
    Variable
          Fixed
    Variable
       
    Borrower
    Borrower
          Borrower
    Borrower
       
(Dollars in billions)   Rate     Rate     Total     Rate     Rate     Total  
 
Student loans eligible to earn Floor Income
  $ 123.7     $ 19.5     $ 143.2     $ 123.5     $ 19.5     $ 143.0  
Less: post-March 31, 2006 disbursed loans required to rebate Floor Income
    (65.6 )     (1.3 )     (66.9 )     (71.6 )     (1.2 )     (72.8 )
Less: economically hedged Floor Income Contracts
    (35.0 )           (35.0 )     (40.9 )           (40.9 )
                                                 
Student loans eligible to earn Floor Income
  $ 23.1     $ 18.2     $ 41.3     $ 11.0     $ 18.3     $ 29.3  
                                                 
Student loans earning Floor Income
  $ 23.0     $ 2.7     $ 25.7     $ 11.0     $ 2.9     $ 13.9  
                                                 
 
We have sold Floor Income Contracts to hedge the potential Floor Income from specifically identified pools of FFELP Consolidation Loans that are eligible to earn Floor Income.
 
The following table presents a projection of the average balance of FFELP Consolidation Loans for which Fixed Rate Floor Income has been economically hedged through Floor Income Contracts for the period April 1, 2011 to June 30, 2016. The hedges related to these loans do not qualify as effective hedges.
 
                                                 
    April 1, 2011 to
                               
(Dollars in billions)   December 31, 2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     2016  
 
Average balance of FFELP Consolidation Loans whose Floor Income is economically hedged
  $ 39.3     $ 38.3     $ 32.6     $ 28.3     $ 27.2     $ 10.4  
                                                 
 
FFELP Provisions for Loan Losses and Loan Charge-Offs
 
The following tables summarize the total FFELP provisions for loan losses and FFELP Loan charge-offs for the three months March 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
                 
    Three Months Ended
    March 31,
(Dollars in millions)   2011   2010
 
FFELP Loan provisions for loan losses
  $ 23     $ 23  
FFELP Loan charge-offs
  $ 20     $ 21  
 
Servicing Revenue and Other Income — FFELP Loans Segment
 
The following table summarizes the components of other income for our FFELP Loans segment for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
                 
    Three Months Ended
 
    March 31,  
(Dollars in millions)   2011     2010  
 
Servicing revenue
  $ 25     $ 21  
Losses on sales of loans and securities, net
          (2 )
Other
          2  
                 
Total other income, net
  $ 25     $ 21  
                 
 
Servicing revenue for our FFELP Loans segment primarily consists of borrower late fees.


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Operating Expenses — FFELP Loans Segment
 
Operating expenses for our FFELP Loans segment primarily include an intercompany charge from the Business Services segment which services the loans (which is based upon either the contractual rates we are paid to service loans that are within a term financing vehicle or a similar rate if a loan is not in a term financing facility), the fees we pay for third party loan servicing and costs incurred to acquire loans. For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, operating expenses for our FFELP Loans segment totaled $195 million and $188 million, respectively. The increase in operating expenses in the first quarter of 2011 compared with the year-ago quarter was primarily the increase in servicing costs related to the $25 billion loan portfolio acquisition on December 31, 2010. The intercompany servicing revenue charged from the Business Services segment and included in those amounts was $189 million and $164 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Operating expenses, excluding restructuring-related asset impairments, were 54 basis points and 52 basis points of average FFELP Loans in the quarters ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
Consumer Lending Segment
 
The following table includes “Core Earnings” results for our Consumer Lending segment.
 
                         
                % Increase
 
    Three Months Ended
    (Decrease)  
    March 31,     2011 vs.
 
(Dollars in millions)   2011     2010     2010  
 
“Core Earnings” interest income:
                       
Private Education Loans
  $ 604     $ 565       7 %
Cash and investments
    3       3        
                         
Total “Core Earnings” interest income
    607       568       7  
Total “Core Earnings” interest expense
    197       173       14  
                         
Net “Core Earnings” interest income
    410       395       4  
Less: provisions for loan losses
    275       325       (15 )
                         
Net “Core Earnings” interest income after provisions for loan losses
    135       70       93  
Servicing revenue
    17       19       (11 )
Direct operating expenses
    82       80       3  
Restructuring expenses
    1       2       (50 )
                         
Total expenses
    83       82       1  
                         
Income before income tax expense
    69       7       886  
Income tax expense
    25       2       1,150  
                         
“Core Earnings”
  $ 44     $ 5       780 %
                         
 
First quarter 2011 “Core Earnings” from this segment improved to $44 million from $5 million in the year-ago quarter. Loan delinquencies and charge-offs (each as a percentage of loans in repayment) improved during the quarter to the lowest levels since December 31, 2008. Key financial measures are:
 
  •  Private Education Loan originations were $940 million, up 12 percent from the year-ago quarter’s $840 million.
 
  •  Net interest margin of 4.11 percent in the first quarter of 2011 compared with 3.84 percent in the year-ago quarter.
 
  •  A provision for loan losses of $275 million in the first quarter of 2011, compared with $325 million in the year-ago quarter.
 
  ○  Charge-offs were $273 million in the first quarter of 2011 versus $284 million in the year-ago quarter, which equated to annualized charge-off rates of 3.9 percent in the first quarter of 2011 versus 4.7 percent in the year-ago quarter.


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  ○  Delinquencies of 90 days or later (as a percentage of loans in repayment) declined to 5.1 percent in the first quarter of 2011 from 6.4 percent in the year-ago quarter.
 
Consumer Lending Net Interest Margin
 
The following table shows the Consumer Lending “Core Earnings” net interest margin along with reconciliation to the GAAP-basis Consumer Lending net interest margin before provisions for loan losses.
 
                 
    Three Months Ended
 
    March 31,  
    2011     2010  
 
“Core Earnings” basis Private Education Student Loan yield
    6.36 %     5.99 %
Discount amortization
    .26       .26  
                 
“Core Earnings” basis Private Education Loan net yield
    6.62       6.25  
“Core Earnings” basis Private Education Loan cost of funds
    (1.97 )     (1.69 )
                 
“Core Earnings” basis Private Education Loan spread
    4.65       4.56  
“Core Earnings” basis other asset spread impact
    (.54 )     (.72 )
                 
“Core Earnings” basis Consumer Lending net interest margin(1)
    4.11 %     3.84 %
                 
“Core Earnings” basis Consumer Lending net interest margin(1)
    4.11 %     3.84 %
Adjustment for GAAP accounting treatment
    (.04 )     (.01 )
                 
GAAP-basis Consumer Lending net interest margin(1)
    4.07 %     3.83 %
                 
 
 
(1) The average balances of our Consumer Lending interest-earning assets for the respective periods are:
 
                 
(Dollars in millions)            
 
Private Education Loans
  $ 37,006     $ 36,679  
Other interest-earning assets
    3,360       5,071  
                 
Total Consumer Lending “Core Earnings” basis interest-earning assets
  $ 40,366     $ 41,750  
                 
 
The “Core Earnings” basis Consumer Lending net interest margin for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 increased 27 basis points from the year-ago quarter. The Private Education Loan spread remained relatively unchanged. The size of the Other asset portfolio (which is primarily restricted cash held in securitization trusts and cash held at Sallie Mae Bank (“the Bank”)) has decreased significantly since the first quarter 2010. This Other asset portfolio earns a negative yield and as a result, when its relative weighting decreases compared to the Private Education Loan portfolio, the overall net interest margin increases. This is the primary driver of the increase in the net interest margin compared to prior periods.
 
Private Education Loans Provisions for Loan Losses and Loan Charge-Offs
 
The following tables summarize the total Private Education Loans provisions for loan losses and charge-offs for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
                 
    Three Months Ended
    March 31,
(Dollars in millions)   2011   2010
 
Private Education Loans provision for loan losses
  $ 275     $ 325  
Private Education Loans charge-offs
  $ 273     $ 284  
 
The first-quarter 2011 provision expense and charge-offs were down from the year-ago quarter as the portfolio’s credit performance continued to improve since the weakening in the U.S. economy that began in 2008, with the expected future performance continuing to improve as well. The Private Education Loan portfolio experienced a significant increase in delinquencies through the first quarter of 2010 (delinquencies as a percentage of loans in repayment were 12.2 percent at March 31, 2010); since then delinquencies as a


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percentage of loans in repayment have declined to 10.4 percent at March 31, 2011. Private Education Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance decreased from 5.1 percent at March 31, 2010 to 4.6 percent at March 31, 2011. Charge-offs as a percentage of loans in repayment have declined significantly from 4.7 percent in the first quarter 2010 to 3.9 percent in the first quarter of 2011. The Private Education Loan allowance coverage of annual charge-offs ratio was 1.8 at March 31, 2011 compared with 1.7 at March 31, 2010. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of ending Private Education Loans in repayment decreased from 8.2 percent at March 31, 2010 to 7.2 percent at March 31, 2011. We analyzed changes in the key ratios when determining the appropriate Private Education Loan allowance for loan losses.
 
Servicing Revenue and Other Income — Consumer Lending Segment
 
Servicing revenue for our Consumer Lending segment primarily includes late fees and forbearance fees. For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, servicing revenue for our Consumer Lending segment totaled $17 million and $19 million, respectively.
 
Operating Expenses — Consumer Lending Segment
 
Operating expenses for our Consumer Lending segment include costs incurred to originate Private Education Loans and to service and collect on our Private Education Loan portfolio. For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, operating expenses for our Consumer Lending segment totaled $82 million and $80 million, respectively. Operating expenses, excluding restructuring-related asset impairments, were 90 basis points and 88 basis points, respectively, of average Private Education Loans in the first quarter of 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
Business Services Segment
 
The following tables include “Core Earnings” results for our Business Services segment.
 
                         
    Three Months Ended
    % Increase
 
    March 31,     (Decrease)  
(Dollars in millions)   2011     2010     2011 vs. 2010  
 
Net interest income after provision
  $ 3     $ 5       (40 )%
Servicing revenue:
                       
Intercompany loan servicing
    189       164       15  
Third-party loan servicing
    22       19       16  
Account asset servicing
    19       17       12  
Campus Solutions
    6       8       (25 )
Guarantor servicing
    9       37       (76 )
                         
Total servicing revenue
    245       245        
Contingency revenue
    78       80       (3 )
Transaction fees
    11       11        
                         
Total other income
    334       336       (1 )
Direct operating expenses
    128       118       8  
Restructuring expenses
    1       3       (67 )
                         
Total expenses
    129       121       7  
                         
Income from continuing operations, before income tax expense
    208       220       (5 )
Income tax expense
    76       79       (4 )
                         
“Core Earnings”
  $ 132     $ 141       (6 )%
                         


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“Core Earnings” from the Business Services segment were $132 million in the first quarter 2011, compared with $141 million in the year-ago quarter. The decrease is primarily due to reduced FFELP Guarantor servicing revenue.
 
Our Business Services segment earns intercompany loan servicing fees from servicing the FFELP Loans in our FFELP Loans segment. The average balance of this portfolio was $144 billion and $129 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The increase in intercompany loan servicing revenue from the year-ago quarter is primarily the result of the acquisition of the $25 billion FFELP Loan portfolio on December 31, 2010 which was partially offset by the amortization of the underlying portfolio as well as the FFELP Loans sold to ED as part of the Participation Program in 2010.
 
We are servicing approximately 3.2 million accounts under the ED Servicing Contract as of March 31, 2011 compared with 2.0 million accounts as of March 31, 2010. Loan servicing fees in the first quarter of 2011 and 2010 included $15 million and $9 million, respectively, of servicing revenue related to the loans we are servicing under the ED Servicing Contract.
 
Account asset servicing revenue represents fees earned on program management, transfer and servicing agent services and administration services for our various 529 college-savings plans.
 
Through our Campus Solutions business we earn revenue by providing comprehensive financing and transaction processing solutions to college financial aid offices and students to streamline the financial aid process
 
The decrease in Guarantor servicing revenue compared with the year-ago period was primarily due to HCERA being effective as of July 1, 2010 and our no longer earning Guarantor issuance fees and the lower balance of outstanding FFELP Loans on which we earn other loan servicing fees.
 
The following table presents the outstanding inventory of contingent collections receivables that our Business Services segment will collect on behalf of others.
 
                 
    March 31,
    March 31,
 
(Dollars in millions)   2011     2010  
 
Contingency:
               
Student loans
  $ 10,393     $ 9,846  
Other
    1,883       1,573  
                 
Total
  $ 12,276     $ 11,419  
                 
 
Transaction fees are earned in conjunction with our rewards program from participating companies based on member purchase activity, either online or in stores, depending on the contractual arrangement with the participating company. Typically, a percentage of the purchase price of the consumer members’ eligible purchases with participating companies is set aside in an account maintained by us on behalf of our members.
 
Revenues related to services performed on FFELP Loans accounted for 77 percent and 79 percent, respectively, of total segment revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
Operating Expenses — Business Services Segment
 
For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, operating expenses for the Business Services segment totaled $128 million and $118 million, respectively. Operating expenses increased from the prior period primarily as a result of the increase in servicing costs associated with the $25 billion loan portfolio acquisition on December 31, 2010.


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Other Segment
 
The following table includes “Core Earnings” results of our Other segment
 
                         
    Three Months Ended
    % Increase
 
    March 31,     (Decrease)  
(Dollars in millions)   2011     2010     2011 vs. 2010  
 
Net interest loss after provision
  $ (13 )   $ (13 )     %
Gains on debt repurchases
    64       90       (29 )
Other
    2       11       (82 )
                         
Total income
    66       101       (35 )
Direct operating expenses
    8       2       300  
Overhead expenses:
                       
Corporate overhead
    49       32       53  
Unallocated information technology costs
    30       31       (3 )
                         
Total overhead expenses
    79       63       25  
                         
Operating expenses
    87       65       34  
Restructuring expenses
    1       1        
                         
Total expenses
    88       66       33  
                         
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)
    (35 )     22       (259 )
Income tax expense (benefit)
    (12 )     10       (220 )
                         
Net income (loss) from continuing operations
    (23 )     12       (292 )
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
    (2 )     (7 )     (71 )
                         
“Core Earnings” net loss
  $ (25 )   $ 5       (600 )%
                         
 
Purchased Paper Business
 
Our Purchased Paper businesses are presented in discontinued operations for the current and prior periods. (See “Consolidated Earnings Summary — GAAP-basis” for further discussion.)
 
The following table summarizes the carrying value of the Purchased Paper — Non-Mortgage portfolio:
 
                 
    March 31,
  March 31,
(Dollars in millions)   2011   2010
 
Carrying value of purchased paper
  $ 67     $ 245  
 
Gains on Debt Repurchases
 
We began repurchasing our outstanding debt in the second quarter of 2008. We repurchased $825 million and $1.3 billion face amount of our senior unsecured notes for the quarters ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Since the second quarter of 2008, we repurchased $11.1 billion face amount of our senior unsecured notes in the aggregate, with maturity dates ranging from 2008 to 2016.
 
Overhead
 
Corporate overhead is comprised of costs related to executive management, the board of directors, accounting, finance, legal, human resources and stock-based compensation expense. Unallocated information technology costs are related to infrastructure and operations.
 
For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, operating expenses for the Other segment totaled $87 million and $65 million, respectively. The increase in corporate overhead expenses in the first quarter of 2011 compared with the prior year quarter is primarily the result of a change in the terms of our stock-based compensation plans. In the first quarter, we changed our stock-based compensation plans so that retirement


55


 

eligible employees would not forfeit unvested stock-based compensation upon their retirement. This change had the effect of accelerating the future stock-based compensation expenses associated with these unvested stock grants into the current period for those employees that are retirement eligible.
 
Financial Condition
 
This section provides additional information regarding the changes related to our loan portfolio assets and related liabilities as well as credit performance indicators related to our loan portfolio.
 
Average Balance Sheets — GAAP
 
The following table reflects the rates earned on interest-earning assets and paid on interest-bearing liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010. This table reflects our net interest margin on a consolidated basis.
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2011     2010  
(Dollars in millions)   Balance     Rate     Balance     Rate  
 
Average Assets
                               
FFELP Stafford and Other Student Loans
  $ 55,535       1.93 %   $ 62,167       1.85 %
FFELP Consolidation Loans
    91,846       2.71       82,687       2.57  
Private Education Loans
    37,006       6.62       36,679       6.25  
Other loans
    262       9.17       391       9.32  
Cash and investments
    11,177       .19       12,773       .16  
                                 
Total interest-earning assets
    195,826       3.09 %     194,697       2.89 %
                                 
Non-interest-earning assets
    5,186               6,973          
                                 
Total assets
  $ 201,012             $ 201,670          
                                 
Average Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
                               
Short-term borrowings
  $ 33,076       .90 %   $ 38,978       .86 %
Long-term borrowings
    159,569       1.32       154,268       1.18  
                                 
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    192,645       1.25 %     193,246       1.12 %
                                 
Non-interest-bearing liabilities
    3,269               3,418          
Stockholders’ equity
    5,098               5,006          
                                 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 201,012             $ 201,670          
                                 
Net interest margin
            1.86 %             1.78 %
                                 


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Rate/Volume Analysis — GAAP
 
The following rate/volume analysis shows the relative contribution of changes in interest rates and asset volumes.
 
                         
    Increase
    Change Due To(1)  
(Dollars in millions)   (Decrease)     Rate     Volume  
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 vs. 2010
                       
Interest income
  $ 106     $ 98     $ 8  
Interest expense
    62       64       (2 )
                         
Net interest income
  $ 44     $ 39     $ 5  
                         
 
 
(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 Student Loan Portfolio
 
Ending Student Loan Balances, net
 
                                         
    March 31, 2011  
    FFELP
    FFELP
          Private
       
    Stafford and
    Consolidation
    Total
    Education
       
(Dollars in millions)   Other     Loans     FFELP     Loans     Total  
 
Total student loan portfolio:
                                       
In-school
  $ 6,073     $     $ 6,073     $ 3,412     $ 9,485  
Grace and repayment
    47,477       90,366       137,843       34,374       172,217  
                                         
Total, gross
    53,550       90,366       143,916       37,786       181,702  
Unamortized premium/(discount)
    937       895       1,832       (876 )     956  
Receivable for partially charged-off loans
                      1,090       1,090  
Allowance for losses
    (121 )     (69 )     (190 )     (2,034 )     (2,224 )
                                         
Total student loan portfolio
  $ 54,366     $ 91,192     $ 145,558     $ 35,966     $ 181,524  
                                         
% of total FFELP
    37 %     63 %     100 %                
% of total
    30 %     50 %     80 %     20 %     100 %
 
                                         
    December 31, 2010  
    FFELP
    FFELP
          Private
       
    Stafford and
    Consolidation
    Total
    Education
       
(Dollars in millions)   Other     Loans     FFELP     Loans     Total  
 
Total student loan portfolio:
                                       
In-school
  $ 6,333     $     $ 6,333     $ 3,752     $ 10,085  
Grace and repayment
    49,068       91,537       140,605       33,780       174,385  
                                         
Total, gross
    55,401       91,537       146,938       37,532       184,470  
Unamortized premium/(discount)
    971       929       1,900       (894 )     1,006  
Receivable for partially charged-off loans
                      1,039       1,039  
Allowance for losses
    (120 )     (69 )     (189 )     (2,021 )     (2,210 )
                                         
Total student loan portfolio
  $ 56,252     $ 92,397     $ 148,649     $ 35,656     $ 184,305  
                                         
% of total FFELP
    38 %     62 %     100 %                
% of total
    31 %     50 %     81 %     19 %     100 %


57


 

Average Student Loan Balances (net of unamortized premium/discount)
 
                                         
    Three Months Ended March 31, 2011  
    FFELP
    FFELP
          Private
       
    Stafford and
    Consolidation
    Total
    Education
       
(Dollars in millions)   Other     Loans     FFELP     Loans     Total  
 
Total
  $ 55,535     $ 91,846     $ 147,381     $ 37,006     $ 184,387  
  % of FFELP
    38 %     62 %     100 %                
  % of total
    30 %     50 %     80 %     20 %     100 %
 
                                         
    Three Months Ended March 31, 2010  
    FFELP
    FFELP
          Private
       
    Stafford and
    Consolidation
    Total
    Education
       
(Dollars in millions)   Other     Loans     FFELP     Loans     Total  
 
Total
  $ 62,167     $ 82,687     $ 144,854     $ 36,679     $ 181,533  
  % of FFELP
    43 %     57 %     100 %                
  % of total
    34 %     46 %     80 %     20 %     100 %
 
Student Loan Activity
 
The following tables summarize the activity in our student loan portfolios and show the changing composition of each portfolio.
 
                                         
    Total Portfolio  
    Three Months Ended March 31, 2011  
    FFELP
    FFELP
          Total Private
       
    Stafford and
    Consolidation
    Total
    Education
    Total
 
(Dollars in millions)   Other     Loans     FFELP     Loans     Portfolio  
 
Beginning balance
  $ 56,252     $ 92,397     $ 148,649     $ 35,656     $ 184,305  
Acquisitions and originations
    103       247       350       929       1,279  
Capitalized interest and premium/discount amortization
    322       371       693       295       988  
Consolidations to third parties
    (615 )     (225 )     (840 )     (17 )     (857 )
Sales
    (189 )           (189 )           (189 )
Repayments/defaults/other
    (1,507 )     (1,598 )     (3,105 )     (897 )     (4,002 )
                                         
Ending balance
  $ 54,366     $ 91,192     $ 145,558     $ 35,966     $ 181,524  
                                         
 
                                         
    Total Portfolio  
    Three Months Ended March 31, 2010  
    FFELP
    FFELP
          Total Private
       
    Stafford and
    Consolidation
    Total
    Education
    Total
 
(Dollars in millions)   Other     Loans     FFELP     Loans     Portfolio  
 
Beginning balance — GAAP-basis
  $ 52,675     $ 68,379     $ 121,054     $ 22,753     $ 143,807  
Consolidation of off-balance sheet loans(1)
    5,500       14,797       20,297       12,341       32,638  
                                         
Beginning balance — total portfolio
    58,175       83,176       141,351       35,094       176,445  
Acquisitions and originations
    8,197             8,197       810       9,007  
Capitalized interest and premium/discount amortization
    262       335       597       312       909  
Consolidations to third parties
    (467 )     (167 )     (634 )     (12 )     (646 )
Sales
    (76 )           (76 )           (76 )
Repayments/defaults/other
    (1,745 )     (1,166 )     (2,911 )     (842 )     (3,753 )
                                         
Ending balance
  $ 64,346     $ 82,178     $ 146,524     $ 35,362     $ 181,886  
                                         
 
 
(1) On January 1, 2010, upon the adoption of the new consolidation accounting guidance, all off-balance sheet loans are included in the GAAP-basis.


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Private Education Loan Originations
 
Total Private Education Loan originations increased 12 percent from the year-ago quarter to $940 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2011.
 
The following table summarizes our Private Education Loan originations.
 
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,
(Dollars in millions)   2011   2010
 
Private Education Loan originations
  $ 940     $ 840  
                 
 
FFELP Loan Portfolio Performance
 
FFELP Delinquencies and Forbearance
 
The tables below present our FFELP Loan delinquency trends as of March 31, 2011 and 2010. Delinquencies have the potential to adversely impact earnings as they are an indication of the borrower’s potential to possibly default and as a result require a higher loan loss reserve than loans in current status. Delinquent loans also require increased servicing and collection efforts, resulting in higher operating costs.
 
                                 
    FFELP Loan Delinquencies  
    March 31,  
    2011     2010  
(Dollars in millions)   Balance     %     Balance     %  
 
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)
  $ 27,773             $ 43,719          
Loans in forbearance(2)
    21,834               17,738          
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
                               
Loans current
    78,756       83.5 %     68,141       82.6 %
Loans delinquent 31-60 days(3)
    5,050       5.4       4,817       5.9  
Loans delinquent 61-90 days(3)
    3,069       3.2       2,962       3.6  
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(3)
    7,434       7.9       6,537       7.9  
                                 
Total FFELP Loans in repayment
    94,309       100 %     82,457       100 %
                                 
Total FFELP Loans, gross
    143,916               143,914          
FFELP Loan unamortized premium
    1,832               2,796          
                                 
Total FFELP Loans
    145,748               146,710          
FFELP Loan allowance for losses
    (190 )             (186 )        
                                 
FFELP Loans, net
  $ 145,558             $ 146,524          
                                 
Percentage of FFELP Loans in repayment
            65.5 %             57.3 %
                                 
Delinquencies as a percentage of FFELP Loans in repayment
            16.5 %             17.4 %
                                 
FFELP Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance
            18.8 %             17.7 %
                                 
 
 
(1) Loans for borrowers who may still be attending school or engaging 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, as well as loans for borrowers who have requested extension of grace period during employment transition or who have temporarily ceased making payments due to hardship or other factors.
 
(2) Loans for borrowers who have used their allowable deferment time or do not qualify for deferment, that need additional time to obtain employment or who have temporarily ceased making payments due to hardship or other factors.
 
(3) The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.


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Allowance for FFELP Loan Losses
 
The provision for student loan losses represents the periodic expense of maintaining an allowance sufficient to absorb incurred Risk Sharing losses in the portfolio of FFELP Loans.
 
The following table summarizes changes in the allowance for FFELP Loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
                 
    Activity in Allowance
 
    for FFELP Loans  
    Three Months Ended
 
    March 31,  
(Dollars in millions)   2011     2010  
 
Allowance at beginning of period — GAAP basis
  $ 189     $ 161  
Consolidation of securitization trusts(1)
          25  
                 
Allowance at beginning of period
    189       186  
Provision for FFELP Loan losses
    23       23  
Charge-offs
    (20 )     (21 )
Student loan sales and securitization activity
    (2 )     (2 )
                 
Allowance at end of period
  $ 190     $ 186  
                 
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)
    .09 %     .11 %
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment and forbearance (annualized)
    .07 %     .09 %
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loans, gross
    .13 %     .13 %
Allowance as a percentage of ending loans in repayment
    .20 %     .23 %
Allowance coverage of charge-offs (annualized)
    2.3       2.1  
Ending total loans, gross
  $ 143,916     $ 143,914  
Average loans in repayment
  $ 95,504     $ 82,438  
Ending loans in repayment
  $ 94,309     $ 82,457  
 
  ­ ­
 
  (1) Upon the adoption of the new consolidation accounting guidance on January 1, 2010, we consolidated all of our off-balance sheet securitization trusts.


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Consumer Lending Portfolio Performance
 
Private Education Loan Delinquencies and Forbearance
 
The tables below present our Private Education Loan delinquency trends as of March 31, 2011 and 2010. Delinquencies have the potential to adversely impact earnings as they are an indication of the borrower’s potential to possibly default and as a result require a higher loan loss reserve than loans in current status. Delinquent loans also require increased servicing and collection efforts, resulting in higher operating costs.
 
                                 
    Private Education Loan Delinquencies  
    March 31,  
    2011     2010  
(Dollars in millions)   Balance     %     Balance     %  
 
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)
  $ 8,323             $ 11,452          
Loans in forbearance(2)
    1,343               1,338          
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
                               
Loans current
    25,195       89.6 %     21,699       87.9 %
Loans delinquent 31-60 days(3)
    930       3.3       842       3.4  
Loans delinquent 61-90 days(3)
    564       2.0       576       2.3  
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(3)
    1,431       5.1       1,589       6.4  
                                 
Total Private Education Loans in repayment
    28,120       100.0 %     24,706       100.0 %
                                 
Total Private Education Loans, gross
    37,786               37,496          
Private Education Loan unamortized discount
    (876 )             (912 )        
                                 
Total Private Education Loans
    36,910               36,584          
Private Education Loan receivable for partially charged-off loans
    1,090               797          
Private Education Loan allowance for losses
    (2,034 )             (2,019 )        
                                 
Private Education Loans, net
  $ 35,966             $ 35,362          
                                 
Percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment
            74.4 %             65.9 %
                                 
Delinquencies as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment
            10.4 %             12.2 %
                                 
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance
            4.6 %             5.1 %
                                 
Loans in repayment greater than 12 months as a percentage of loans in repayment(4)
            69.3 %             61.5 %
                                 
 
 
(1) Loans for borrowers who may still be attending school or engaging 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 borrowers who have requested extension of grace period generally during employment transition or who have temporarily ceased making 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.
 
(4) Based on number of months in an active repayment status for which a scheduled monthly payment was due.


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Allowance for Private Education Loan Losses
 
The following tables summarize changes in the allowance for Private Education Loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
                 
    Activity in Allowance
 
    for Private Education Loans  
    Three Months Ended
 
    March 31,  
(Dollars in millions)   2011     2010  
 
Allowance at beginning of period — GAAP basis
  $ 2,021     $ 1,443  
Consolidation of securitization trusts(1)
          524  
                 
Allowance at beginning of period
    2,021       1,967  
Provision for Private Education Loan losses
    275       325  
Charge-offs
    (273 )     (284 )
Reclassification of interest reserve
    11       11  
                 
Allowance at end of period
  $ 2,034     $ 2,019  
                 
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)
    3.9 %     4.7 %
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment and forbearance (annualized)
    3.8 %     4.4 %
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance
    5.2 %     5.3 %
Allowance as a percentage of ending loans in repayment
    7.2 %     8.2 %
Average coverage of charge-offs (annualized)
    1.8       1.7  
Ending total loans(2)
  $ 38,876     $ 38,293  
Average loans in repayment
  $ 28,127     $ 24,646  
Ending loans in repayment
  $ 28,120     $ 24,706  
 
 
(1) Upon the adoption of the new consolidation accounting guidance on January 1, 2010, we consolidated all of our off-balance sheet securitization trusts.
 
(2) Ending total loans represents gross Private Education Loans, plus the receivable for partially charged-off loans.


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The following table provides detail for the traditional and non-traditional Private Education Loans at March 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
                                                 
    March 31, 2011     March 31, 2010  
          Non-
                Non-
       
    Traditional     Traditional     Total     Traditional     Traditional     Total  
 
Ending total loans(1)
  $ 34,563     $ 4,313     $ 38,876     $ 33,629     $ 4,664     $ 38,293  
Ending loans in repayment
    25,401       2,719       28,120       21,883       2,823       24,706  
Private Education Loan allowance for losses
    1,298       736       2,034       1,125       894       2,019  
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)
    2.9 %     13.4 %     3.9 %     3.2 %     15.9 %     4.7 %
Allowance as a percentage of total ending loan balance
    3.8 %     17.1 %     5.2 %     3.3 %     19.2 %     5.3 %
Allowance as a percentage of ending loans in repayment
    5.1 %     27.1 %     7.2 %     5.1 %     31.7 %     8.2 %
Average coverage of charge-offs (annualized)
    1.8       2.0       1.8       1.6       2.0       1.7  
Delinquencies as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment
    8.7 %     26.4 %     10.4 %     9.8 %     30.5 %     12.2 %
Delinquencies greater than 90 days as a percentage of Private Education Loans in repayment
    4.1 %     14.4 %     5.1 %     4.9 %     18.1 %     6.4 %
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance
    4.4 %     6.5 %     4.6 %     4.9 %     7.0 %     5.1 %
Loans that entered repayment during the period(2)
  $ 1,519     $ 86     $ 1,605     $ 1,531     $ 130     $ 1,661  
Percentage of Private Education Loans with a cosigner
    64 %     29 %     60 %     62 %     28 %     58 %
Average FICO at origination
    725       623       716       725       623       714  
 
 
(1) Ending total loans represents gross Private Education Loans, plus the receivable for partially charged-off loans.
 
(2) Includes loans that are required to make a payment for the first time.
 
Use of Forbearance as a Private Education Loan Collection Tool
 
Forbearance involves granting the borrower a temporary cessation of payments (or temporary acceptance of smaller than scheduled payments) for a specified period of time. Using forbearance extends the original term of the loan. Forbearance does not grant any reduction in the total repayment obligation (principal or interest). While in forbearance status, interest continues to accrue and is capitalized to principal when the loan re-enters repayment status. Our forbearance policies include limits on the number of forbearance months granted consecutively and the total number of forbearance months granted over the life of the loan. In some instances, we require good-faith payments before granting forbearance. Exceptions to forbearance policies are permitted when such exceptions are judged to increase the likelihood of collection of the loan. Forbearance as a collection tool is used most effectively when applied based on a borrower’s unique situation, including historical information and judgments. We leverage updated borrower information and other decision support tools to best determine who will be granted forbearance based on our expectations as to a borrower’s ability and willingness to repay their obligation. This strategy is aimed at mitigating the overall risk of the portfolio as well as encouraging cash resolution of delinquent loans.
 
Forbearance may be granted to borrowers who are exiting their grace period to provide additional time to obtain employment and income to support their obligations, or to current borrowers who are faced with a hardship and request forbearance time to provide temporary payment relief. In these circumstances, a borrower’s loan is placed into a forbearance status in limited monthly increments and is reflected in the


63


 

forbearance status at month-end during this time. At the end of their granted forbearance period, the borrower will enter repayment status as current and is expected to begin making their scheduled monthly payments on a go-forward basis.
 
Forbearance may also be granted to borrowers who are delinquent in their payments. In these circumstances, the forbearance cures the delinquency and the borrower is returned to a current repayment status. In more limited instances, delinquent borrowers will also be granted additional forbearance time. As we have obtained further experience about the effectiveness of forbearance, we have reduced the amount of time a loan will spend in forbearance, thereby increasing our ongoing contact with the borrower to encourage consistent repayment behavior once the loan is returned to a current repayment status.
 
The table below reflects the historical effectiveness of using forbearance. Our experience has shown that three years after being granted forbearance for the first time, 68 percent of the loans are current, paid in full, or receiving an in-school grace or deferment, and 18 percent have defaulted. The default experience associated with loans which utilize forbearance is considered in our allowance for loan losses. As we have obtained further experience about the effectiveness of forbearance, we have reduced the amount of time a loan will spend in forbearance, thereby increasing our ongoing contact with the borrower to encourage consistent repayment behavior once the loan is returned to a current repayment status. As a result, the percentage of loans in a forbearance status as of month-end has decreased since 2008. The monthly average number of loans granted forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance remained relatively flat at 5.4 percent in the first quarter of 2011 compared with the year-ago quarter of 5.3 percent. As of March 31, 2011, 2.6 percent of loans in current status were delinquent as of the end of the prior month, but were granted a forbearance that made them current as of March 31, 2011 (borrowers made payments on approximately 24 percent of these loans prior to being granted forbearance).
 
                         
Tracking by First Time in Forbearance Compared to All Loans Entering Repayment  
    Status distribution
          Status distribution
 
    36 months after
    Status distribution
    36 months after
 
    being granted
    36 months after
    entering repayment for
 
    forbearance
    entering repayment
    loans never entering
 
    for the first time     (all loans)     forbearance  
 
In-school/grace/deferment
    9.4 %     8.5 %     4.1 %
Current
    49.9       57.7       64.7  
Delinquent 31-60 days
    3.1       2.0       .4  
Delinquent 61-90 days
    1.9       1.1       .2  
Delinquent greater than 90 days
    4.8       2.7       .3  
Forbearance
    4.5       3.4        
Defaulted
    18.2       9.5       4.9  
Paid
    8.2       15.1       25.4  
                         
Total
    100 %     100 %     100 %
                         


64


 

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). As indicated in the tables, the percentage of loans in forbearance status decreases the longer the loans have been in active repayment status. At March 31, 2011, loans in forbearance status as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance were 6.3 percent for loans that have been in active repayment status for less than 25 months. The percentage drops to 1.9 percent for loans that have been in active repayment status for more than 48 months. Approximately 77 percent of our Private Education Loans in forbearance status have been in active repayment status less than 25 months.
 
                                                         
    Monthly Scheduled Payments Due              
(Dollars in millions)
                          More
    Not Yet in
       
March 31, 2011   1 to 12     13 to 24     25 to 36     37 to 48     than 48     Repayment     Total  
 
Loans in-school/grace/deferment
  $     $     $     $     $     $ 8,323     $ 8,323  
Loans in forbearance
    815       220       138       74       96             1,343  
Loans in repayment — current
    7,271       5,960       4,256       2,942       4,766             25,195  
Loans in repayment — delinquent 31-60 days
    413       225       132       67       93             930  
Loans in repayment — delinquent 61-90 days
    290       134       64       33       43             564  
Loans in repayment — delinquent greater than 90 days
    664       395       175       84       113             1,431  
                                                         
Total
  $ 9,453     $ 6,934     $ 4,765     $ 3,200     $ 5,111     $ 8,323       37,786  
                                                         
Unamortized discount
                                                    (876 )
Receivable for partially charged-off loans
                                                    1,090  
Allowance for loan losses
                                                    (2,034 )
                                                         
Total Private Education Loans, net
                                                  $ 35,966  
                                                         
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance
    8.6 %     3.2 %     2.9 %     2.3 %     1.9 %     %     4.6 %
                                                         
 


65


 

                                                         
    Monthly Scheduled Payments Due              
(Dollars in millions)
                          More
    Not Yet in
       
March 31, 2010   1 to 12     13 to 24     25 to 36     37 to 48     than 48     Repayment     Total  
 
Loans in-school/grace/deferment
  $     $     $     $     $     $ 11,452     $ 11,452  
Loans in forbearance
    945       187       94       49       63             1,338  
Loans in repayment — current
    7,781       4,974       3,435       2,201       3,308             21,699  
Loans in repayment — delinquent 31-60 days
    469       176       86       46       65             842  
Loans in repayment — delinquent 61-90 days
    353       113       50       26       34             576  
Loans in repayment — delinquent greater than 90 days
    908       388       137       65       91             1,589  
                                                         
Total
  $ 10,456     $ 5,838     $ 3,802     $ 2,387     $ 3,561     $ 11,452       37,496  
                                                         
Unamortized discount
                                                    (912 )
Receivable for partially charged-off loans
                                                    797  
Allowance for loan losses
                                                    (2,019 )
                                                         
Total Private Education Loans, net
                                                  $ 35,362  
                                                         
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance
    9.0 %     3.2 %     2.5 %     2.1 %     1.8 %     %     5.1 %
                                                         
 
The table below stratifies the portfolio of Private Education Loans in forbearance by the cumulative number of months the borrower has used forbearance as of the dates indicated. As detailed in the table below, 3 percent of loans currently in forbearance have cumulative forbearance of more than 24 months.
 
                                 
    March 31, 2011     March 31, 2010  
    Forbearance
    % of
    Forbearance
    % of
 
(Dollars in millions)   Balance     Total     Balance     Total  
 
Cumulative number of months borrower has used forbearance
                               
Up to 12 months
  $ 912       68 %   $ 958       72 %
13 to 24 months
    390       29       340       25  
More than 24 months
    41       3       40       3  
                                 
Total
  $ 1,343       100 %   $ 1,338       100 %
                                 
 
Receivable for Partially Charged-Off Private Education Loans
 
At the end of each month, for loans that are 212 days past due, we charge off the estimated loss of a defaulted loan balance. Actual recoveries are applied against the remaining loan balance that was not charged off. We refer to this remaining loan balance as the “receivable for partially charged-off loans.” If actual periodic recoveries are less than expected, the difference is immediately charged off through provision expense with an offsetting reduction in the receivable for partially charged-off Private Education Loans. If actual periodic recoveries are greater than expected, they will be reflected as a recovery through the allowance for Private Education Loan losses once the cumulative recovery amount exceeds the cumulative amount originally expected to be recovered.

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The following table summarizes the activity in the receivable for partially charged-off Private Education Loans for the quarters ended March 31, 2011, and 2010.
 
                 
    Three Months Ended
 
    March 31,  
(Dollars in millions)   2011     2010  
 
Receivable at beginning of period — GAAP basis
  $ 1,039     $ 499  
Consolidation of off-balance sheet trusts(1)
          229  
                 
Receivable at beginning of period
    1,039       728  
Expected future recoveries of current period defaults(2)
    98       101  
Recoveries(3)
    (40 )     (25 )
Other(4)
    (7 )     (7 )
                 
Receivable at end of period
  $ 1,090     $ 797  
                 
 
 
(1) Upon the adoption of the new consolidation accounting guidance on January 1, 2010, we consolidated all of our off-balance sheet securitization trusts.
 
(2) Remaining loan balance expected to be collected from contractual loan balances partially charged off during the period. This is the difference between the defaulted loan balance and the amount of the defaulted loan balance that was charged off.
 
(3) Current period cash collections of amounts originally expected to be recovered.
 
(4) Other is the current period recovery shortfall. This is the difference between what was expected to be collected and what was actually collected.
 
Private Education Loan Repayment Options
 
Certain loan programs allow borrowers to select from a variety of repayment options depending on their loan type and their enrollment/loan status, which include the ability to extend their repayment term or change their monthly payment. The chart below provides the optional repayment offerings in addition to the standard level principal and interest payments as of March 31, 2011.
 
                                 
    Loan Program  
    Signature and
          Career
       
(Dollars in millions)   Other     Smart Option     Training     Total  
 
$ in Repayment
    $22,782       $3,300       $2,038     $ 28,120  
$ in Total
    32,370       3,306       2,110       37,786  
Payment method by enrollment status:
                               
In-school/Grace
    Deferred(1 )     Interest-only or
fixed $25/month
      Interest-only or
fixed $25/month
         
                                 
Repayment
    Level principal and interest
or graduated
      Level principal and
interest
      Level principal and
interest
         
 
 
(1) “Deferred” includes loans for which no payments are required and interest charges are capitalized into the loan balance.
 
The graduated repayment program that is part of Signature and Other Loans includes an interest-only payment option. This program is available to borrowers in repayment, after their grace period, who would like a temporary lower payment from the required principal and interest payment amount. Borrowers participating in this program pay monthly interest with no amortization of their principal balance for up to 48 payments after entering repayment (dependent on the loan product type). The maturity date of the loan is not extended when a borrower participates in this program. As of March 31, 2011 and 2010, borrowers in repayment owing approximately $7.3 billion (26 percent of loans in repayment) and $7.3 billion (29 percent of loans in repayment), respectively, were enrolled in the interest-only program.


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Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
We expect to fund our ongoing liquidity needs, including the origination of new Private Education Loans and the repayment of $3.7 billion of senior unsecured notes to mature in the next twelve months, primarily through our current cash and investment position and very predictable operating cash flows provided by earnings and repayment of principal on unencumbered student loan assets, distributions from our securitization trusts (including servicing fees which are priority payments within the trusts), as well as drawdowns under the 2010 ABCP Facility, the issuance of term ABS, the collection of additional term bank deposits and the issuance of unsecured debt.
 
We primarily fund our student loan originations at the Bank. Currently, new Private Education Loan originations are initially funded through deposits. We plan to subsequently securitize these loans to term on a programmatic basis. We currently have $1.1 billion of cash at the Bank available to fund future originations.
 
Primary Sources of Liquidity and Available Capacity
 
The following table details our main sources of primary liquidity and the available capacity outstanding at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, and the related average balances for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
                                 
          Average Balances
 
    Ending Balances     Three Months Ended March 31,  
    March 31, 2011
    December 31, 2010
    2011
    2010
 
(Dollars in millions)   Available Capacity     Available Capacity     Available Capacity     Available Capacity  
 
Sources of primary liquidity for general corporate purposes:
                               
Unrestricted cash and liquid investments:
                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 3,872     $ 4,342     $ 4,231     $ 6,010  
Other
    79       85       78       104  
                                 
Total unrestricted cash and liquid investments(1)(2)(3)
    3,951       4,427       4,309       6,114  
Available borrowings to the extent collateral exists:
                               
Unused commercial paper and bank lines of credit(4)
                      3,485  
FFELP ABCP facilities(5)
    2,336       3,937       2,793       929  
FHLB-DM facility(5)
    9,350       8,664       9,253       11,002  
                                 
Total sources of primary liquidity for general corporate purposes(6)
  $ 15,637     $ 17,028     $ 16,355     $ 21,530  
                                 
 
 
(1) At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, ending balances exclude $812 million and $872 million, respectively, of other non-liquid investments, classified as investments on our balance sheet in accordance with GAAP. For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, average balances exclude $747 million and $744 million, respectively, of non-liquid investments, classified as investments on our average balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.
 
(2) At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, ending balances include $724 million and $684 million, respectively, of cash collateral pledged by derivative counterparties and held in our unrestricted cash. For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, average balances include $860 million and $735 million, respectively, of cash collateral pledged by derivative counterparties and held in our unrestricted cash.
 
(3) At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, ending balances include $1.1 billion and $2.0 billion, respectively, of cash and liquid investments at the Bank. For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, average balances include $1.4 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively, of cash and liquid investments at the Bank. This cash will be used primarily to originate or acquire student loans.
 
(4) On November 24, 2010, our remaining bank line of credit was retired.
 
(5) Borrowing capacity is subject to availability of collateral. As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, we had $2.4 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively, of outstanding unencumbered FFELP Loans, net, available for use in either the FFELP ABCP facilities or FHLB-DM facility. For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, we had $2.2 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively of average balances for unencumbered FFELP loans, net, available for use in either the FFELP ABCP facilities or FHLB-DM facility.
 
(6) General corporate purposes primarily include originating Private Education Loans and repaying unsecured debt as it matures.


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In addition to the assets listed in the table above, we hold a number of other unencumbered assets, consisting primarily of Private Education Loans and other assets. At March 31, 2011, we had a total of $24.1 billion of unencumbered assets, excluding goodwill and acquired intangibles. Total student loans, net, comprised $14.3 billion of this unencumbered asset total of which $11.9 billion relates to Private Education Loans, net.
 
For a discussion of our various sources of liquidity, such as the ED Conduit Program, the Sallie Mae Bank, our continued access to the ABS market, our asset-based financing facilities, the lending agreement we entered into with the FHLB-DM and our issuance of unsecured debt, see Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources” to our 2010 Form 10-K.
 
The following table reconciles encumbered and unencumbered assets and their net impact on total tangible equity.
 
                 
    March 31,
    December 31,
 
(Dollars in billions)   2011     2010  
 
Net assets of consolidated variable interest entities (encumbered assets)
  $ 12.6     $ 13.1  
Tangible unencumbered assets(1)
    24.1       22.3  
Unsecured debt
    (27.3 )     (26.9 )
Mark-to-market on unsecured hedged debt(2)
    (1.4 )     (1.4 )
Other liabilities, net
    (3.3 )     (2.6 )
                 
Total tangible equity
  $ 4.7     $ 4.5  
                 
 
  ­ ­
 
  (1) Excludes goodwill and acquired intangible assets.
 
  (2) At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, there were $1.3 billion and $1.4 billion, respectively, of net gains on derivatives hedging this debt in unencumbered assets, which partially offset these losses.
 
On April 26, 2011, we completed a $562 million Private Education Loan ABS transaction at an all-in LIBOR equivalent cost of one-month LIBOR plus 1.99 percent. This issue has a weighted average life of 3.8 years and initial over-collateralization of approximately 21 percent. Going forward, we intend to be a programmatic issuer of private credit ABS. We believe this will create a more durable and liquid market for our securities.
 
On March 3, 2011, we completed an $812 million FFELP ABS transaction at an all-in LIBOR equivalent cost of one-month LIBOR plus 1.14 percent. This issue has a weighted average life of 5.8 years and initial over-collateralization of approximately 3 percent.
 
On January 14, 2011, we completed a $2 billion five-year 6.25 percent fixed rate unsecured bond. The bond was issued to yield 6.50 percent before underwriting fees. The rate on the bond was swapped from a fixed rate to a floating rate equal to an all-in cost of one-month LIBOR plus 4.46 percent. The proceeds of this bond were designated for general corporate purposes.
 
We also repurchase our outstanding unsecured debt in both open-market repurchases and public tender offers. Repurchasing debt helps us to better manage our short-term and long-term funding needs. In the first quarter of 2011 we repurchased $825 million face amount of our senior unsecured notes in the aggregate, with maturity dates ranging from 2011 to 2014, which resulted in a total gain of $64 million.
 
While we are very comfortable with our maturity profile and pleased with the outcome of these most recent transactions, we will not be fully satisfied until we see our credit ratings and our funding cost improve significantly.
 
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. Risks associated with our lending portfolio are discussed in Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results


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of Operations — Financial Condition — FFELP Loan Portfolio Performance” and “— Consumer Lending Portfolio Performance.”
 
Our investment portfolio is composed of very short-term securities issued by highly rated issuers limiting our counterparty exposure. 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. (“ISDA”) Credit Support Annexes (“CSAs”). 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 SLM Corporation and the Bank are covered under such agreements and require collateral to be exchanged based on the net fair value of derivatives with each counterparty. Our securitization trusts require collateral in all cases if the counterparty’s credit rating is withdrawn or downgraded below a certain level. Additionally, securitizations involving foreign currency notes issued after November 2005 also require the counterparty to post collateral to the trust based on the fair value of the derivative, regardless of credit rating. The trusts are not required to post collateral to the counterparties. In all cases, our exposure is limited to the value of the derivative contracts in a gain position net of any collateral we are holding. We consider counterparties’ credit risk when determining the fair value of derivative positions on our exposure net of collateral.
 
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 rate and foreign exchange rates, may require us to return cash collateral held or may require us to access primary liquidity to post collateral to counterparties. If our credit ratings are downgraded from current levels, we may be required to segregate unrestricted cash collateral into restricted accounts.
 
The table below highlights exposure related to our derivative counterparties at March 31, 2011.
 
                 
    SLM Corporation
   
    and Sallie Mae Bank
  Securitization Trust
(Dollars in millions)   Contracts   Contracts
 
Exposure, net of collateral
  $ 201     $ 1,470  
Percent of exposure to counterparties with credit ratings below S&P AA- or Moody’s Aa3
    61 %     34 %
Percent of exposure to counterparties with credit ratings below S&P A- or Moody’s A3
    0 %     0 %
 
“Core Earnings” Basis Borrowings
 
The following tables present the ending balances of our “Core Earnings” basis borrowings at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, and average balances and average interest rates of our “Core Earnings” basis borrowings for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010. The average interest rates include derivatives that are economically hedging the underlying debt but do not qualify for hedge accounting


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treatment. (See “ ‘Core Earnings’ — Definition and Limitations — Differences between ‘Core Earnings’ and GAAP — Reclassification of Realized Gains (Losses) on Derivative and Hedging Activities” of this Item 2.
 
Ending Balances
 
                                                 
    March 31, 2011     December 31, 2010  
    Short
    Long
          Short
    Long
       
(Dollars in millions)   Term     Term     Total     Term     Term     Total  
 
Unsecured borrowings:
                                               
Senior unsecured debt
  $ 3,741     $ 16,894     $ 20,635     $ 4,361     $ 15,742     $ 20,103  
Brokered deposits
    1,324       2,808       4,132       1,387       3,160       4,547  
Retail and other deposits
    1,500             1,500       1,370             1,370  
Other(1)
    1,064             1,064       887             887  
                                                 
Subtotal unsecured borrowings
    7,629       19,702       27,331       8,005       18,902       26,907  
                                                 
Secured borrowings:
                                               
FFELP Loans securitizations
          111,042       111,042             112,425       112,425  
Private Education Loans securitizations
          20,983       20,983             21,409       21,409  
ED Conduit Program facility
    23,573             23,573       24,484             24,484  
ED Participation Program facility
                                   
ABCP borrowings
    325       4,671       4,996             5,853       5,853  
Acquisition financing(2)
          1,064       1,064             1,064       1,064  
FHLB-DM facility
    525             525       900             900  
Indentured trusts
          1,187       1,187             1,246       1,246  
                                                 
Subtotal secured borrowings
    24,423       138,947       163,370       25,384       141,997       167,381  
                                                 
Total
  $ 32,052     $ 158,649     $ 190,701     $ 33,389     $ 160,899     $ 194,288  
                                                 
 
 
(1) “Other” primarily consists of cash collateral held related to derivative exposures that are recorded as a short-term debt obligation.
 
(2) Relates to the acquisition of the $25 billion of student loans at the end of 2010.
 
Secured borrowings comprised 86 percent of our “Core Earnings” basis debt outstanding at March 31, 2011 versus 86 percent at December 31, 2010.


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Average Balances
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2011     2010  
    Average
    Average
    Average
    Average
 
(Dollars in millions)   Balance     Rate     Balance     Rate  
 
Unsecured borrowings:
                               
Senior unsecured debt
  $ 21,421       2.14 %   $ 26,553       1.86 %
Brokered deposits
    4,354       2.40       5,602       2.95  
Retail and other deposits
    1,478       1.24       214       .47  
Other(1)
    1,019       .33       1,100       .15  
                                 
Subtotal unsecured borrowings
    28,272       2.07       33,469       1.98  
                                 
Secured borrowings:
                               
FFELP Loans securitizations
    111,387       .90       101,060       .68  
Private Education Loans securitizations
    21,017       2.18       20,652       2.10  
ED Conduit Program facility
    24,114       .76       14,273       .62  
ED Participation Program facility
                13,268       .73  
ABCP borrowings
    4,936       1.12       8,899       1.23  
Acquisition financing(2)
    1,064       4.86              
FHLB-DM facility
    628       .33       41       .27  
Indentured trusts
    1,227       .68       1,584       .59  
                                 
Subtotal secured borrowings
    164,373       1.07       159,777       .89  
                                 
Total
  $ 192,645       1.22 %   $ 193,246       1.08 %
                                 
 
 
(1) “Other” primarily consists of cash collateral held related to derivative exposures that are recorded as a short-term obligation.
 
(2) Seller financing relates to the acquisition of the $25 billion of student loans at the end of 2010.
 
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
 
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations addresses our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. A discussion of our critical accounting policies, which include allowance for loan losses, premium and discount amortization related to our loan portfolio, fair value measurement, transfers of financial assets and the VIE consolidation model, derivative accounting and goodwill and intangible assets can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. There were no significant changes to these critical accounting policies during the first quarter of 2011. However, related to Private Education Loan allowance for loan losses, we did implement a new model used to estimate defaults as discussed below.
 
In determining the allowance for loan losses, we estimate the principal amount of loans that will default over the next two years (two years being the expected period between a loss event and default). In the first quarter of 2011, we implemented a new model to estimate these Private Education Loan defaults. Both the prior model and new model are considered “migration models”. Our prior allowance model (in place through December 31, 2010) segmented the portfolio into categories of similar risk characteristics based on loan program type, school type, loan status, seasoning, underwriting criteria (credit scores) and the existence or absence of a cosigner using school type, credit scores, cosigner status, loan status and seasoning as the primary risk characteristics. Our new model uses these same primary risk characteristics but also further segments the portfolio by the number of months the loan is in its repayment period (seasoning). While our previous allowance process incorporated the impact of seasoning, the new model more directly incorporates this aspect. Another change in the new allowance model relates to the historical period of experience that we use as a starting point for projecting future defaults. Our new model is based upon a seasonal average,


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adjusted to the previous three to six months of actual collection experience as the starting point and applies expected macroeconomic changes and collection procedure changes to estimate expected losses caused by loss events incurred as of the balance sheet date. Our previous model primarily used a one year historical default experience period and did not include the ability to directly model an economic expectation or collection procedure change. As a result, the previous allowance process included qualitative adjustments for these factors. As such, the new model is less dependent on a long look-back period because we do not believe that our delinquency and default experience over the past few years is indicative of the probable losses incurred in the loan portfolio today. While the model we use as a part of the allowance for loan losses process changed in the first quarter, the overall process for calculating the appropriate amount of allowance for Private Education Loan loss as disclosed in the 2010 Form 10-K has not changed. The new model is more reactive to recent borrower behavior, loan performance, and collection performance, as well as expectations about economic factors. There was no adjustment to our allowance for loan loss upon implementing this new default projection model in the first quarter of 2011. In addition, there was no change in how we estimate the amount we will recover over time related to these defaulted amounts.
 
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
 
Troubled Debt Restructurings
 
In April 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board released Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-02, Receivables, which provides clarification for creditors in determining whether or not a restructuring of a loan is considered a troubled debt restructuring. This new guidance is effective for us as of July 1, 2011; but will be applied retrospectively to January 1, 2011 upon adoption. We may identify student loans that are considered a troubled debt restructuring that were previously not and this may require us to increase the amount of recorded impairment. We are currently evaluating the new guidance and have not yet determined what effect, if any, it will have on our consolidated financial statements.
 
Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 
Interest Rate Sensitivity Analysis
 
Our interest rate risk management seeks to limit the impact of short-term movements in interest rates on our results of operations and financial position. The following tables summarize the effect on earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 and the effect on fair values at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, based upon a sensitivity analysis performed by management assuming a hypothetical increase in market interest rates of 100 basis points and 300 basis points while funding spreads remain constant. Additionally, as it relates to the effect on earnings, a sensitivity analysis was performed assuming the


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funding index increases 25 basis points while holding the asset index constant, if the funding index is different than the asset index.
 
                                                 
    Three Months Ended March 31, 2011  
                            Asset and
 
                            Funding
 
    Interest Rates:     Index
 
    Change from
    Change from
    Mismatches(1)  
    Increase of
    Increase of
    Increase of
 
    100 Basis
    300 Basis
    25 Basis
 
    Points     Points     Points  
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)   $     %     $     %     $     %  
 
Effect on Earnings
                                               
Increase/(decrease) in pre-tax net income before unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities
  $ (3 )     (1 )%   $ 1       %   $ (106 )     (32 )%
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities
    472       830       818       1,440       (25 )     (44 )
                                                 
Increase in net income before taxes
  $ 469       170 %   $ 819       297 %   $ (131 )     (47 )%
                                                 
Increase in diluted earnings per common share
  $ .88       274 %   $ 1.54       479 %   $ (.25 )     (77 )%
                                                 
 
                                                 
    Three Months Ended March 31, 2010  
          Asset and
 
                            Funding
 
    Interest Rates:     Index
 
    Change from
    Change from
    Mismatches(1)  
    Increase of
    Increase of
    Increase of
 
    100 Basis
    300 Basis
    25 Basis
 
    Points     Points     Points  
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)   $     %     $     %     $     %  
 
Effect on Earnings
                                               
Increase/(decrease) in pre-tax net income before unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities
  $ 1       %   $ 12       4 %   $ (91 )     (37 )%
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities
    350       287       607       497       (46 )     (37 )
                                                 
Increase in net income before taxes
  $ 351       89 %   $ 619       156 %   $ (137 )     (37 )%
                                                 
Increase in diluted earnings per common share
  $ .67       148 %   $ 1.18       261 %   $ (.28 )     (62 )%
                                                 
 
 
(1) If an asset is not funded with the same index/frequency reset of the asset then it is assumed the funding index increases 25 basis points while holding the asset index constant.
 


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    At March 31, 2011  
          Interest Rates:  
          Change from
    Change from
 
          Increase of
    Increase of
 
          100 Basis
    300 Basis
 
          Points     Points  
(Dollars in millions)   Fair Value     $     %     $     %  
 
Effect on Fair Values
                                       
Assets
                                       
Total FFELP Loans
  $ 143,790     $ (641 )     %   $ (1,306 )     (1 )%
Private Education Loans
    32,572                          
Other earning assets
    11,246       (1 )           (1 )      
Other assets
    10,424       (473 )     (5 )     (804 )     (8 )%
                                         
Total assets
  $ 198,032     $ (1,115 )     (1 )%   $ (2,111 )     (1 )%
                                         
Liabilities
                                       
Interest — bearing liabilities
  $ 187,087     $ (779 )     %   $ (2,154 )     (1 )%
Other liabilities
    3,945       (375 )     (10 )     (25 )     (1 )
                                         
Total liabilities
  $ 191,032     $ (1,154 )     (1 )%   $ (2,179 )     (1 )%
                                         
 
                                         
    At December 31, 2010  
          Interest Rates:  
          Change from
    Change from
 
          Increase of
    Increase of
 
          100 Basis
    300 Basis
 
          Points     Points  
(Dollars in millions)   Fair Value     $     %     $     %  
 
Effect on Fair Values
                                       
Assets
                                       
Total FFELP Loans
  $ 147,163     $ (649 )     %   $ (1,318 )     (1 )%
Private Education Loans
    30,949                          
Other earning assets
    11,641       (1 )           (2 )      
Other assets
    9,449       (565 )     (6 )     (996 )     (11 )%
                                         
Total assets
  $ 199,202     $ (1,215 )     (1 )%   $ (2,316 )     (1 )%
                                         
Liabilities
                                       
Interest — bearing liabilities
  $ 187,959     $ (704 )     %   $ (1,938 )     (1 )%
Other liabilities
    3,136       (217 )     (7 )     257       8  
                                         
Total liabilities
  $ 191,095     $ (921 )     %   $ (1,681 )     (1 )%
                                         
 
A primary objective in our funding is to minimize our sensitivity to changing interest rates by generally funding our floating rate student loan portfolio with floating rate debt. However, due to the ability of some FFELP loans to earn Floor Income, we can have a fixed versus floating mismatch in funding if the student loan earns at the fixed borrower rate and the funding remains floating. In addition, we can have a mismatch in the index (including the frequency of reset) of floating rate debt versus floating rate assets.
 
During the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, certain FFELP Loans were earning Floor Income and we locked in a portion of that Floor Income through the use of Floor Income Contracts. The result of these hedging transactions was to convert a portion of the fixed rate nature of student loans to variable rate, and to fix the relative spread between the student loan asset rate and the variable rate liability.

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In the preceding tables, under the scenario where interest rates increase 100 and 300 basis points, the change in pre-tax net income before the unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities is primarily due to the impact of (i) our unhedged loans being in a fixed-rate mode due to Floor Income, while being funded with variable debt in low interest rate environments; and (ii) a portion of our variable assets being funded with fixed rate liabilities and equity. Item (i) will generally cause income to decrease when interest rates increase from a low interest rate environment, whereas item (ii) will generally offset this decrease. In the three months ended March 31, 2011, item (i) had a greater impact compared to the three months ended March 31, 2010 due to a larger amount of unhedged Floor Income in the current year period. The increase in unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities in both scenarios is primarily related to Floor Income Contracts that do not qualify for GAAP hedge accounting treatment and therefore are not offset by any mark-to-market of the economically hedged Floor Income.
 
Under the scenario in the tables above labeled “Asset and Funding Index Mismatches,” the main driver of the decrease in pre-tax income before unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities is the result of LIBOR-based debt funding commercial paper-indexed assets. See “Asset and Liability Funding Gap” of this Item 3 for a further discussion. Increasing the spread between indices will also impact the unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities as it relates to basis swap that hedge the mismatch between the asset and funding indices.
 
In addition to interest rate risk addressed in the preceding tables, we are also exposed to risks related to foreign currency exchange rates. Foreign currency exchange risk is primarily the result of foreign currency denominated debt issued by us. As it relates to our corporate unsecured and securitization debt programs used to fund our business, our policy is to use cross currency interest rate swaps to swap all foreign currency denominated debt payments (fixed and floating) to U.S. dollar LIBOR using a fixed exchange rate. In the tables above, there would be an immaterial impact on earnings if exchange rates were to decrease or increase, due to the terms of the hedging instrument and hedged items matching. The balance sheet interest bearing liabilities would be affected by a change in exchange rates; however, the change would be materially offset by the cross currency interest rate swaps in other assets or other liabilities. In the current economic environment, volatility in the spread between spot and forward foreign exchange rates has resulted in material mark-to-market impacts to current-period earnings which have not been factored into the above analysis. The earnings impact is noncash, and at maturity of the instruments the cumulative mark-to-market impact will be zero.
 
Asset and Liability Funding Gap
 
The tables below present our assets and liabilities (funding) arranged by underlying indices as of March 31, 2011. In the following GAAP presentation, the funding gap only includes derivatives that qualify as effective hedges (those derivatives which are reflected in net interest margin, 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 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.
 
Management analyzes interest rate risk and in doing so includes all derivatives that are economically hedging our debt whether they qualify as effective hedges or not (“Core Earnings” basis). Accordingly, we are also presenting the asset and liability funding gap on a “Core Earnings” basis in the table that follows the GAAP presentation.


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GAAP-Basis
 
                             
    Frequency of
                 
Index
  Variable
              Funding
 
(Dollars in billions)   Resets   Assets     Funding(1)     Gap  
 
3-month Commercial paper
  daily   $ 136.4     $ .1     $ 136.3  
3-month Treasury bill
  weekly     7.9             7.9  
Prime
  annual     .8             .8  
Prime
  quarterly     5.3             5.3  
Prime
  monthly     22.7             22.7  
Prime
  daily           3.0       (3.0 )
PLUS Index
  annual     .5             .5  
3-month LIBOR
  daily                  
3-month LIBOR
  quarterly           129.4       (129.4 )
1-month LIBOR
  monthly     8.1       17.8       (9.7 )
CMT/CPI Index
  monthly/quarterly           1.6       (1.6 )
Non-Discrete reset(2)
  monthly           32.7       (32.7 )
Non-Discrete reset(3)
  daily/weekly     11.1       2.6       8.5  
Fixed Rate(4)
        10.6       16.2       (5.6 )
                             
Total
      $ 203.4     $ 203.4     $  
                             
 
  ­ ­
 
  (1) Funding includes all derivatives that qualify as hedges.
 
  (2) Funding consists of auction rate securities, the ABCP Facilities and the ED Conduit Program facility.
 
  (3) Assets include restricted and unrestricted cash equivalents and other overnight type instruments. Funding includes retail and other deposits and cash collateral held related to derivatives exposures that are recorded as a short-term debt obligation.
 
  (4) Assets include receivables and other assets (including goodwill and acquired intangibles). Funding includes other liabilities and stockholders’ equity (excluding series B Preferred Stock).
 
The “Funding Gaps” in the above table are primarily interest rate mismatches in short-term indices between our assets and liabilities. We address this issue typically through the use of basis swaps that typically convert quarterly reset 3-month LIBOR to other indices that are more correlated to our asset indices. These basis swaps do not qualify as effective hedges and as a result the effect on the funding index is not included in our interest margin and is therefore excluded from the GAAP presentation.


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“Core Earnings” Basis
 
                             
Index
  Frequency of
              Funding
 
(Dollars in billions)   Variable Resets   Assets     Funding(1)     Gap  
 
3-month Commercial paper
  daily   $ 136.4     $ .1     $ 136.3  
3-month Treasury bill
  weekly     7.9       2.0       5.9  
Prime
  annual     .8             .8  
Prime
  quarterly     5.3       1.5       3.8  
Prime
  monthly     22.7       7.6       15.1  
Prime
  daily           3.0       (3.0 )
PLUS Index
  annual     .5             .5  
3-month LIBOR
  daily           48.5       (48.5 )
3-month LIBOR
  quarterly           57.9       (57.9 )
1-month LIBOR
  monthly     8.1       23.7       (15.6 )
1-month LIBOR
  daily           9.0       (9.0 )
Non-Discrete reset(2)
  monthly           32.7       (32.7 )
Non-Discrete reset(3)
  daily/weekly     11.1       2.6       8.5  
Fixed Rate(4)
        7.3       11.5       (4.2 )
                             
Total
      $ 200.1     $ 200.1     $  
                             
 
 
     (1)  Funding includes all derivatives that management considers economic hedges of interest rate risk and reflects how we internally manage our interest rate exposure.
 
     (2)  Funding consists of auction rate securities, the ABCP Facilities and the ED Conduit Program facility.
 
     (3)  Assets include restricted and unrestricted cash equivalents and other overnight type instruments. Funding includes retail and other deposits and cash collateral held related to derivatives exposures that are recorded as a short-term debt obligation.
 
     (4)  Assets include receivables and other assets (including goodwill and acquired intangibles). Funding includes other liabilities and stockholders’ equity (excluding series B Preferred Stock).
 
We use interest rate swaps and other derivatives to achieve our risk management objectives. To the extent possible, we fund our assets with debt (in combination with derivatives) that has the same underlying index (index type and index reset frequency). When it is more economical, we also fund our assets with debt that has a different index and/or reset frequency than the asset, but only in instances where we believe there is a high degree of correlation between the interest rate movement of the two indices. For example, we use daily reset and quarterly reset 3-month LIBOR to fund a large portion of our daily reset 3-month commercial paper indexed assets. In addition, we use quarterly reset 3-month LIBOR to fund a portion of our quarterly reset Prime rate indexed Private Education Loans. We also use our monthly Non-Discrete reset and 1-month LIBOR funding to fund various asset types. In using different index types and different index reset frequencies to fund our assets, we are exposed to interest rate risk in the form of basis risk and repricing risk, which is the risk that the different indices that may reset at different frequencies will not move in the same direction or at the same magnitude. While we believe that 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 can lead to a temporary divergence between indices as was experienced beginning in the second half of 2007 through the second quarter of 2009 with the commercial paper and LIBOR indices. As of March 31, 2011, we have approximately $90 billion of FFELP Loans indexed to 3-month commercial paper that are funded with debt indexed to 3-month LIBOR.


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Weighted Average Life
 
The following table reflects the weighted average life for our earning assets and liabilities at March 31, 2011.
 
         
    Weighted Average
 
(Averages in Years)   Life  
 
Earning assets
       
Student loans
    7.7  
Other loans
    6.3  
Cash and investments
    .1  
         
Total earning assets
    7.3  
         
Borrowings
       
Short-term borrowings
    .3  
Long-term borrowings
    7.2  
         
Total borrowings
    6.0  
         
 
Item 4.   Controls and Procedures
 
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief 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, 2011. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that, as of March 31, 2011, 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 Chief Executive Officer and Chief 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, 2011 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1.   Legal Proceedings
 
Mark A. Arthur et al. v. SLM Corporation.  As previously disclosed, this suit involves allegations we contacted consumers on their cellular telephones via autodialer without their consent in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, 47 U.S.C. § 227 et seq. (“TCPA”). Each violation under the TCPA provides for $500 in statutory damages ($1,500 if a willful violation is shown). Plaintiffs seek statutory damages, damages for willful violations, attorneys’ fees, costs, and injunctive relief. We have vigorously denied all claims asserted against us, but agreed to the settlement to avoid the burden and expense of continued litigation. On January 21, 2011, and February 7, 2011, we filed submissions with the Court to advise that approximately 1.76 million individuals had been omitted from the original notice list for a total of approximately 6.6 million class members. In response, Class Counsel asked us to contribute additional unspecified amounts to the previously negotiated $19.5 million settlement fund. On February 10, 2011, the Court granted a Consented Motion to Stay Implementation of Settlement and Certain Deadlines. The Court ordered Class Counsel to file a status report on March 18, 2011.
 
As of the date of this filing, we are continuing our efforts to determine the number of class members who were omitted from the notice list of class members and the additional amounts to be contributed to the settlement fund.
 
We and our subsidiaries and affiliates also are subject to various claims, lawsuits and other actions that arise in the normal course of business. Most of these matters are claims by borrowers disputing the manner in which their loans have been processed or the accuracy of our reports to credit bureaus. In addition, our collections subsidiaries are routinely named in individual plaintiff or class action lawsuits in which the plaintiffs allege that those subsidiaries have violated a federal or state law in the process of collecting their accounts. We believe that these claims, lawsuits and other actions will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Finally, from time to time, we and our subsidiaries and affiliates receive information and document requests from state attorneys general, legislative committees and administrative agencies concerning certain business practices. Our practice has been and continues to be to cooperate with these bodies and to be responsive to any such requests.
 
For a description of these items and other litigation to which we are a party, see our 2010 Form 10-K.
 
Item 1A.   Risk Factors
 
There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.


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Item 2.   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
The following table provides information relating to our purchase of shares of our common stock from January 1, 2011 through March 31, 2011:
 
                                 
                      Maximum Number
 
                      of Shares That
 
                Total Number of
    May Yet Be
 
                Shares Purchased
    Purchased Under
 
    Total Number
    Average Price
    as Part of Publicly
    Publicly Announced
 
    of Shares
    Paid per
    Announced Plans
    Plans or
 
(Common shares in millions)   Purchased(1)     Share     or Programs(2)     Programs(2)  
 
Period:
                               
January 1 — January 31, 2011
    .7     $ 14.00             38.8  
February 1 — February 28, 2011
    .6       14.86             38.8  
March 1 — March 31, 2011
    .4       15.07             38.8  
                                 
Total first-quarter 2011
    1.7     $ 14.54                
                                 
 
 
(1) Represents shares of our common stock tendered to us to satisfy: (i) the exercise price in connection with cashless exercise of stock options and (ii) tax withholding obligations in connection with exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock units.
 
(2) During the first quarter of 2011, we did not make any open market purchases of our common stock. In April 2011, our board of directors authorized us to purchase up to $300 million of shares of our common stock in open market transactions, and terminated all previous authorizations. There is no expiration date related to this new program.
 
The closing price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on March 31, 2011 was $15.30.
 
On April 20, 2011, we declared a quarterly dividend of $.10 per share on our common stock. The dividend is payable June 17, 2011, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 3, 2011. We also authorized the repurchase of up to $300 million of outstanding common stock in open-market transactions and terminated the previous stock repurchase remaining authorization to buy back a maximum of 38.8 million shares of our common stock.
 
In March 2011, we retired all 70 million shares of common stock held in treasury. This transaction resulted in decreasing the balance in treasury stock by $1.9 billion, with corresponding decreases of $14 million in common stock and $1.9 billion in additional paid-in capital. There was no impact to total equity from this transaction.
 
Item 3.   Defaults upon Senior Securities
 
Nothing to report.
 
Item 4.   (Removed and Reserved).
 
Item 5.   Other Information
 
Nothing to report.


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Item 6.   Exhibits
 
The following exhibits are furnished or filed, as applicable:
 
         
  10 .1   SLM Corporation Executive Severance Plan for Senior Officers†*
  10 .2   SLM Corporation Change in Control Severance Plan for Senior Officers†
  10 .3   Employment Agreement between Laurent C. Lutz and the Company†*
  10 .4   Confidential Agreement and Release of John (Jack) Hewes†*
  10 .5   Amendment to Stock Option and Restricted/Performance Stock Terms†*
  10 .6   SLM Corporation 2009 — 2012 Incentive Plan Stock Option Agreement, Net Settled, Time Vested Options — 2011†*
  10 .7   SLM Corporation 2009 — 2012 Incentive Plan Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Term Sheet Time Vested — 2011†*
  31 .1   Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  31 .2   Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  32 .1   Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  32 .2   Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  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.
 
 
Management Contract or Compensatory Plan or Arrangement
 
* Incorporated by reference on the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed on February 28, 2011


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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/  JONATHAN C. CLARK
Jonathan C. Clark
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
Date: May 6, 2011


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GLOSSARY
 
Listed below are definitions of key terms that are used throughout this document. See also APPENDIX A, “FEDERAL FAMILY EDUCATION LOAN PROGRAM,” included in SLM Corporation’s (the Company’s) 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 28, 2011, for a further discussion of the FFELP.
 
Consolidation Loan Rebate Fee — All holders of FFELP Consolidation Loans are required to pay to the U.S. Department of Education (“ED”) an annual 105 basis point Consolidation Loan Rebate Fee on all outstanding principal and accrued interest balances of FFELP Consolidation Loans purchased or originated after October 1, 1993, except for loans for which consolidation applications were received between October 1, 1998 and January 31, 1999, where the Consolidation Loan Rebate Fee is 62 basis points.
 
Constant Prepayment Rate (“CPR”) — A variable in life-of-loan estimates that measures the rate at which loans in the portfolio prepay before their stated maturity. The CPR is directly correlated to the average life of the portfolio. CPR equals the percentage of loans that prepay annually as a percentage of the beginning of period balance.
 
“Core Earnings” — We prepare financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). In addition to evaluating our GAAP-based financial information, management evaluates the business segments on a basis that, as allowed under the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 280, “Segment Reporting,” differs from GAAP. We refer to management’s basis of evaluating its segment results as “Core Earnings” presentations for each business segment and refer to these performance measures in our presentations with equity investors, credit rating agencies and debt capital providers. While “Core Earnings” results are not a substitute for reported results under GAAP, we rely on “Core Earnings” performance measures in operating each business segment because we believe these measures provide additional information regarding the operational and performance indicators that are most closely assessed by management.
 
“Core Earnings” performance measures are the primary financial performance measures used by management to evaluate performance and to allocate resources. Accordingly, financial information is reported to management on a “Core Earnings” basis by reportable segment, as these are the measures used regularly by our chief operating decision makers. “Core Earnings” performance measures are used in developing our financial plans, tracking results, and establishing corporate performance targets and incentive compensation. Management believes this information provides additional insight into the financial performance of our core business activities. “Core Earnings” performance measures are not defined terms within GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Our “Core Earnings” presentation does not represent another comprehensive basis of accounting.
 
“Note 11 — Segment Reporting” and Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — ‘Core Earnings’ — Definition and Limitations — Differences between ‘Core Earnings’ and GAAP” for further discussion of the differences between “Core Earnings” and GAAP, as well as reconciliations between “Core Earnings” and GAAP.
 
Direct Lending; Direct Loans — Educational loans provided by the DSLP (see definition, below) to students and parent borrowers directly through ED (see definition below) rather than through a bank or other lender.
 
DSLP — The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.
 
ED — The U.S. Department of Education.
 
Exceptional Performer — The exceptional performer designation is determined by ED in recognition of a servicer meeting certain performance standards set by ED in servicing FFELP Loans. Upon receiving the designation, the servicer receives reimbursement on default claims higher than the legislated Risk Sharing levels on federally guaranteed student loans for all loans serviced for a period of at least 270 days before the date of default. The servicer is entitled to receive this benefit as long as it remains in compliance with the required servicing standards, which are assessed on an annual and quarterly basis through compliance audits


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and other criteria. The annual assessment is in part based upon subjective factors which alone may form the basis for an ED determination to withdraw the designation. If the designation is withdrawn, Risk Sharing may be applied retroactively to the date of the occurrence that resulted in noncompliance. The CCRAA eliminated the EP designation effective October 1, 2007. See also Appendix A “Federal Family Education Loan Program.”
 
FFELP — The Federal Family Education Loan Program, formerly the Guaranteed Student Loan Program.
 
FFELP Consolidation Loans — Under the FFELP, borrowers with multiple eligible student loans may consolidate them into a single student loan with one lender at a fixed rate for the life of the loan. The new loan is considered a FFELP Consolidation Loan. Typically a borrower may consolidate his student loans only once unless the borrower has another eligible loan to consolidate with the existing FFELP Consolidation Loan. The borrower rate on a FFELP Consolidation Loan is fixed for the term of the loan and is set by the weighted average interest rate of the loans being consolidated, rounded up to the nearest 1/8th of a percent, not to exceed 8.25 percent. In low interest rate environments, FFELP Consolidation Loans provide an attractive refinancing opportunity to certain borrowers because they allow borrowers to consolidate variable rate loans into a long-term fixed rate loan. Holders of FFELP Consolidation Loans are eligible to earn interest under the Special Allowance Payment (“SAP”) formula. In April 2008, we suspended originating new FFELP Consolidation Loans.
 
FFELP Stafford and Other Student Loans — Education loans to students or parents of students that are guaranteed or reinsured under the FFELP. The loans are primarily Stafford loans but also include PLUS and HEAL loans.
 
Fixed Rate Floor Income — Fixed Rate Floor Income is Floor Income associated with student loans with borrower rates that are fixed to term (primarily FFELP Consolidation Loans and Stafford Loans originated on or after July 1, 2006).
 
Floor Income — FFELP Loans generally earn interest at the higher of either the borrower rate, which is fixed over a period of time, or a floating rate based on the SAP formula. We generally finance our student loan portfolio with floating rate debt whose interest is matched closely to the floating nature of the applicable SAP formula. If interest rates decline to a level at which the borrower rate exceeds the SAP formula rate, we continue to earn interest on the loan at the fixed borrower rate while the floating rate interest on our debt continues to decline. In these interest rate environments, we refer to the additional spread it earns between the fixed borrower rate and the SAP formula rate as Floor Income. Depending on the type of student loan and when it was originated, the borrower rate is either fixed to term or is reset to a market rate each July 1. As a result, for loans where the borrower rate is fixed to term, we may earn Floor Income for an extended period of time, and for those loans where the borrower interest rate is reset annually on July 1, we may earn Floor Income to the next reset date. In accordance with legislation enacted in 2006, lenders are required to rebate Floor Income to ED for all FFELP Loans disbursed on or after April 1, 2006.
 
The following example shows the mechanics of Floor Income for a typical fixed rate FFELP Consolidation Loan (with a commercial paper-based SAP spread of 2.64 percent):
 
         
Fixed Borrower Rate
    7.25 %
SAP Spread over Commercial Paper Rate
    (2.64 )%
Floor Strike Rate(1)
    4.61 %
 
 
     (1)  The interest rate at which the underlying index (Treasury bill or commercial paper) plus the fixed SAP spread equals the fixed borrower rate. Floor Income is earned anytime the interest rate of the underlying index declines below this rate.
 
Based on this example, if the quarterly average commercial paper rate is over 4.61 percent, the holder of the student loan will earn at a floating rate based on the SAP formula, which in this example is a fixed spread to commercial paper of 2.64 percent. On the other hand, if the quarterly average commercial paper rate is below 4.61 percent, the SAP formula will produce a rate below the fixed borrower rate of 7.25 percent and the loan holder earns at the borrower rate of 7.25 percent.


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Graphic Depiction of Floor Income:
 
(LINE GRAPH)
 
Floor Income Contracts — We enter into contracts with counterparties under which, in exchange for an upfront fee representing the present value of the Floor Income that we expect to earn on a notional amount of underlying student loans being economically hedged, we will pay the counterparties the Floor Income earned on that notional amount over the life of the Floor Income Contract. Specifically, we agree to pay the counterparty the difference, if positive, between the fixed borrower rate less the SAP (see definition below) spread and the average of the applicable interest rate index on that notional amount, regardless of the actual balance of underlying student loans, over the life of the contract. The contracts generally do not extend over the life of the underlying student loans. This contract effectively locks in the amount of Floor Income we will earn over the period of the contract. Floor Income Contracts are not considered effective hedges under ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging,” and each quarter we must record the change in fair value of these contracts through income.
 
Gross Floor Income — Floor Income earned before payments on Floor Income Contracts.
 
Guarantor(s) — State agencies or non-profit companies that guarantee (or insure) FFELP Loans made by eligible lenders under The Higher Education Act of 1965 (“HEA”), as amended.
 
Private Education Loans — Education loans to students or parents of students that are not guaranteed under the FFELP. Private Education Loans include loans for higher education (undergraduate and graduate degrees) and for alternative education, such as career training, private kindergarten through secondary education schools and tutorial schools. Higher education loans have repayment terms similar to FFELP Loans, whereby repayments begin after the borrower leaves school. Our higher education Private Education Loans are not dischargeable in bankruptcy, except in certain limited circumstances. Repayment for alternative education generally begins immediately.
 
In the context of our Private Education Loan business, we use the term “non-traditional loans” to describe education loans made to certain borrowers that have or are expected to have a high default rate as a result of a number of factors, including having a lower tier credit rating, low program completion and graduation rates or, where the borrower is expected to graduate, a low expected income relative to the borrower’s cost of attendance. Non-traditional loans are loans to borrowers attending for-profit schools with an original FICO score of less than 670 and borrowers attending not-for-profit schools with an original FICO score of less than 640. The FICO score used in determining whether a loan is non-traditional is the greater of the borrower or co-borrower FICO score at origination.
 
Repayment Borrower Benefits — Financial incentives offered to borrowers based on pre-determined qualifying factors, which are generally tied directly to making on-time monthly payments. The impact of Repayment Borrower Benefits is dependent on the estimate of the number of borrowers who will eventually qualify for these benefits and the amount of the financial benefit offered to the borrower. We occasionally change Repayment Borrower Benefits programs in both amount and qualification factors. These programmatic changes must be reflected in the estimate of the Repayment Borrower Benefits discount when made.


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Residual Interest — When we securitize student loans, we retain the right to receive cash flows from the student loans sold to trusts that we sponsor in excess of amounts needed to pay servicing, derivative costs (if any), other fees, and the principal and interest on the bonds backed by the student loans. The Residual Interest, which may also include reserve and other cash accounts, is the present value of these future expected cash flows, which includes the present value of any Embedded Fixed Rate Floor Income described above. We value the Residual Interest at the time of sale of the student loans to the trust and as of the end of each subsequent quarter.
 
Retained Interest — The Retained Interest includes the Residual Interest (defined above) and servicing rights (as we retain the servicing responsibilities) for our securitization transactions accounted for as sales.
 
Risk Sharing — When a FFELP loan first disbursed on and after July 1, 2006 defaults, the federal government guarantees 97 percent of the principal balance plus accrued interest (98 percent on loans disbursed before July 1, 2006) and the holder of the loan is at risk for the remaining amount not guaranteed as a Risk Sharing loss on the loan. FFELP Loans originated after October 1, 1993 are subject to Risk Sharing on loan default claim payments unless the default results from the borrower’s death, disability or bankruptcy. FFELP Loans serviced by a servicer that has Exceptional Performer designation from ED were subject to one-percent Risk Sharing for claims filed on or after July 1, 2006 and before October 1, 2007. The CCRAA reduces default insurance to 95 percent of the unpaid principal and accrued interest for loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 2012.
 
Special Allowance Payment (“SAP”) — FFELP Loans disbursed prior to April 1, 2006 (with the exception of certain PLUS and SLS loans discussed below) generally earn interest at the greater of the borrower rate or a floating rate determined by reference to the average of the applicable floating rates (91-day Treasury bill rate or commercial paper) in a calendar quarter, plus a fixed spread that is dependent upon when the loan was originated and the loan’s repayment status. If the resulting floating rate exceeds the borrower rate, ED pays the difference directly to us. This payment is referred to as the Special Allowance Payment or SAP and the formula used to determine the floating rate is the SAP formula. We refer to the fixed spread to the underlying index as the SAP spread. For loans disbursed after April 1, 2006, FFELP Loans effectively only earn at the SAP rate, as the excess interest earned when the borrower rate exceeds the SAP rate (Floor Income) must be refunded to ED.
 
Variable rate PLUS Loans and SLS Loans earn SAP only if the variable rate, which is reset annually, exceeds the applicable maximum borrower rate. For PLUS loans disbursed on or after January 1, 2000, this limitation on SAP was repealed effective April 1, 2006.
 
Variable Rate Floor Income — Variable Rate Floor Income is Floor Income that is earned only through the next date at which the borrower interest rate is reset to a market rate. For FFELP Stafford loans whose borrower interest rate resets annually on July 1, we may earn Floor Income or Embedded Floor Income based on a calculation of the difference between the borrower rate and the then current interest rate.


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