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Significant Accounting Policies - Effect of CECL Adoption (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Sep. 30, 2020 | Jun. 30, 2020 | Jan. 01, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for credit losses on loans and leases | $ 1,734,559 | $ 1,929,323 | $ 441,912 | $ 441,912 | $ 414,406 | $ 383,997 | $ 341,121
Off-balance sheet exposures |  |  | 2,481 |  |  |  |
Retained earnings | 1,302,654 |  | 1,850,512 | 1,850,512 |  |  |
Deferred tax asset |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred tax asset |  |  | 109,369 |  |  |  |
Private Education Loans |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for credit losses on loans and leases | 1,728,811 |  | 374,300 | 374,300 |  |  |
FFELP Loans |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for credit losses on loans and leases | 4,363 |  | 1,633 | 1,633 |  |  |
Personal Loans |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for credit losses on loans and leases | 0 |  | 65,877 | 65,877 |  |  |
Credit Cards |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for credit losses on loans and leases | $ 1,385 |  | 102 | $ 102 |  |  |
Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjusted Balance |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for credit losses on loans and leases |  |  | 1,584,965 |  |  |  |
Off-balance sheet exposures |  |  | 118,239 |  |  |  |
Retained earnings |  |  | 897,873 |  |  |  |
Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjusted Balance | Deferred tax asset |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred tax asset |  |  | 415,540 |  |  |  |
Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjusted Balance | Private Education Loans |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for credit losses on loans and leases |  |  | 1,435,130 |  |  |  |
Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjusted Balance | FFELP Loans |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for credit losses on loans and leases |  |  | 4,485 |  |  |  |
Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjusted Balance | Personal Loans |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for credit losses on loans and leases |  |  | 145,060 |  |  |  |
Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjusted Balance | Credit Cards |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for credit losses on loans and leases |  |  | 290 |  |  |  |
Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjustment |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for credit losses on loans and leases |  |  | 1,143,053 |  |  |  |
Off-balance sheet exposures |  |  | 115,758 |  |  |  |
Retained earnings |  |  | (952,639) |  |  |  |
Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjustment | Deferred tax asset |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred tax asset |  |  | 306,171 |  |  |  |
Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjustment | Private Education Loans |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for credit losses on loans and leases |  |  | 1,060,830 |  |  |  |
Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjustment | FFELP Loans |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for credit losses on loans and leases |  |  | 2,852 |  |  |  |
Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjustment | Personal Loans |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for credit losses on loans and leases |  |  | 79,183 |  |  |  |
Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjustment | Credit Cards |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for credit losses on loans and leases |  |  | $ 188 |  |  |  |

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