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Fair Value Measurements | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2024
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] |
Fair Value Measurements | Fair Value Measurements We use estimates of fair value in applying various accounting standards for the consolidated financial statements. We categorize our fair value estimates based on a hierarchical framework associated with three levels of price transparency utilized in measuring financial instruments at fair value. For additional information regarding our policies for determining fair value and the hierarchical framework, see Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies — Fair Value Measurement” in this Form 10-K. The following table summarizes the valuation of our financial instruments that are marked-to-fair value on a recurring basis.
|  | Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis
|  | 2024 |  | 2023
As of December 31, (dollars in thousands) |  | Level 1 |  | Level 2 |  | Level 3 |  | Total |  | Level 1 |  | Level 2 |  | Level 3 |  | Total
Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Trading investments |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 53,262 |  |  | $ | 53,262 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 54,481 |  |  | $ | 54,481 |
Available-for-sale investments |  | — |  |  | 1,930,537 |  |  | 2,689 |  |  | 1,933,226 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,411,622 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,411,622 |
Derivative instruments |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Total |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,930,537 |  |  | $ | 55,951 |  |  | $ | 1,986,488 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 2,411,622 |  |  | $ | 54,481 |  |  | $ | 2,466,103 |
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative instruments |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (40) |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (40) |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (370) |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (370) |
Total |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (40) |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (40) |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (370) |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (370) |
The following table summarizes the change in balance sheet carrying value associated with level 3 financial instruments carried at fair value on a recurring basis.
|  | 2024 |  | 2023
|  | Investments |  | Investments
Years ended December 31, (dollars in thousands) |  | Available For Sale - Debt Securities |  | Trading - Residual Interests |  | Total |  | Available For Sale - Debt Securities |  | Trading - Residual Interests |  | Total
Balance, beginning of period |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 54,481 |  |  | $ | 54,481 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 50,786 |  |  | $ | 50,786 |
Total gains/(losses): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Included in earnings (or changes in net assets)(1) |  | 20 |  |  | 478 |  |  | 498 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,721 |  |  | 2,721 |
Included in other comprehensive income |  | 80 |  |  | — |  |  | 80 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Settlements |  | 2,589 |  |  | (1,697) |  |  | 892 |  |  | — |  |  | 974 |  |  | 974 |
Transfers into level 3 |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Transfers out of level 3 |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Balance, end of period |  | $ | 2,689 |  |  | $ | 53,262 |  |  | $ | 55,951 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 54,481 |  |  | $ | 54,481 |
Change in unrealized gains (losses) for the period included in other comprehensive income for assets held at the end of the reporting period |  | $ | 80 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 80 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Change in unrealized gains (losses) for the period included in earnings (or changes in net assets) for assets held at the end of the reporting period(2) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 478 |  |  | $ | 478 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 2,721 |  |  | $ | 2,721 |
(1) Included in earnings (or changes in net assets) is comprised of the amounts recorded in the specified line item in the consolidated statements of income:
Years Ended December 31, (dollars in thousands) |  |
| 2024 |  | 2023
Interest Income - Investments |  | $ | 20 |  |  | $ | — |
Gains (losses) on securities, net |  | 478 |  |  | 2,721 |
Total |  | $ | 498 |  |  | $ | 2,721 |
(2) Recorded in "gains (losses) on securities, net" in the consolidated statements of income. The following table presents the significant unobservable inputs used in the recurring valuations of the level 3 financial instruments detailed above.
As of December 31, 2024 (dollars in thousands) |  | Fair Value |  | Valuation Technique |  | Unobservable Input |  | Range (Average)
Debt Securities |  | $ | 2,689 |  |  | Discounted cash flow |  | Constant Prepayment Rate |  | 6.9%-11.0% (8.3%)
|  |  |  |  |  | Probability of default |  | 4.0%-17.0% (11.5%)
Residual Interests |  | 53,262 |  |  | Discounted cash flow |  | Constant Prepayment Rate |  | 6.9%-11.0% (8.3%)
|  |  |  |  |  | Probability of default |  | 4.0%-17.0% (11.5%)
Total |  | $ | 55,951 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
The significant inputs detailed in the above table would be expected to have the following impacts to the valuations: •A decrease in CPR would result in a longer weighted average life of the trust, resulting in a decrease to the valuation due to the delay in residual cash flows with the increased term. The opposite is true for an increase in the CPR. •A decrease in the probability of defaults means increased principal receipts, resulting in an increase to the valuation due to the increase in residual cash flow. •Conversely, an increase in the probability of defaults means decreased principal receipts, resulting in a decrease to the valuation due to the decrease in residual cash flow. The following table summarizes the fair values of our financial assets and liabilities, including derivative financial instruments.
As of December 31, (dollars in thousands) |  | 2024 |  | 2023
| Fair Value |  | Carrying Value |  | Difference |  | Fair Value |  | Carrying Value |  | Difference
Earning assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loans held for investment, net: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Private Education Loans |  | $ | 24,110,381 |  |  | $ | 20,902,158 |  |  | $ | 3,208,223 |  |  | $ | 22,229,045 |  |  | $ | 19,772,293 |  |  | $ | 2,456,752 |
FFELP Loans |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 542,775 |  |  | 534,064 |  |  | 8,711 |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | 4,700,366 |  |  | 4,700,366 |  |  | — |  |  | 4,149,838 |  |  | 4,149,838 |  |  | — |
Trading investments |  | 53,262 |  |  | 53,262 |  |  | — |  |  | 54,481 |  |  | 54,481 |  |  | — |
Available-for-sale investments |  | 1,933,226 |  |  | 1,933,226 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,411,622 |  |  | 2,411,622 |  |  | — |
Accrued interest receivable |  | 1,663,474 |  |  | 1,546,590 |  |  | 116,884 |  |  | 1,448,766 |  |  | 1,379,904 |  |  | 68,862 |
Derivative instruments |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Total earning assets |  | $ | 32,460,709 |  |  | $ | 29,135,602 |  |  | $ | 3,325,107 |  |  | $ | 30,836,527 |  |  | $ | 28,302,202 |  |  | $ | 2,534,325 |
Interest-bearing liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Money-market and savings accounts |  | $ | 10,503,731 |  |  | $ | 10,526,324 |  |  | $ | 22,593 |  |  | $ | 11,134,883 |  |  | $ | 11,203,292 |  |  | $ | 68,409 |
Certificates of deposit |  | 10,593,666 |  |  | 10,540,428 |  |  | (53,238) |  |  | 10,380,684 |  |  | 10,448,365 |  |  | 67,681 |
Long-term borrowings |  | 6,323,384 |  |  | 6,440,345 |  |  | 116,961 |  |  | 4,873,690 |  |  | 5,227,512 |  |  | 353,822 |
Accrued interest payable |  | 108,488 |  |  | 108,488 |  |  | — |  |  | 105,066 |  |  | 105,066 |  |  | — |
Derivative instruments |  | 40 |  |  | 40 |  |  | — |  |  | 370 |  |  | 370 |  |  | — |
Total interest-bearing liabilities |  | $ | 27,529,309 |  |  | $ | 27,615,625 |  |  | $ | 86,316 |  |  | $ | 26,494,693 |  |  | $ | 26,984,605 |  |  | $ | 489,912 |
Excess of net asset fair value over carrying value |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 3,411,423 |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 3,024,237 |
The methods and assumptions used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments are as follows: Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents are carried at cost. Carrying value approximated fair value for disclosure purposes. These are level 1 valuations. Investments Trading Investments classified as trading are carried at fair value in the consolidated financial statements. Investments in residual class interests are valued using observable inputs in the cash flow modeling where available, but many significant inputs are unobservable. Residual interests are not exchange traded nor do they have quoted market prices, as they are unique and do not actively trade. As such, these are level 3 valuations. Available-for-Sale Investments classified as available-for-sale are carried at fair value in the consolidated financial statements. Investments in mortgage-backed securities, U.S. government-sponsored enterprises and Treasury securities, and Utah Housing Corporation bonds are valued using observable market prices of similar assets. As such, these are level 2 valuations. The fair value of most of our non-residual vertical risk retention investments is estimated using pricing indications obtained from the investment bankers who participate in the asset-backed securities market. As such, these are level 2 valuations. Where we are unable to obtain pricing indications for our non-residual vertical risk retention investments, we classify them as level 3 valuations. Loans Held For Investment and Accrued Interest Receivable Private Education Loans For Private Education Loans, fair value was determined by using observable quoted prices for similar assets in our most recent market transactions. Adjustments were then made to account for the value of loans in our portfolio that have materially different characteristics than those included in the most recent market transaction. These are considered level 2 valuations. A portion of the fair value that has been modeled is attributable to accrued interest receivable that has not yet been capitalized, and has been allocated to the accrued interest receivable line item. The remaining accrued interest receivable that will not be capitalized into the principal balance of the loan is carried at cost. FFELP Loans During the third quarter of 2024, we transferred our FFELP Loan portfolio to loans held for sale as we planned to sell our FFELP Loan portfolio. At that time, we wrote down this loan portfolio to its estimated fair value through an adjustment to the allowance for credit losses of $8 million. We subsequently sold the FFELP Loan portfolio to a third party during the fourth quarter of 2024. For FFELP Loans, the fair value was determined by modeling expected loan level cash flows using stated terms of the assets and internally developed assumptions to determine aggregate portfolio yield, net present value, and average life. The significant assumptions used to determine fair value are prepayment speeds, default rates, cost of funds, and required return on equity. Significant inputs into the model are not observable. However, we do calibrate the model based on market transactions when appropriate. As such, these are level 3 valuations. Money Market and Savings Accounts Some of our MMDAs are fixed-rate deposits that are subject to minimum balances for a specified period of time. The fair values of these deposits are estimated using discounted cash flows based on rates currently offered for deposits of similar maturities. These are level 2 valuations. The fair values of our remaining money market and savings accounts equal the amounts payable on demand at the balance sheet date and are reported at their carrying value. These are level 1 valuations. Certificates of Deposit The fair values of CDs are estimated using discounted cash flows based on rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities. These are level 2 valuations. Accrued Interest Payable Accrued interest payable is carried at cost. The carrying value approximates fair value due to its short-term nature. This is a level 1 valuation. Borrowings Borrowings are accounted for at cost in the consolidated financial statements. The carrying value of short-term borrowings approximated fair value for disclosure purposes, due to the short-term nature of those borrowings. This is a level 1 valuation. The fair value of long-term secured borrowings is estimated using pricing indications obtained from the investment bankers who participate in the asset-backed securities market. The fair value of our long-term unsecured borrowings is sourced from a third-party pricing service.These are level 2 valuations. Derivatives All derivatives are accounted for at fair value in the consolidated financial statements. The fair value of derivative financial instruments was determined by a standard derivative pricing and option model using the stated terms of the contracts and observable market inputs. It is our policy to compare the derivative fair values to those received from our counterparties in order to evaluate the model’s outputs. When determining the fair value of derivatives, we take into account counterparty credit risk for positions where we are exposed to the counterparty on a net basis by assessing exposure net of collateral held. When the counterparty has exposure to us under derivative contracts with the Company, we fully collateralize the exposure (subject to certain thresholds). Interest rate swaps are valued using a standard derivative cash flow model with a SOFR swap yield curve, which is an observable input from an active market. These derivatives are level 2 fair value estimates in the hierarchy. The carrying value of borrowings designated as the hedged item in a fair value hedge is adjusted for changes in fair value due to changes in the benchmark interest rate (SOFR). These valuations are determined through standard pricing models using the stated terms of the borrowings and observable yield curves.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 55 -Paragraph 107 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482078/820-10-55-107 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 55 -Paragraph 100 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482078/820-10-55-100 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(3) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 6A -Subparagraph (a) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-6A Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 2E -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2E Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 6A -Subparagraph (h) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-6A Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 6A -Subparagraph (f) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-6A Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 6A -Subparagraph (e) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-6A Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 6A -Subparagraph (d) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-6A Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (h) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2 Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (g) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2 Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 940 -SubTopic 820 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478119/940-820-50-1 + Details
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