# SLM Corporation (Sallie Mae): AI strategy

Source: https://www.bankingnewsai.com/banks/sallie-mae
Last updated: Oct 13, 2026

*The largest private student lender hired a Bank of America data-and-analytics technology head to run a data-first transformation, uses AI conversation simulation to train call-centre agents, and treats AI's effect on graduate employment as a credit question it has studied and dismissed.*

## How is Sallie Mae using AI?

Sallie Mae, formally SLM Corporation, the Newark, Delaware parent of Sallie Mae Bank, a Utah industrial bank with about $29 billion of assets and the leading private student lender, made its AI move through a hire. On 2 February 2026 it named Steve Turner chief technology and enablement officer, giving him technology architecture and delivery, IT innovation, data, and information and physical security; Turner ran data, analytics, insights and marketing technology at Bank of America and was CIO at Walgreens, and CEO Jon Witter said his experience with 'large-scale, customer-focused platforms' would 'strengthen our technology foundation, drive innovation across the business, and deepen our relationships with our customers'. The 2026 proxy frames technology as improvements to 'underwriting, credit administration, marketing, and other key functions' and a push into graduate lending; the second-quarter earnings deck lists 'risks related to artificial intelligence' alongside cyber risk. The 2025 10-K goes further: the company is 'in the initial phases of integrating AI into our business operations with the objective of enhancing employee productivity, client outreach, and customer experience in general', and it warns that it 'could lose market share' if it cannot keep pace with technology, including AI. At its December 2025 investor forum, preparing for federal loan reform, it listed 'operational staffing and automation investments, including opportunities to leverage AI capabilities'. In the contact centre the company uses Zenarate's AI Coach conversation simulator to train agents. AI also matters to Sallie Mae as a credit variable: on the January 2026 earnings call Witter said that 'as AI transforms the professional landscape', education would become more important, while acknowledging that unemployment among new college graduates was 'slightly elevated'; at RBC's financial-institutions conference in March he said the company had 'looked long and hard at the AI threat' and cited a 93% cosigner rate as a source of confidence in its loans; in April he said the gap in recent-graduate unemployment versus historical norms had closed in March, and the company reported a 95% cosigner rate on new originations. Business is growing: second-quarter 2026 private education loan originations were $716 million, up 4.5%, with graduate originations up 29%, and 2026 guidance calls for 12% to 14% origination growth as federal Grad PLUS reforms open what management sizes as a $4.5 billion to $5 billion annual opportunity. In April 2026 CFO Peter Graham and COO Kerri Palmer became co-presidents. Sallie Mae Bank is supervised by the FDIC and the Utah regulator; its lending brings CFPB adverse-action duties to any automated decisioning.

## At a glance

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Lead bank | Sallie Mae Bank |
| Ticker | SLM |
| Headquarters | Newark, DE |
| Consolidated assets | $29,457 million |
| Federal Reserve rank | 67 |
| Charter | Utah industrial bank (FDIC) |

## What AI partnerships and patents does Sallie Mae have?

Sallie Mae's public vendor record has four named technology partners: Zenarate for AI agent-training simulation, Unit21 for fraud and AML, Nova Credit for income verification in underwriting, and Fluent for AI-powered advertising on Backpack Media. Zenarate, Unit21 and Fluent describe AI in their releases; Nova Credit's release does not, and none gives contract terms. A Google Patents search under SLM Corporation, Sallie Mae Bank and SLM Education Services found no AI patents or applications; the only Sallie Mae, Inc. records are older financial-planning and web applications. ([Zenarate (PR Newswire)](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zenarate-ai-coach-transforms-how-agents-learn-and-perform-through-natural-language-ai-simulation-training-301864280.html), [Unit21 (Business Wire)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260403313048/en/Unit21-Appoints-Tyler-Allen-as-Chief-Executive-Officer-as-Company-Accelerates-AI-Risk-Infrastructure-Vision), [Nova Credit (Business Wire)](https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/sallie-mae-selects-nova-credit-133000291.html), [Fluent (GlobeNewswire)](https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/05/19/3297450/0/en/Fluent-Inc-Selected-as-Commerce-Media-Partner-for-BackpackSM-Media-by-Sallie.html), [Google Patents (USPTO)](https://patents.google.com/patent/US20130103573A1/en))

| Item | What it is | Status | Date | Sources |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Zenarate AI Coach | Natural-language AI simulation for new-hire and tenured contact-centre agent training | In production | 2023-06-27 | [Zenarate (PR Newswire)](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zenarate-ai-coach-transforms-how-agents-learn-and-perform-through-natural-language-ai-simulation-training-301864280.html) |
| Unit21 | Fraud and AML platform with AI agents; Sallie Mae named among customers, deployment not described | In production | 2026-04-03 | [Unit21 (Business Wire)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260403313048/en/Unit21-Appoints-Tyler-Allen-as-Chief-Executive-Officer-as-Company-Accelerates-AI-Risk-Infrastructure-Vision) |
| Nova Credit Income Navigator | Cash-flow data and analytics for income verification in private student loan underwriting | Announced | 2026-07-01 | [Nova Credit (Business Wire)](https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/sallie-mae-selects-nova-credit-133000291.html) |
| Fluent | Commerce media partner for Backpack Media; AI-powered campaign efficiency for advertisers | In production | 2026-05-19 | [Fluent (GlobeNewswire)](https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/05/19/3297450/0/en/Fluent-Inc-Selected-as-Commerce-Media-Partner-for-BackpackSM-Media-by-Sallie.html) |

## Flagship platform: Technology and enablement organisation under Steve Turner

In February 2026 Sallie Mae appointed Steve Turner chief technology and enablement officer, responsible for technology architecture and delivery, IT innovation, data, and information and physical security, with a brief to 'harness data to deliver faster, simpler, and more reliable experiences'. Turner was previously managing director and head of data, analytics, insights and marketing technology at Bank of America and, before that, chief information officer at Walgreens. The company's 2026 proxy describes using its product and credit knowledge to improve 'underwriting, credit administration, marketing, and other key functions' in the core private student-loan business, and its earnings materials list 'risks related to artificial intelligence' among operating risks. Its contact centre uses Zenarate's AI Coach, in which new and tenured agents role-play life-like conversation and chat simulations with an AI coach before live calls. The 2025 10-K says the company is 'in the initial phases of integrating AI into our business operations with the objective of enhancing employee productivity, client outreach, and customer experience in general'. No model inventory, AI vendor for underwriting or AI budget has been disclosed. ([Sallie Mae](https://news.salliemae.com/news-releases/news-releases-details/2026/Sallie-Mae-Names-Steve-Turner-Chief-Technology-and-Enablement-Officer/default.aspx), [Sallie Mae](https://salliemae.com/content/dam/slm/writtencontent/Reports/investors/SLM_Corporation_Proxy_Statement_April_27_2026.pdf), [Sallie Mae](https://salliemae.com/content/dam/slm/writtencontent/Reports/investors/2Q26_Sallie_Mae_Earnings_Presentation.pdf), [Zenarate (PR Newswire)](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zenarate-ai-coach-transforms-how-agents-learn-and-perform-through-natural-language-ai-simulation-training-301864280.html), [SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203326000011/slm-20251231.htm))

## Key points

- Steve Turner appointed chief technology and enablement officer on 2 February 2026: technology, IT innovation, data and security; ex-Bank of America head of data, analytics and marketing technology and ex-Walgreens CIO.
- Technology agenda per the 2026 proxy: improve underwriting, credit administration and marketing in the core private student-loan business; grow graduate lending.
- AI risk is disclosed ('risks related to artificial intelligence') in earnings materials; no AI vendor, model inventory or budget is named.
- AI conversation simulation (Zenarate AI Coach) trains new and tenured contact-centre agents.
- Management tracks AI's effect on graduate employment as a credit question: at RBC's March 2026 conference the CEO said it had 'looked long and hard at the AI threat', citing a 93% cosigner rate; on the January and April 2026 calls it called recent-graduate unemployment slightly elevated, then said the gap to historical norms closed in March; the Q1 2026 cosigner rate on new originations was 95%.
- 2025 10-K: 'in the initial phases of integrating AI' for employee productivity, client outreach and customer experience; AI named as a competitive, regulatory and demand risk. December 2025 investor forum: automation investments including AI to scale for Grad PLUS reform.
- Q2 2026 originations $716 million (+4.5%), graduate originations +29%; 2026 guidance 12% to 14% origination growth on Grad PLUS reforms.
- AI wording arrived in stages: the 2024 10-K (February 2025) has two passages, on AI and robotic process automation as competition and on AI and machine-learning use by the company and its vendors; the Q2 and Q3 2025 10-Qs have none; the Q4 2025 earnings deck (22 January 2026), the 2025 10-K and the Q1 and Q2 2026 10-Qs list 'risks related to artificial intelligence', and the 10-K adds a dedicated AI risk factor.
- Technology and risk ownership is named: the Chief Security Officer reports to Steve Turner, the board's Operational and Compliance Risk Committee oversees cybersecurity, and Munish Pahwa, executive vice president and chief risk officer since November 2023, owns enterprise risk including model risk. No chief AI officer, head of AI or chief data officer is named.
- Underwriting vendor: on 1 July 2026 Sallie Mae selected Nova Credit's Income Navigator to verify income in private student loan underwriting; Nova describes a cash-flow data and analytics platform, and the release does not call it AI.
- Servicing and collections changed in 2026 without an AI claim: a borrower segment equal to 0.08% of the portfolio produced 6.4% of gross charge-offs at 30 April, so Sallie Mae halted third-party recovery sales and moved recoveries in house; Q2 net charge-offs were $113 million against $94 million a year earlier, and the Q2 2026 call transcript contains no reference to AI.
- Acquired assets feed an education-media business: Nitro College (closed 4 March 2022) and Scholly (July 2023) carry $56 million of goodwill at 30 June 2026; Backpack Media launched in March 2026 and in May chose Fluent, whose release cites AI-powered campaign efficiency, as commerce media partner. A former Scholly founder alleges in an April 2026 lawsuit that student data is sold; Sallie Mae calls the claims without merit.

## Timeline

- Jul 23, 2026 — **Q2 2026 call and 10-Q: collections, not AI** Net charge-offs were $113 million against $94 million; management pauses all recovery sales and keeps AI to the 10-Q risk list. Noninterest expense was $195 million, up $28 million on one-time product and infrastructure investment for the reforms. ([GuruFocus (Yahoo Finance)](https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/slm-corp-slm-q2-2026-050144280.html), [SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203326000042/slm-20260630.htm))
- Jul 23, 2026 — **Second-quarter 2026 results** Originations $716 million; diluted EPS $0.29; AI listed among operating risks. ([Sallie Mae](https://news.salliemae.com/news-releases/news-releases-details/2026/Sallie-Mae-Reports-Second-Quarter-2026-Financial-Results/default.aspx), [Sallie Mae](https://salliemae.com/content/dam/slm/writtencontent/Reports/investors/2Q26_Sallie_Mae_Earnings_Presentation.pdf))
- Jul 1, 2026 — **Nova Credit Income Navigator selected for underwriting** Income verification inside private student loan underwriting; no go-live date or contract terms are given. ([Nova Credit (Business Wire)](https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/sallie-mae-selects-nova-credit-133000291.html))
- Jun 30, 2026 — **Second-quarter originations reach $716 million** Up 4.5% year on year; graduate originations up 29%. ([Sallie Mae](https://salliemae.com/content/dam/slm/writtencontent/Reports/investors/2Q26_Sallie_Mae_Earnings_Presentation.pdf))
- Jun 10, 2026 — **Morgan Stanley conference: debt-resolution firms and in-house recoveries** The deck says a segment equal to 0.08% of the portfolio produced 6.40% of gross charge-offs at 30 April 2026, and that 2026 net charge-offs could rise by about $25 million if third-party recovery sales do not resume this year; shares fall 7.6% the next day. ([SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203326000034/slm061026991.htm), [Zacks (Yahoo Finance)](https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/sallie-mae-stock-tumbles-7-192400614.html))
- May 19, 2026 — **Fluent named commerce media partner for Backpack Media** Fluent's release says its AI-powered campaign efficiency will replace static, manually managed placements; Backpack Media says it does not sell individual student or parent data and offers anonymised, aggregated segments. ([Fluent (GlobeNewswire)](https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/05/19/3297450/0/en/Fluent-Inc-Selected-as-Commerce-Media-Partner-for-BackpackSM-Media-by-Sallie.html))
- Apr 27, 2026 — **Proxy statement: technology to improve underwriting and marketing** Co-presidents named the same day. ([Sallie Mae](https://salliemae.com/content/dam/slm/writtencontent/Reports/investors/SLM_Corporation_Proxy_Statement_April_27_2026.pdf), [Sallie Mae](https://news.salliemae.com/news-releases/news-releases-details/2026/Sallie-Mae-Announces-Senior-Leadership-Appointments/default.aspx))
- Apr 23, 2026 — **Q1 2026 10-Q carries AI risk language; CEO cites credit models** The 10-Q lists 'risks related to artificial intelligence' among operating risks. On the call the CEO says servicing and fulfilment capabilities have improved, and calls the credit models, school relationships and organic marketing channels the foundation to be enhanced for graduate lending. ([SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203326000025/slm-20260331.htm), [The Motley Fool](https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/04/23/slm-slm-q1-2026-earnings-call-transcript/))
- Apr 23, 2026 — **Q1 2026 call: schools add AI coursework; cosigner rate 95%** The CEO says schools are integrating AI-related coursework and the recent-graduate unemployment gap to historical norms closed in March; new-origination cosigner rate rises to 95%. ([The Motley Fool (Yahoo Finance)](https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/slm-slm-q1-2026-earnings-230732788.html))
- Apr 3, 2026 — **Unit21 release names Sallie Mae as a customer** The release describes a fraud and AML platform with AI agents that draft investigation narratives; it does not describe Sallie Mae's deployment. ([Unit21 (Business Wire)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260403313048/en/Unit21-Appoints-Tyler-Allen-as-Chief-Executive-Officer-as-Company-Accelerates-AI-Risk-Infrastructure-Vision))
- Mar 11, 2026 — **RBC conference: 'looked long and hard at the AI threat'** The CEO calls AI a powerful technology that will change how work gets done, says schools are adapting their programmes, and points to a 93% cosigner rate and 20% to 25% returns on equity on its loans as buffers. ([Investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/transcripts/sallie-mae-at-rbc-conference-strategic-growth-and-ai-challenges-93CH-4555898))
- Mar 4, 2026 — **Backpack Media launched** Sallie, the education-solutions arm, starts an education media network selling brands access to students and parents; it says it engages about two-thirds of college-bound freshmen a year through its Education Services subsidiary. ([Fluent (GlobeNewswire)](https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/05/19/3297450/0/en/Fluent-Inc-Selected-as-Commerce-Media-Partner-for-BackpackSM-Media-by-Sallie.html), [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/28/founder-of-shark-tank-backed-startup-scholly-sues-his-acquirer-sallie-mae/))
- Feb 19, 2026 — **2025 10-K: 'initial phases of integrating AI'** AI integration aimed at employee productivity, client outreach and customer experience; risk factors cover AI regulation, vendor AI, data disclosure, competition from AI and robotic process automation, and AI's effect on demand for degrees. ([SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203326000011/slm-20251231.htm))
- Feb 2, 2026 — **Steve Turner named chief technology and enablement officer** Data-first mandate; ex-Bank of America and Walgreens. ([Sallie Mae](https://news.salliemae.com/news-releases/news-releases-details/2026/Sallie-Mae-Names-Steve-Turner-Chief-Technology-and-Enablement-Officer/default.aspx))
- Jan 22, 2026 — **Q4 2025 earnings deck adds 'risks related to artificial intelligence'** The deck's forward-looking list names AI risk next to cyber risk and vendor failures. The Q3 2025 10-Q and the 3 November 2025 investor deck do not use the phrase, and the Q2 2025 10-Q has no AI wording. ([SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203326000003/slm012226992.htm), [SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203325000033/slm-20250930.htm))
- Jan 22, 2026 — **Q4 2025 call: AI and the graduate job market** The CEO says education will matter more 'as AI transforms the professional landscape' and that new-graduate unemployment is slightly elevated but most graduates find work within six months. ([The Motley Fool (Yahoo Finance)](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/slm-slm-q4-2025-earnings-235048834.html))
- Dec 8, 2025 — **Investor forum: automation and AI to scale for Grad PLUS reform** The deck lists 'operational staffing and automation investments, including opportunities to leverage AI capabilities'; the company sizes the graduate opportunity at $4.5 billion to $5 billion a year by year four; the stock falls 15% on lower EPS projections. ([SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203325000042/slm120825991.htm), [American Banker](https://www.americanbanker.com/news/sallie-maes-subdued-earnings-forecast-puzzles-investors))
- Feb 20, 2025 — **2024 10-K: AI as competition and as a data-regulation risk** The filing says advances in robotic process automation and AI could affect competition for financial services, and that the company and its service providers may use AI, machine learning and data analytics on data under a regulatory framework that remains uncertain. Those are its only two AI passages. ([SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000162828025006776/slm-20241231.htm))
- Jan 8, 2025 — **Guidance on using AI to write scholarship essays** Consumer education on generative AI. ([Sallie Mae](https://www.salliemae.com/blog/using-ai-to-write-scholarship-essays/))
- Aug 6, 2024 — **How America Pays for College 2024: families use AI** 23% of students and 18% of parents used AI in the college application or decision-making process; 29% of AI users researched financial aid or scholarships with it. ([Sallie Mae](https://news.salliemae.com/news-releases/news-releases-details/2024/Just-Released-How-America-Pays-for-College-2024-Report-Finds-College-Spending-Stable-with-Family-Out-of-Pocket-Contributions-Covering-the-Largest-Share-of-Cost))
- Jul 26, 2023 — **Scholly key assets acquired** Sallie Mae buys the scholarship search app, its scholarship administration technology and the Scholly Offers platform, and makes the app free; goodwill from Nitro and Scholly together is $56 million at 30 June 2026. ([Sallie Mae (Business Wire)](https://businesswire.com/news/home/20230726114303/en), [SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203326000042/slm-20260630.htm))
- Jun 27, 2023 — **Zenarate AI Coach used for agent training** Sallie Mae's director of education and instructional design says the AI simulation tool helped scale skill development and improve new-hire performance. ([Zenarate (PR Newswire)](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zenarate-ai-coach-transforms-how-agents-learn-and-perform-through-natural-language-ai-simulation-training-301864280.html))
- Feb 3, 2023 — **Loss-forecasting analytics rebuilt after charge-offs jump** After 2022 net charge-offs reached $386 million, the CEO says the company has 'ripped apart and reconstructed our analytics around loss forecasting' with new models that track borrower patterns. ([American Banker](https://americanbanker.com/news/sallie-mae-overhauls-its-credit-analytics-after-charge-offs-jump))
- Mar 4, 2022 — **Nitro College acquisition completed** Agreed on 26 January 2022 with Epic Research LLC; Nitro is a Delaware digital marketing and education-tools company. The 10-K says it expanded digital marketing capability and lowered the cost of acquiring customer accounts; its branding moved to the Sallie and Sallie Mae brands in 2024. ([Sallie Mae (Business Wire)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220126005927/en/Sallie-Mae-Agrees-to-Acquire-Nitro-College-a-Delaware-based-Digital-Marketing-and-Education-Solutions-Company), [SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203326000011/slm-20251231.htm))

## Where AI runs

| Use case | What | Status | Detail | Sources |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Customer-facing chatbots](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#customer-chatbots) | AI-simulated training for contact-centre agents | In production | Zenarate AI Coach: new-hire onboarding and tenured-agent upskilling through life-like conversation and chat simulations role-played with an AI coach. | [Zenarate (PR Newswire)](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zenarate-ai-coach-transforms-how-agents-learn-and-perform-through-natural-language-ai-simulation-training-301864280.html) |
| [Credit scoring & underwriting](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#credit-underwriting) | Underwriting and credit-administration improvements | Rolling out | Data-led enhancements to the core private student-loan process under the new technology organisation. | [Sallie Mae](https://salliemae.com/content/dam/slm/writtencontent/Reports/investors/SLM_Corporation_Proxy_Statement_April_27_2026.pdf), [Sallie Mae](https://news.salliemae.com/news-releases/news-releases-details/2026/Sallie-Mae-Names-Steve-Turner-Chief-Technology-and-Enablement-Officer/default.aspx) |
| [Model risk management](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#model-risk) | AI as a credit-risk variable | In production | Management tracks AI's effect on graduate employment and cosigner strength, discussed on the January and April 2026 earnings calls and at RBC's March 2026 conference. | [The Motley Fool (Yahoo Finance)](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/slm-slm-q4-2025-earnings-235048834.html), [Investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/transcripts/sallie-mae-at-rbc-conference-strategic-growth-and-ai-challenges-93CH-4555898), [The Motley Fool (Yahoo Finance)](https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/slm-slm-q1-2026-earnings-230732788.html) |
| [Model risk management](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#model-risk) | AI risk-factor disclosure | In production | The 10-K's dedicated AI risk factor covers evolving federal and state AI regulation, vendors' use of AI, inadvertent disclosure of confidential information and the opacity of AI models; the loss-forecasting models were rebuilt in 2023. | [SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203326000011/slm-20251231.htm), [American Banker](https://americanbanker.com/news/sallie-mae-overhauls-its-credit-analytics-after-charge-offs-jump) |
| [Generative & agentic AI](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#generative-agentic-ai) | AI integration for productivity and client outreach | Rolling out | In its initial phases: aimed at employee productivity, client outreach and customer experience; the investor forum paired it with operational automation investments for Grad PLUS reform. | [SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203326000011/slm-20251231.htm), [SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203325000042/slm120825991.htm) |
| [Cybersecurity](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#cybersecurity) | Information and physical security under the CTEO | In production | Security consolidated with technology and data. | [Sallie Mae](https://news.salliemae.com/news-releases/news-releases-details/2026/Sallie-Mae-Names-Steve-Turner-Chief-Technology-and-Enablement-Officer/default.aspx) |
| [Credit scoring & underwriting](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#credit-underwriting) | Income verification in underwriting (Nova Credit Income Navigator) | Announced | Selected on 1 July 2026 to verify consumer income as part of private student loan underwriting. Nova Credit describes a cash-flow data and analytics platform; the release does not call the product AI, name a go-live date or give contract terms. | [Nova Credit (Business Wire)](https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/sallie-mae-selects-nova-credit-133000291.html) |
| [Model risk management](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#model-risk) | Underwriting refinement and credit-model reuse for graduate lending | In production | At RBC's March 2026 conference the CEO said four years of underwriting refinement had cut annual originations by 10% to 15% for credit resilience, and cited proprietary data and insight around its underwriting models as an advantage; on the Q1 2026 call he said the credit models would be enhanced and expanded for the graduate opportunity. No model type or vendor is named. | [Investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/transcripts/sallie-mae-at-rbc-conference-strategic-growth-and-ai-challenges-93CH-4555898), [The Motley Fool](https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/04/23/slm-slm-q1-2026-earnings-call-transcript/) |
| [Third-party & vendor AI](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#third-party-vendors) | AI-adjacent vendor roster and vendor-AI exposure | In production | Named vendors are Zenarate (agent-training simulation), Unit21 (fraud and AML), Nova Credit (income verification) and Fluent (advertising optimisation). The 2025 10-K says certain vendors and third parties may incorporate AI into services Sallie Mae uses, that it depends significantly on third parties for key information technology, and that regulatory change could raise compliance costs. No contract values are disclosed. | [SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203326000011/slm-20251231.htm), [Zenarate (PR Newswire)](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zenarate-ai-coach-transforms-how-agents-learn-and-perform-through-natural-language-ai-simulation-training-301864280.html), [Unit21 (Business Wire)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260403313048/en/Unit21-Appoints-Tyler-Allen-as-Chief-Executive-Officer-as-Company-Accelerates-AI-Risk-Infrastructure-Vision), [Nova Credit (Business Wire)](https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/sallie-mae-selects-nova-credit-133000291.html), [Fluent (GlobeNewswire)](https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/05/19/3297450/0/en/Fluent-Inc-Selected-as-Commerce-Media-Partner-for-BackpackSM-Media-by-Sallie.html) |
| [Data & privacy](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#data-privacy) | Student data and AI-powered advertising (Backpack Media) | In production | Backpack Media, launched in March 2026 through the Education Services subsidiary, sells brands anonymised, aggregated audience segments and uses Fluent's AI-powered campaign efficiency; it says it does not sell individual student or parent data. A former Scholly founder alleges in an April 2026 suit that Scholly data is sold, and TechCrunch reports that the Sallie.com privacy policy lists categories of personal data sold to third parties; Sallie Mae denies the allegations. Both 10-Ks warn that its own and vendors' use of AI, machine learning and analytics on data faces uncertain regulation. | [Fluent (GlobeNewswire)](https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/05/19/3297450/0/en/Fluent-Inc-Selected-as-Commerce-Media-Partner-for-BackpackSM-Media-by-Sallie.html), [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/28/founder-of-shark-tank-backed-startup-scholly-sues-his-acquirer-sallie-mae/), [SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203326000011/slm-20251231.htm), [SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000162828025006776/slm-20241231.htm) |
| [AI governance (general)](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#governance-general) | Technology, security and risk reporting lines | In production | The Chief Security Officer reports to the chief technology and enablement officer and briefs the management Operational and Compliance Risk Committee and Executive Committee; the board's Operational and Compliance Risk Committee oversees cybersecurity; the chief risk officer owns the enterprise risk framework, which the 10-K says covers model risk and data governance risk. No AI committee or AI policy is described. | [SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203326000011/slm-20251231.htm), [SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000119312526182200/d24099ddef14a.htm) |
| [AML / KYC](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#aml-kyc) | Unit21 fraud and AML platform | In production | Unit21's April 2026 release names Sallie Mae among its customers for a platform that combines fraud and AML detection, investigation and regulatory filing, with AI agents that gather evidence and draft narratives; the release does not describe Sallie Mae's deployment. | [Unit21 (Business Wire)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260403313048/en/Unit21-Appoints-Tyler-Allen-as-Chief-Executive-Officer-as-Company-Accelerates-AI-Risk-Infrastructure-Vision) |

## Disclosed numbers

| Measure | Value | As of | Sources |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Private education loan originations, Q2 2026 | $716 million (+4.5% year on year; graduate +29%) | Jul 23, 2026 | [Sallie Mae](https://salliemae.com/content/dam/slm/writtencontent/Reports/investors/2Q26_Sallie_Mae_Earnings_Presentation.pdf) |
| Diluted EPS, Q2 2026 | $0.29 | Jul 23, 2026 | [Sallie Mae](https://salliemae.com/content/dam/slm/writtencontent/Reports/investors/2Q26_Sallie_Mae_Earnings_Presentation.pdf) |
| 2026 guidance: origination growth / diluted EPS | 12% to 14% / $3.10 to $3.20 | Jul 23, 2026 | [Sallie Mae](https://salliemae.com/content/dam/slm/writtencontent/Reports/investors/2Q26_Sallie_Mae_Earnings_Presentation.pdf) |
| Cosigner rate on borrowers cited at the RBC conference | 93% | Mar 11, 2026 | [Investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/transcripts/sallie-mae-at-rbc-conference-strategic-growth-and-ai-challenges-93CH-4555898) |
| Cosigner rate on new originations, Q1 2026 | 95% (86% five years earlier) | Mar 31, 2026 | [The Motley Fool (Yahoo Finance)](https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/slm-slm-q1-2026-earnings-230732788.html) |
| Annual Grad PLUS reform opportunity (year four) | $4.5 billion to $5 billion of originations | Dec 8, 2025 | [SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203325000042/slm120825991.htm), [American Banker](https://www.americanbanker.com/news/sallie-maes-subdued-earnings-forecast-puzzles-investors) |
| Borrower segment blamed on third-party debt-resolution practices, 30 April 2026 | 0.08% of the on-balance-sheet portfolio and 6.40% of gross charge-offs; about $25 million of 2026 net charge-offs at risk if third-party recovery sales do not resume | Apr 30, 2026 | [SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203326000034/slm061026991.htm) |
| Net charge-offs, Q2 2026 | $113 million (Q2 2025: $94 million); about $16 million of the rise attributed to debt-resolution practices | Jul 23, 2026 | [GuruFocus (Yahoo Finance)](https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/slm-corp-slm-q2-2026-050144280.html) |
| Noninterest expense, Q2 2026 / efficiency ratio | $195 million (+$28 million) / 48.6% | Jul 23, 2026 | [GuruFocus (Yahoo Finance)](https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/slm-corp-slm-q2-2026-050144280.html) |
| Noninterest expense, 2025 / efficiency ratio | $659 million (+2.6%) / 33.2% | Jan 22, 2026 | [The Motley Fool (Yahoo Finance)](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/slm-slm-q4-2025-earnings-235048834.html) |
| Goodwill from the Nitro and Scholly acquisitions | $56 million | Jun 30, 2026 | [SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203326000042/slm-20260630.htm) |
| Reduction in annual originations from underwriting refinement over about four years | 10% to 15% | Mar 11, 2026 | [Investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/transcripts/sallie-mae-at-rbc-conference-strategic-growth-and-ai-challenges-93CH-4555898) |
| Grad PLUS reform: incremental originations, mid-range scenario, years 1 to 4 | $690 million, $3,150 million, $3,780 million, $4,750 million | Dec 8, 2025 | [SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203325000042/slm120825991.htm) |
| Students / parents using AI in the college application or decision process | 23% / 18% | Aug 6, 2024 | [Sallie Mae](https://news.salliemae.com/news-releases/news-releases-details/2024/Just-Released-How-America-Pays-for-College-2024-Report-Finds-College-Spending-Stable-with-Family-Out-of-Pocket-Contributions-Covering-the-Largest-Share-of-Cost) |

## Quotes

> "I look forward to leading our technology organization to accelerate innovation and harness data to deliver faster, simpler, and more reliable experiences for the students and families we serve." — Steve Turner, Chief Technology and Enablement Officer, Feb 2, 2026 ([Sallie Mae](https://news.salliemae.com/news-releases/news-releases-details/2026/Sallie-Mae-Names-Steve-Turner-Chief-Technology-and-Enablement-Officer/default.aspx))

> "Steve's deep experience managing large-scale, customer-focused platforms makes him the right leader to strengthen our technology foundation, drive innovation across the business, and deepen our relationships with our customers." — Jon Witter, Chief Executive Officer, Feb 2, 2026 ([Sallie Mae](https://news.salliemae.com/news-releases/news-releases-details/2026/Sallie-Mae-Names-Steve-Turner-Chief-Technology-and-Enablement-Officer/default.aspx))

> "As AI transforms the professional landscape, we believe education will be even more important as students acquire the skills necessary to remain competitive in the future." — Jon Witter, Chief Executive Officer, Jan 22, 2026 ([The Motley Fool (Yahoo Finance)](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/slm-slm-q4-2025-earnings-235048834.html))

> "While I'm not a futurist, you know, we've obviously looked long and hard at the AI threat." — Jon Witter, Chief Executive Officer, Mar 11, 2026 ([Investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/transcripts/sallie-mae-at-rbc-conference-strategic-growth-and-ai-challenges-93CH-4555898))

> "AI is a powerful technology. It's clearly gonna reshape big parts of how the industry, all industries work." — Jon Witter, Chief Executive Officer, Mar 11, 2026 ([Investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/transcripts/sallie-mae-at-rbc-conference-strategic-growth-and-ai-challenges-93CH-4555898))

> "We have reduced our annual origination somewhere between 10% and 15%, all with a focus on getting greater resiliency and credit performance within our book." — Jon Witter, Chief Executive Officer, Mar 11, 2026 ([Investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/transcripts/sallie-mae-at-rbc-conference-strategic-growth-and-ai-challenges-93CH-4555898))

> "We see schools integrating AI-related coursework into new and traditional programs." — Jon Witter, Chief Executive Officer, Apr 23, 2026 ([The Motley Fool](https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/04/23/slm-slm-q1-2026-earnings-call-transcript/))

> "We are in the initial phases of integrating AI into our business operations with the objective of enhancing employee productivity, client outreach, and customer experience in general." — SLM Corporation, 2025 Form 10-K, AI risk factor, Feb 19, 2026 ([SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203326000011/slm-20251231.htm))

> "Income verification is a foundational element of responsible lending." — Vikas Tyagi, Chief Credit Officer, Jul 1, 2026 ([Nova Credit (Business Wire)](https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/sallie-mae-selects-nova-credit-133000291.html))

> "We knew that we needed a solution that would allow training managers to scale skill development and improve new hire performance, so agents are confident and prepared when they take their first call. Zenarate AI Coach helped us achieve that goal." — Diane Porter, Director of Education and Instructional Design, Jun 27, 2023 ([Zenarate (PR Newswire)](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zenarate-ai-coach-transforms-how-agents-learn-and-perform-through-natural-language-ai-simulation-training-301864280.html))

## Who runs AI

- **Jon Witter** — Chief Executive Officer ([LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-witter-3763a131)) ([Sallie Mae](https://news.salliemae.com/news-releases/news-releases-details/2026/Sallie-Mae-Names-Steve-Turner-Chief-Technology-and-Enablement-Officer/default.aspx), [Sallie Mae](https://news.salliemae.com/news-releases/news-releases-details/2026/Sallie-Mae-Announces-Senior-Leadership-Appointments/default.aspx))
- **Steve Turner** — Chief Technology and Enablement Officer ([LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/steventurner)) ([Sallie Mae](https://news.salliemae.com/news-releases/news-releases-details/2026/Sallie-Mae-Names-Steve-Turner-Chief-Technology-and-Enablement-Officer/default.aspx), [Sallie Mae](https://salliemae.com/content/dam/slm/writtencontent/Reports/investors/SLM_Corporation_Proxy_Statement_April_27_2026.pdf))
- **Kerri Palmer** — Co-President and Head of Financial Services; President, Sallie Mae Bank ([LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerriapalmer)) ([Sallie Mae](https://news.salliemae.com/news-releases/news-releases-details/2026/Sallie-Mae-Announces-Senior-Leadership-Appointments/default.aspx))
- **Peter Graham** — Co-President and Chief Financial Officer ([LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermgraham)) ([Sallie Mae](https://news.salliemae.com/news-releases/news-releases-details/2026/Sallie-Mae-Announces-Senior-Leadership-Appointments/default.aspx))
- **Munish Pahwa** — Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer (enterprise and model risk) ([SLM Corporation (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000119312526182200/d24099ddef14a.htm))
- **Diane Porter** — Director, Education and Instructional Design (contact-centre training; Zenarate AI Coach) ([LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-porter)) ([Zenarate (PR Newswire)](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zenarate-ai-coach-transforms-how-agents-learn-and-perform-through-natural-language-ai-simulation-training-301864280.html))

## Which AI vendors and fintechs does Sallie Mae work with?

| Company | What Sallie Mae uses it for | Status | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Unit21](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/vendors/unit21) | Fraud and BSA/AML compliance platform; Sallie Mae's BSA/AML officer describes switching to Unit21, testing it in a sandbox and rolling it out in phases, and Unit21's 2026 releases name Sallie Mae as a customer. | In production | [AML compliance](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-tools/aml-compliance) |

Each vendor and fintech page cites the source for the relationship. [AI tools for banks](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-tools) · [fintech and neobank AI dossiers](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/fintech).

## Regulators it answers to

- [FDIC](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/fdic) — Sallie Mae Bank is an FDIC-supervised industrial bank; model-risk and third-party guidance govern any AI in underwriting or servicing. See [FDIC FIL-29-2023](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/documents/fdic-fil-29-2023), [FDIC FIL-15-2026](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/documents/fdic-fil-15-2026).
- [CFPB](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/cfpb) — Private student lending carries ECOA adverse-action duties and UDAAP exposure for automated decisions and servicing chatbots. See [ECOA / Regulation B adverse action (15 U.S.C. 1691(d); 12 CFR 1002.9)](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/documents/cfpb-ecoa-regulation-b-adverse-action), [CFPB Chatbots in Consumer Finance (issue spotlight, 2023)](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/documents/cfpb-chatbots-in-consumer-finance-2023).
- [SEC](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/sec) — AI-related risk disclosure in earnings materials is subject to SEC scrutiny of AI claims. See [Division of Examinations FY2026 Priorities](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/documents/sec-exam-priorities-fy2026).

## What the record suggests

### The hire tells you the plan

Recruiting Bank of America's data-and-analytics technology head signals a data platform build before visible AI products; expect underwriting and marketing models to follow.

### AI is a credit-risk input here, not only a tool

A lender whose collateral is future graduate earnings has to model AI's labour-market effect; Sallie Mae has done that analysis and should publish more of it.

### Training simulation is a low-risk proving ground

AI coaching of agents avoids customer-facing model risk while building the vendor-management muscle regulators will examine.

### Grad PLUS growth needs scalable decisioning

A $4.5 billion to $5 billion annual opportunity in graduate loans will strain manual underwriting; automation is the enabler and the exam topic.

## FAQ

### Who leads AI at Sallie Mae?

Sallie Mae has named no chief AI officer, head of AI or chief data officer. Steve Turner, executive vice president and chief technology and enablement officer since February 2026, owns technology, data and security, and the Chief Security Officer reports to him. Munish Pahwa, chief risk officer since November 2023, owns enterprise risk including model risk. Kerri Palmer, co-president and head of financial services and formerly chief operational officer, runs operations. CEO Jon Witter sets the public AI line, calling it a powerful technology that will reshape how industries work; the 2025 10-K says the company is in the initial phases of integrating AI.

### Does Sallie Mae use AI in student-loan underwriting or collections?

Nothing it has disclosed says so. It names no AI underwriting model or vendor; in July 2026 it selected Nova Credit's Income Navigator to verify income in underwriting, which Nova describes as cash-flow data and analytics. Collections changed in 2026 for another reason: a segment equal to 0.08% of the portfolio produced 6.4% of gross charge-offs at 30 April, so it halted third-party recovery sales and moved recoveries in house. Its AI disclosures are risk-factor language, the 10-K statement on early integration, and Zenarate's AI-simulated agent training.

### Does Sallie Mae use AI?

Sallie Mae uses AI conversation simulation (Zenarate AI Coach) to train contact-centre agents, says in its 2025 10-K that it is in the initial phases of integrating AI to enhance employee productivity, client outreach and customer experience, and discloses 'risks related to artificial intelligence' in its earnings materials. In February 2026 it hired Steve Turner from Bank of America as chief technology and enablement officer to run technology, data and security with a mandate to harness data for faster customer experiences. No AI underwriting vendor or model has been named.

### How does Sallie Mae view AI's effect on student borrowers?

On the January 2026 earnings call CEO Jon Witter said education will matter more as AI transforms the professional landscape, and that unemployment among new college graduates was slightly elevated but most find work within six months. In April 2026 he said the gap versus historical norms had closed in March, and the company reported a 95% cosigner rate on new originations.

### Who runs technology and data at Sallie Mae?

Steve Turner, executive vice president and chief technology and enablement officer since February 2026, oversees technology architecture and delivery, IT innovation, data, and information and physical security. He was previously head of data, analytics, insights and marketing technology at Bank of America and CIO at Walgreens.

### Which AI-related vendors and acquisitions does Sallie Mae have?

Named vendors are Zenarate (AI Coach conversation simulation for contact-centre agents, 2023), Unit21 (fraud and AML platform, named in an April 2026 release), Nova Credit (income verification for underwriting, July 2026) and Fluent (AI-powered campaign efficiency for Backpack Media, May 2026). Acquisitions are Nitro College, completed 4 March 2022, and the key assets of Scholly, July 2023; together they carry $56 million of goodwill at 30 June 2026. A former Scholly founder sued in April 2026 over data practices and Sallie Mae calls the claims without merit. A Google Patents search found no AI patents.

## Sources (32)

1. The Do's and Don'ts of Using AI to Write Scholarship Essays — Sallie Mae, Jan 8, 2025. https://www.salliemae.com/blog/using-ai-to-write-scholarship-essays/
2. Sallie Mae Names Steve Turner Chief Technology and Enablement Officer — Sallie Mae, Feb 2, 2026. https://news.salliemae.com/news-releases/news-releases-details/2026/Sallie-Mae-Names-Steve-Turner-Chief-Technology-and-Enablement-Officer/default.aspx
3. SLM Corporation 2026 Proxy Statement — Sallie Mae, Apr 27, 2026. https://salliemae.com/content/dam/slm/writtencontent/Reports/investors/SLM_Corporation_Proxy_Statement_April_27_2026.pdf
4. Sallie Mae Announces Senior Leadership Appointments — Sallie Mae, Apr 27, 2026. https://news.salliemae.com/news-releases/news-releases-details/2026/Sallie-Mae-Announces-Senior-Leadership-Appointments/default.aspx
5. Sallie Mae Reports Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results — Sallie Mae, Jul 23, 2026. https://news.salliemae.com/news-releases/news-releases-details/2026/Sallie-Mae-Reports-Second-Quarter-2026-Financial-Results/default.aspx
6. Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Presentation — Sallie Mae, Jul 23, 2026. https://salliemae.com/content/dam/slm/writtencontent/Reports/investors/2Q26_Sallie_Mae_Earnings_Presentation.pdf
7. Sallie Mae overhauls its credit analytics after charge-offs jump — American Banker, Feb 3, 2023. https://americanbanker.com/news/sallie-mae-overhauls-its-credit-analytics-after-charge-offs-jump
8. Zenarate AI Coach Transforms How Agents Learn and Perform Through Natural Language AI Simulation Training — Zenarate (PR Newswire), Jun 27, 2023. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zenarate-ai-coach-transforms-how-agents-learn-and-perform-through-natural-language-ai-simulation-training-301864280.html
9. Just Released ‘How America Pays for College 2024’ Report Finds College Spending Stable with Family Out-of-Pocket Contributions Covering the Largest Share of Cost — Sallie Mae, Aug 6, 2024. https://news.salliemae.com/news-releases/news-releases-details/2024/Just-Released-How-America-Pays-for-College-2024-Report-Finds-College-Spending-Stable-with-Family-Out-of-Pocket-Contributions-Covering-the-Largest-Share-of-Cost
10. Sallie Mae Investor Forum, December 8, 2025 (Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1) — SLM Corporation (SEC filings), Dec 8, 2025. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203325000042/slm120825991.htm
11. Sallie Mae's subdued earnings forecast puzzles investors — American Banker, Dec 9, 2025. https://www.americanbanker.com/news/sallie-maes-subdued-earnings-forecast-puzzles-investors
12. SLM (SLM) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript — The Motley Fool (Yahoo Finance), Jan 22, 2026. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/slm-slm-q4-2025-earnings-235048834.html
13. SLM Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 — SLM Corporation (SEC filings), Feb 19, 2026. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203326000011/slm-20251231.htm
14. Sallie Mae at RBC Conference: Strategic Growth and AI Challenges — Investing.com, Mar 11, 2026. https://www.investing.com/news/transcripts/sallie-mae-at-rbc-conference-strategic-growth-and-ai-challenges-93CH-4555898
15. SLM (SLM) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript — The Motley Fool (Yahoo Finance), Apr 23, 2026. https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/slm-slm-q1-2026-earnings-230732788.html
16. Unit21 Appoints Tyler Allen as Chief Executive Officer as Company Accelerates AI Risk Infrastructure Vision — Unit21 (Business Wire), Apr 3, 2026. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260403313048/en/Unit21-Appoints-Tyler-Allen-as-Chief-Executive-Officer-as-Company-Accelerates-AI-Risk-Infrastructure-Vision
17. Sallie Mae Agrees to Acquire Nitro College, a Delaware-based Digital Marketing and Education Solutions Company — Sallie Mae (Business Wire), Jan 26, 2022. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220126005927/en/Sallie-Mae-Agrees-to-Acquire-Nitro-College-a-Delaware-based-Digital-Marketing-and-Education-Solutions-Company
18. Sallie Mae Acquires Key Assets of Top Scholarship Search App Scholly — Sallie Mae (Business Wire), Jul 26, 2023. https://businesswire.com/news/home/20230726114303/en
19. SLM Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 — SLM Corporation (SEC filings), Feb 20, 2025. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000162828025006776/slm-20241231.htm
20. SLM Corporation Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 — SLM Corporation (SEC filings), Oct 23, 2025. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203325000033/slm-20250930.htm
21. Earnings Presentation, 4th Quarter and Full-Year 2025 (Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.2) — SLM Corporation (SEC filings), Jan 22, 2026. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203326000003/slm012226992.htm
22. Fluent, Inc. Selected as Commerce Media Partner for Backpack Media by Sallie — Fluent (GlobeNewswire), May 19, 2026. https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/05/19/3297450/0/en/Fluent-Inc-Selected-as-Commerce-Media-Partner-for-BackpackSM-Media-by-Sallie.html
23. SLM (SLM) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript — The Motley Fool, Apr 23, 2026. https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/04/23/slm-slm-q1-2026-earnings-call-transcript/
24. SLM Corporation Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 — SLM Corporation (SEC filings), Apr 23, 2026. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203326000025/slm-20260331.htm
25. SLM Corporation Definitive Proxy Statement (Schedule 14A), executive officers — SLM Corporation (SEC filings), Apr 27, 2026. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000119312526182200/d24099ddef14a.htm
26. Founder of Shark Tank-backed startup Scholly sues his acquirer Sallie Mae — TechCrunch, Apr 28, 2026. https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/28/founder-of-shark-tank-backed-startup-scholly-sues-his-acquirer-sallie-mae/
27. Morgan Stanley US Financials Conference presentation, June 10, 2026 (Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1) — SLM Corporation (SEC filings), Jun 10, 2026. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203326000034/slm061026991.htm
28. Sallie Mae Stock Tumbles 7.6% on Elevated Charge-Off Concerns — Zacks (Yahoo Finance), Jun 11, 2026. https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/sallie-mae-stock-tumbles-7-192400614.html
29. Sallie Mae Selects Nova Credit's Income Navigator for Income Verification — Nova Credit (Business Wire), Jul 1, 2026. https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/sallie-mae-selects-nova-credit-133000291.html
30. SLM Corporation Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 — SLM Corporation (SEC filings), Jul 23, 2026. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1032033/000103203326000042/slm-20260630.htm
31. SLM Corp (SLM) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Highlights: Navigating Growth Amidst Challenges — GuruFocus (Yahoo Finance), Jul 24, 2026. https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/slm-corp-slm-q2-2026-050144280.html
32. US20130103573A1: Method and apparatus for educational financial planning (Sallie Mae, Inc.; abandoned application) — Google Patents (USPTO), Apr 25, 2013. https://patents.google.com/patent/US20130103573A1/en

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