SLM Corporation

SLM Corporation , commonly known as Sallie Mae, (formerly named the Student Loan Marketing Association) is the largest provider of educational loans in the United States. The company was founded in May 1973 as a government-sponsored enterprise called The Student Loan Marketing Association. A government sponsored enterprise (GSE) is a company that is created and directed by the government, but owned by public investors.

In 1996, President Bill Clinton signed the Student Loan Marketing Association Reorganization Act, which authorized the privatization of the company. This meant that the U.S. government no longer provided guarantees on defaulted loans, and was intended to increase fair competition between Sallie Mae and other loan providers. After its privatization was complete in early 1998, the company became known as SLM Corporation, although it is most often referred to as Sallie Mae. As of 2003, SLM Corporation manages over $81 billion in student loans, ranks at number 417 in the 2004 Fortune 500 list, and is ranked in the top 60 largest U.S. corporations, in terms of assets.

SLM has owned Nellie Mae since 1999, which retails student loans to families and students.

External References

• Official website
• Sallie Mae Sallies Forth, Slate magazine
• Nellie Mae website

Data

• Yahoo! - SLM Corporation Company Profile

See also

• Fannie Mae
• Farmer Mac
• Freddie Mac
• Ginnie Mae