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The Student Loan Corporation Announces Second Quarter Earnings

The Student Loan Corporation (STU 22.06, +0.90, +4.25%) today reported net income of $20.8 million, or $1.04 per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, a decrease of $4.4 million compared to net income of $25.3 million, or $1.26 per share, reported for the same quarter of 2009. This decrease reflects higher funding costs and the Company's decision to defer planned loan sales to the Department of Education (the Department) through the Loan Purchase Commitment Program (the Purchase Program) until later in the year, which more than offset the positive impact of the consolidation of the Company's previously unconsolidated securitization trusts.


"Following the passage of H.R. 4872, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, this quarter marks the end of the FFEL Program, a change which we anticipated and for which we believe we have fully prepared. In moving forward, we will continue to focus on our private education loan business. We believe the progress we've made in strengthening our balance sheet through securing long-term funding that is aligned with the tenor of our assets and refining our origination strategy to ensure profitable loan originations, have positioned us for success as we continue making this transition," said The Student Loan Corporation's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Michael Reardon.

Net interest income of $94.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 was $23.6 million (33%) higher than the same quarter of 2009. This increase reflects a net increase of $44.4 million related to the consolidation of the Company's previously unconsolidated securitization trusts, $26.6 million for the impact of favorable changes in the spreads between Commercial Paper and the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and the Prime rate and LIBOR, $11.0 million for pricing changes on the Company's private education loans, and $8.3 million for higher loan balances. These increases were partially offset by higher funding costs which decreased net interest income by $37.5 million, amortization of the upfront commitment fee on the Company's Amended and Restated Omnibus Credit Agreement (Omnibus Credit Agreement) of $11.8 million and fees on the undrawn balance of $17.4 million.

Net interest margin of 0.86% was 14 basis points lower than the same period of 2009. Net interest margin excluding the amortization of the Omnibus Credit Agreement upfront commitment fee and fees on the undrawn balance was 1.13% for the second quarter of 2010, 13 basis points higher than the second quarter of 2009 reflecting the consolidation of the Company's previously unconsolidated securitization trusts.
During the twelve-month period ended June 30, 2010, the Company's managed student loan portfolio increased by $1.2 billion (3%) to $44.2 billion. The managed portfolio includes $43.9 billion of the Company's owned loan assets of which $37.9 billion has been pledged as collateral against secured borrowings, approximately $4.7 billion of which is expected to be sold to the Department later in the year. Originations for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 included FFEL Program Stafford and PLUS loan originations of $0.5 billion, a decrease of 29% as compared to the second quarter of 2009 due primarily to schools moving to the Direct Loan Program following the passage of H.R. 4872. The Company also made new private education loan commitments of $0.1 billion during the second quarter of 2010, which was 40% lower than the same period in 2009, reflecting the Company's refined origination strategy.

The Company's other income of $8.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 was $39.9 million lower than the same period in 2009. This decrease primarily reflects changes in the Company's fee and other income related to the Company's securitization activities largely as a result of the consolidation of the Company's previously unconsolidated securitization trusts. In addition, the Company did not have any loan sales in the second quarter of 2010, reflecting its decision to defer expected loan sales through the Purchase Program until later in the year.

Total operating expenses of $34.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 were $0.9 million lower than the same period in 2009, reflecting decreases in the Company's salaries and employee benefits expenses as a result of the Company's cost reduction initiatives. The Company's operating expense ratio (total operating expenses as a percentage of average managed student loans) for the second quarter of 2010 was 0.31%, one basis point lower than the same quarter of 2009.

The Company's allowance for loan losses at June 30, 2010 was $173.6 million, an increase of $24.5 million compared to $149.1 million at December 31, 2009. This increase primarily reflects $18.7 million associated with private education loan forbearance policy changes and $6.3 million related to newly consolidated securitization loan assets. These forbearance policy changes will result in the Company limiting its borrower assistance programs and are expected to increase credit losses beginning in the fourth quarter of 2010. Net credit losses increased by $13.6 million (50%) during the second quarter as compared to the same period in 2009, primarily due to performance deterioration caused by the economic environment and seasoning of the Uninsured CitiAssist Standard and Custom portfolios.

On July 14, 2010, the Company's Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend on the Company's common stock of $0.35 per share. The dividend will be paid on September 1, 2010 to shareholders of record on August 16, 2010.

The Student Loan Corporation  (STU 22.06, +0.90, +4.25%) is one of the nation's leading originators and holders of student loans providing a full range of education financing products and services to meet the needs of students, parents, schools and lenders. The company was previously a division of Citibank and became a NYSE-listed corporation in 1992. Citibank, N.A. is the majority shareholder. Citibank was one of the first banks to finance higher education, beginning in 1958.

For information or inquiries regarding student loans, please call 1-800-STUDENT. Customers with Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf (TDD) may call 1-800-846-1298. College planning and financing information is also available at www.studentloan.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this document are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from those included in these statements due to a variety of factors. More information about these factors is contained in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

THE STUDENT LOAN CORPORATION
                                                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                          (Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
                                                                               Three months ended                   Six months ended
                                                                                    June 30,                            June 30,
                                                                       ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
                                                                             2010              2009              2010              2009
                                                                       ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
                                                                                    Unaudited                           Unaudited
                                                                       ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
NET INTEREST INCOME
   Interest income                                                       $  283,323        $  187,224        $  540,144        $  391,420
   Interest expense                                                        (188,864 )        (116,340 )        (360,712 )        (262,458 )
                                                                           -------- ---      -------- ---      -------- ---      -------- ---
   Net interest income                                                       94,459            70,884           179,432           128,962
   Provision for loan losses                                                (41,397 )         (44,826 )         (85,287 )         (65,968 )
                                                                           -------- ---      -------- ---      -------- ---      -------- ---
   Net interest income after provision for loan losses                       53,062            26,058            94,145            62,994
                                                                           --------          --------          --------          --------
OTHER INCOME
   Gains on loans sold                                                            -            17,864                 -            17,864
   Fee and other income                                                       8,811            30,851             9,396            37,809
                                                                           --------          --------          --------          --------
      Total other income                                                      8,811            48,715             9,396            55,673
                                                                           --------          --------          --------          --------
OPERATING EXPENSES
    Salaries and employee benefits                                            7,620             8,428            15,565            17,406
    Write-off of funding commitment fee paid to principal stockholder             -                 -             7,500                 -
    Other expenses                                                           26,728            26,783            52,617            52,664
                                                                           --------          --------          --------          --------
      Total operating expenses                                               34,348            35,211            75,682            70,070
                                                                           --------          --------          --------          --------
   Income before income taxes                                                27,525            39,562            27,859            48,597
   Provision for income taxes                                                 6,704            14,300             6,579            15,813
                                                                           --------          --------          --------          --------
NET INCOME                                                               $   20,821        $   25,262        $   21,280        $   32,784
                                                                       === ========      === ========      === ========      === ========
DIVIDENDS DECLARED AND PAID                                              $    7,000        $    7,000        $   14,000        $   35,600
                                                                       === ========      === ========      === ========      === ========
BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS
   PER COMMON SHARE                                                      $     1.04        $     1.26        $     1.06        $     1.64
                                                                       === ========      === ========      === ========      === ========
      (based on 20,000,000 average shares outstanding)
DIVIDENDS DECLARED AND PAID PER COMMON SHARE                             $     0.35        $     0.35        $     0.70        $     1.78
                                                                       === ========      === ========      === ========      === ========


THE STUDENT LOAN CORPORATION
                                                 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                 (Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
                                                                                           June 30,          December 31,
                                                                                             2010                2009
                                                                                      ------------------- -------------------
                                                                                           Unaudited
                                                                                      -------------------
ASSETS
                   Federally insured student loans                                        $ 28,574,666        $ 17,948,706
                   Private education loans                                                   9,877,200           7,432,471
                   Deferred origination and premium costs                                      714,830             548,083
                   Allowance for loan losses                                                  (173,565 )          (149,098 )
                                                                                            ---------- -        ---------- -
                   Student loans, net                                                       38,993,131          25,780,162
                   Loans held for sale                                                       4,713,030           2,409,267
                   Cash                                                                            876              17,998
                   Residual interests in securitized loans                                           -             820,291
                   Other assets                                                              2,492,167           1,990,523
                                                                                            ----------          ----------
                   Total Assets                                                           $ 46,199,204        $ 31,018,241
                                                                                      ===== ==========    ===== ==========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                   Short-term borrowings, payable to principal stockholder                $  4,566,600        $  5,131,000
                   Short-term secured borrowings, payable to Department of Education         4,594,795           2,066,686
                   Long-term borrowings, payable to principal stockholder                    3,541,000           4,391,000
                   Long-term secured borrowings                                             31,675,596          16,999,976
                   Deferred income taxes                                                       165,569             410,546
                   Other liabilities                                                           340,784             348,612
                                                                                            ----------          ----------
                   Total Liabilities                                                        44,884,344          29,347,820
                                                                                            ----------          ----------
                   Common stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 50,000,000 shares;
                     20,000,000 shares issued and outstanding                                      200                 200
                   Additional paid-in capital                                                  143,136             141,869
                   Retained earnings                                                         1,171,524           1,528,352
                                                                                            ----------          ----------
                   Total Stockholders' Equity                                                1,314,860           1,670,421
                                                                                            ----------          ----------
                   Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity                             $ 46,199,204        $ 31,018,241
                                                                                      ===== ==========    ===== ==========


APPENDIX A
 Impact of the Adoption of New Accounting Standards on the
 Company's Financial Statements
 Changes in accounting standards that were effective January 1, 2010
 have significantly impacted the
 Company's balance sheet and results of operations as of and for the
 period ended June 30, 2010. These
 changes resulted in the consolidation of assets previously sold to
 unconsolidated securitization trusts and
 the debt issued by those trusts. This also resulted in the
 elimination of retained interests related to those
 securitizations along with the related mark-to-market gains and
 losses. The cumulative effect of adopting
 these new accounting standards on January 1, 2010 resulted in an
 aggregate after tax charge to retained
 earnings of $364 million.
 In addition, the Company now recognizes in its financial statements
 the net interest income of these
 trusts along with loan loss provisions, mark-to-market gains and
 losses on derivatives held by the trusts
 and trust operating expenses. The tables below highlight the
 significant amounts related to these newly
 consolidated securitization trusts that have been included in the
 Company's financial results as of June
 30, 2010 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010:


BALANCE SHEET
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                June 30,
                                                                  2010
                                                           -------------------
(Amounts reported in thousands)                                (Unaudited)
---------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
ASSETS
                   Federally insured student loans           $ 11,344,376
                   Private education loans                      1,945,915
                   Deferred origination and premium costs         225,030
                   Allowance for loan losses                       (6,344 )
                   Other assets                                   473,535
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
                   Long-term secured borrowings              $ 13,548,491
                   Other liabilities                               29,694


STATEMENT OF INCOME
------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Three months ended  Six months ended
                                    June 30, 2010      June 30, 2010
                                 ------------------- ----------------
(Amounts reported in thousands)      (Unaudited)        (Unaudited)
-------------------------------  ------------------- ----------------
 Interest income                      $  81,688          $ 159,350
 Interest expense                       (20,210 )          (38,773 )
                                        ------- ---        ------- -
 Net interest income                     61,478            120,577
 Provision for loan losses               (2,067 )           (4,482 )
 Fee and other income (loss)              5,440              2,637


In 2009, the Company's statement of income included certain income
 items which were not recorded in
 2010 due to the change in accounting standards. The table below
 represents these amounts for the three
 and six months ended June 30, 2009:


STATEMENT OF INCOME
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Three months ended  Six months ended
                                                 June 30, 2009      June 30, 2009
                                             -------------------- ----------------
(Amounts reported in thousands)                   (Unaudited)        (Unaudited)
-------------------------------------------  -------------------- ----------------
 Interest income:
    Accreted interest on residual interests          $    17,059      $  34,851
 Fee and other income:
    Servicing fee revenue                                 19,519         39,462
    Net mark-to-market gains (losses) on
      retained interests and derivatives                   9,201        (10,215 )


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Low Interest Student Loan Consolidation Helps Manage College Debt And Repayment Of Loans

Student loan consolidations with a low interest rate may be available for certain individuals who have a specific type of student loan debt. Private student loan consolidations can be available for those who have these types of student loans, but typically, a federal student loan consolidation for federal student loan debt will come at a more affordable interest rate than many private lenders. However, a student must check with their student loan lender to see which interest rate might be available for their situation were they to choose consolidation.

However, federal student loan consolidation rates can be quite affordable for anyone who is having trouble managing various forms of federal student loan debt and needs a way to compile this debt into one location so that they can make one, easy monthly payment. Consolidating federal student loan debt, or any debt for that matter, is something that shouldn’t be done without consideration as there are many financial advisers would warn against doing so.

When someone consolidates a student loan they are essentially taking the total amount that they owe and placing it on one interest rate. Despite the fact that this interest rate can be quite low, a larger principle amount will take longer to pay off and the more time someone must pay on their student consolidation loan the more that interest can build and, obviously, the more that individual may end up paying.

Some advisers believe that paying student loan debt separately will be more cost-efficient, but this will be a case where a student must sit down and look at their debt to make sure that consolidating is the right path for them or if they will fare better if they simply form their own repayment budget and attack their student loan debt separately.

While some people may be able to handle paying off a few student loans if they are kept separate, those who have a large amount of debt or who may have high interest rates attached to their debt may benefit from consolidating. After graduation, and a grace period where there are no payments required in some cases, students often contact their college loan lenders to talk over interest rates, repayment options, and consolidation loans, and only after doing this will they be able to better formulate a repayment plan that will fit their personal student loan situation.

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How to tackle a pile of overdue loans and bills

Dear Liz: My finances have been on the rocks for six years. I have a defaulted student loan, credit card debt, bounce fees from checking account overdrafts and money owed for utilities. I'm a single mom and recently moved back in with my parents. I finally saved enough money to buy a car with cash, because whoever looks up my credit laughs. It's so bad, I wouldn't give myself a loan.
I finally feel like I'm in a position to start paying down all this debt; however, when I look at it I get anxious because I don't know where to start. I want to get an apartment within in the next year, and I know my credit will have a major impact on my ability to get a decent place. How should I prioritize my debt when it has all gone to collections?

Answer: You got yourself in a muddle, all right, but the fact that you could save cash for a car bodes well for your future. If you have the discipline to do that, you have the discipline to fix your finances.
Your defaulted student loan probably should be your priority. Student loan debt typically can't be erased in bankruptcy, and collectors of this debt have the power to garnish your wages and seize your tax refunds.

If yours is a federal student loan, you'll have plenty of payment options and the ability to "rehabilitate" your loans. If you're accepted for rehabilitation, your default would be removed from your credit reports after making nine on-time payments. Private loans typically don't have rehabilitation options, but you may be able to work out an acceptable repayment plan with your lender.
Since the rest of your debt is already in collections, your best bet may be to negotiate settlements. You'll get the best deal if you can offer a lump sum, but many collectors will accept 50 cents or so on the dollar if you can pay off the agreed amount within a few months. Don't agree to any payment plan you can't stick with or that precludes you from paying other debts.

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Student Loan Debt Consolidation: Have You Heard?

There are very few individuals today who can afford to pay for their education without any financial aid whatsoever. It is almost impossible to make it through to graduation without any financial assistance. This is the reason why almost all educational institutions offer scholarships and grants to their students. However, this often falls short and the individual opts for student loans. The biggest disadvantage with such loans is that they have to be repaid and this is where student debt consolidation loans helps.

You may have to obtain numerous student loans to complete your education. By the time you graduate and get a good job, you may have multiple creditors based on different terms and conditions. Starting off with such a huge financial disadvantage can be a very frustrating experience. The future may be provided for but you must handle your present well. If you are not sure about handling multiple creditors at once, you should opt for consolidation after your graduation.

What is consolidation?

Look at it from this point of view - you hand over of all your school loans to a single lender who repays them. This is done on your behalf and you now have to repay the debt to the individual lender.

You become eligible for consolidation loans as soon as you finish your education. Some consolidation lenders require the borrower to owe a minimum amount to become eligible. However, this is not a universal requirement.

The law is very flexible as far as consolidation is concerned. You can consolidate your loan from any other lender as well. You may want to start by looking at your original lender as you have dealt with them in the past. However, there is a lot of choice available.

Irrespective of whether you opt for new lender or continue with the same one, make it a point to avoid paying any consolidation fee in the very beginning. Charging for consolidation of federal loan is illegal. Debt consolidation is very risky as there are many cheats working in the field. Do not end up increasing your financial worries in a bid to end the same.

There is no compulsion that you should consolidate all your loans in one go. In fact, you can choose to consolidate even a single loan if it helps you save money. However, keep in mind that you cannot consolidate a loan which has already been consolidated.

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Student Debt Consolidation Loans: A+

The key to effective student loan debt consolidation, of course, is savvy budgeting. Pay your bills on time, limit your use of credit cards, and ask for financial help from other sources to reduce the burdens on your future earning years. If your parents or guardians do not have money available to finance your education, you can look to private investors to take care of at least some of the burden in exchange of a percentage of equity in your earnings (as discussed above).

All this said, you want to maintain some credit to your name, so you can begin to build a reputation with the bureaus as a trustworthy borrower to qualify for low interest credit cards and other loans and leases.

In addition to actively taking steps to student loan debt consolidation, acquire health insurance as soon as possible. If you are young and healthy, you might opt for high deductible insurance in coordination with a health savings plan to cover emergency contingencies. This way, you won’t have to pay out of pocket for hospital visits, and you can reduce a means of uncertainty in your life. If you’re still in school, try to graduate within four years to avoid taking on more debt.

Student loan debt consolidation tacticians often need to remind borrowers that student loans cannot be expunged — even during bankruptcy (except under truly extraordinary conditions). In other words, once you take out student loans and spend the money, they are yours to manage, for a lifetime or until they’re paid off.

If you are running really short on cash, you may be able to defer or forbear some loan payments, but be aware that your options in terms of kicking the can with respect to your student loan debt consolidation plan are limited. Another tactic might be to consolidate your other bills onto a debt consolidation loan, thus freeing up money in your budget to pay for your standard student loan monthly charges.

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