v3.26.1
Loans and Accrued Interest Receivable and Allowance for Loan Losses - Schedule of Loans by Year of Origination (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Mar. 31, 2026
Dec. 31, 2025
Jun. 30, 2025
Mar. 31, 2025
Dec. 31, 2024
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Loan discount, net of unamortized premiums $ 542,799   $ 528,936      
Allowance for loan losses (165,065) $ (155,191) (132,078) $ (125,349) $ (120,076) $ (114,890)
Financing receivable, after allowance for credit loss 9,802,215   10,006,695      
Private education loans - Non-Nelnet Bank            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 0          
2025 0          
2024 0          
2023 157          
2022 3,521          
Prior years 119,140          
Total loans 122,818   139,209 156,614    
Loan discount, net of unamortized premiums 1,062   1,120 1,299    
Loan premium, net of unaccreted discount (3,474)   (4,317) (5,162)    
Allowance for loan losses (6,239) (6,385) (6,894) (7,406) (10,394) (11,130)
Financing receivable, after allowance for credit loss 114,167   129,118 145,345    
Current period gross charge-offs, current fiscal year 0          
Current period gross charge-offs, fiscal year before current fiscal year 0          
Current period gross charge-offs, two years before current fiscal year 0          
Current period gross charge-offs, three years before current fiscal year 0          
Current period gross charge-offs, four years before current fiscal year 20          
Current period gross charge-offs, more than five years before current fiscal year 757          
Current period gross charge-offs, total 777          
Private education loans - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans current            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Total loans 114,669   130,018 147,690    
Private education loans - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 31-60 days            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Total loans 858   1,253 1,246    
Private education loans - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 61-90 days            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Total loans 854   515 564    
Private education loans - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 91 days or greater            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Total loans 906   1,280 1,151    
Private education loans - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans in-school/grace/deferment            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 0          
2025 0          
2024 0          
2023 0          
2022 226          
Prior years 2,626          
Total loans 2,852          
Private education loans - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans in forbearance            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 0          
2025 0          
2024 0          
2023 0          
2022 68          
Prior years 2,611          
Total loans 2,679          
Private education loans - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans in repayment status:            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 0          
2025 0          
2024 0          
2023 157          
2022 3,227          
Prior years 113,903          
Total loans 117,287          
Private education loans - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans in repayment status: | Loans current            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 0          
2025 0          
2024 0          
2023 157          
2022 3,203          
Prior years 111,309          
Total loans 114,669          
Private education loans - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans in repayment status: | Loans delinquent 31-60 days            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 0          
2025 0          
2024 0          
2023 0          
2022 17          
Prior years 841          
Total loans 858          
Private education loans - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans in repayment status: | Loans delinquent 61-90 days            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 0          
2025 0          
2024 0          
2023 0          
2022 0          
Prior years 854          
Total loans 854          
Private education loans - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans in repayment status: | Loans delinquent 91 days or greater            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 0          
2025 0          
2024 0          
2023 0          
2022 7          
Prior years 899          
Total loans 906          
Consumer loans and other financing receivables - Non-Nelnet Bank            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 999,522          
2025 180,418          
2024 18,186          
2023 13,692          
2022 1,322          
Prior years 416          
Total loans 1,213,556   1,122,717 411,470    
Loan discount, net of unamortized premiums 2,238   1,497 2,260    
Loan premium, net of unaccreted discount (20,524)   (17,845) (6,296)    
Allowance for loan losses (92,215) (79,593) (57,360) (48,028) (43,904) (38,468)
Financing receivable, after allowance for credit loss 1,103,055   1,049,009 359,406    
Current period gross charge-offs, current fiscal year 5,794          
Current period gross charge-offs, fiscal year before current fiscal year 36,101          
Current period gross charge-offs, two years before current fiscal year 9,724          
Current period gross charge-offs, three years before current fiscal year 2,949          
Current period gross charge-offs, four years before current fiscal year 927          
Current period gross charge-offs, more than five years before current fiscal year 34          
Current period gross charge-offs, total 55,529          
Consumer loans and other financing receivables - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans current            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Total loans 1,173,003   1,085,883 399,263    
Consumer loans and other financing receivables - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 31-60 days            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Total loans 15,436   13,723 3,731    
Consumer loans and other financing receivables - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 61-90 days            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Total loans 11,384   10,797 3,096    
Consumer loans and other financing receivables - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 91 days or greater            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Total loans 12,244   10,616 4,025    
Consumer loans and other financing receivables - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans in-school/grace/deferment            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 62          
2025 171          
2024 441          
2023 815          
2022 0          
Prior years 0          
Total loans 1,489          
Consumer loans and other financing receivables - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans in repayment status:            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 999,460          
2025 180,247          
2024 17,745          
2023 12,877          
2022 1,322          
Prior years 416          
Total loans 1,212,067          
Consumer loans and other financing receivables - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans in repayment status: | Loans current            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 970,862          
2025 173,954          
2024 15,398          
2023 11,232          
2022 1,181          
Prior years 376          
Total loans 1,173,003          
Consumer loans and other financing receivables - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans in repayment status: | Loans delinquent 31-60 days            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 12,195          
2025 1,915          
2024 730          
2023 525          
2022 57          
Prior years 14          
Total loans 15,436          
Consumer loans and other financing receivables - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans in repayment status: | Loans delinquent 61-90 days            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 8,994          
2025 1,442          
2024 622          
2023 312          
2022 12          
Prior years 2          
Total loans 11,384          
Consumer loans and other financing receivables - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans in repayment status: | Loans delinquent 91 days or greater            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 7,409          
2025 2,936          
2024 995          
2023 808          
2022 72          
Prior years 24          
Total loans 12,244          
Private education loans - Nelnet Bank            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 21,406   66,515      
2025 90,789   35,880      
2024 33,232   38,633      
2023 34,213   145,733      
2022 135,219   82,537      
Prior years 206,300   149,336      
Total loans 521,159   518,634 516,663    
Loan discount, net of unamortized premiums 8,726   6,599 5,540    
Loan premium, net of unaccreted discount (3,567)   (5,686) (8,589)    
Loan discount, net of unamortized premiums and deferred origination costs (3,567)          
Allowance for loan losses (12,609) (13,182) (12,932) (12,360) (9,893) (10,086)
Financing receivable, after allowance for credit loss 513,709   506,615 501,254    
Current period gross charge-offs, current fiscal year 20          
Current period gross charge-offs, fiscal year before current fiscal year 240          
Current period gross charge-offs, two years before current fiscal year 325          
Current period gross charge-offs, three years before current fiscal year 559          
Current period gross charge-offs, four years before current fiscal year 494          
Current period gross charge-offs, more than five years before current fiscal year 1,653          
Current period gross charge-offs, total 3,291          
Private education loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans current            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Total loans 443,365   451,221 460,426    
Private education loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 30-59 days            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Total loans 2,639   4,001 3,102    
Private education loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 60-89 days            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Total loans 2,091   2,327 2,710    
Private education loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 90 days or greater            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Total loans 2,586   2,734 3,392    
Private education loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans in-school/grace/deferment            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 8,027          
2025 34,463          
2024 13,978          
2023 6,579          
2022 3,701          
Prior years 2,388          
Total loans 69,136          
Private education loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans in forbearance            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 0          
2025 33          
2024 0          
2023 84          
2022 517          
Prior years 708          
Total loans 1,342          
Private education loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans in repayment status:            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 13,379          
2025 56,293          
2024 19,254          
2023 27,550          
2022 131,001          
Prior years 203,204          
Total loans 450,681          
Private education loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans in repayment status: | Loans current            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 13,280          
2025 55,638          
2024 18,831          
2023 26,815          
2022 130,182          
Prior years 198,619          
Total loans 443,365          
Private education loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans in repayment status: | Loans delinquent 30-59 days            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 67          
2025 222          
2024 173          
2023 105          
2022 467          
Prior years 1,605          
Total loans 2,639          
Private education loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans in repayment status: | Loans delinquent 60-89 days            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 15          
2025 208          
2024 106          
2023 422          
2022 221          
Prior years 1,119          
Total loans 2,091          
Private education loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans in repayment status: | Loans delinquent 90 days or greater            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 17          
2025 225          
2024 144          
2023 208          
2022 131          
Prior years 1,861          
Total loans 2,586          
Consumer and other loans - Nelnet Bank            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 13,905   123,449      
2025 117,896   109,603      
2024 102,128   11,489      
2023 10,884   364      
2022 341   10,643      
Prior years 19,443   11,060      
Total loans 264,597   266,608 204,423    
Loan discount, net of unamortized premiums 2,365   1,838 1,346    
Loan premium, net of unaccreted discount 3,004   3,557 2,444    
Allowance for loan losses (12,813) $ (14,263) (12,136) (9,573) $ (6,617) $ (6,115)
Financing receivable, after allowance for credit loss 257,153   259,867 198,640    
Current period gross charge-offs, current fiscal year 0          
Current period gross charge-offs, fiscal year before current fiscal year 518          
Current period gross charge-offs, two years before current fiscal year 1,360          
Current period gross charge-offs, three years before current fiscal year 71          
Current period gross charge-offs, four years before current fiscal year 0          
Current period gross charge-offs, more than five years before current fiscal year 229          
Current period gross charge-offs, total 2,178          
Consumer and other loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans current            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Total loans 252,216   254,448 194,507    
Consumer and other loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 30-59 days            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Total loans 985   1,225 1,001    
Consumer and other loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 60-89 days            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Total loans 935   560 193    
Consumer and other loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 90 days or greater            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Total loans 550   $ 369 $ 184    
Consumer and other loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans in deferment            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 5,687          
2025 4,107          
2024 117          
2023 0          
2022 0          
Prior years 0          
Total loans 9,911          
Consumer and other loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans in repayment status:            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 8,218          
2025 113,789          
2024 102,011          
2023 10,884          
2022 341          
Prior years 19,443          
Total loans 254,686          
Consumer and other loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans in repayment status: | Loans current            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 8,218          
2025 112,636          
2024 101,003          
2023 10,659          
2022 341          
Prior years 19,359          
Total loans 252,216          
Consumer and other loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans in repayment status: | Loans delinquent 30-59 days            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 0          
2025 274          
2024 600          
2023 107          
2022 0          
Prior years 4          
Total loans 985          
Consumer and other loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans in repayment status: | Loans delinquent 60-89 days            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 0          
2025 696          
2024 162          
2023 0          
2022 0          
Prior years 77          
Total loans 935          
Consumer and other loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans in repayment status: | Loans delinquent 90 days or greater            
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]            
Six months ended June 30, 2026 0          
2025 183          
2024 246          
2023 118          
2022 0          
Prior years 3          
Total loans $ 550