CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 265,229	$ 1,210,084
Loans:
Loans held for investment, at amortized cost	3,379,884	3,258,413
Loans held for investment in consolidated trusts, at amortized cost	1,132,966	708,111
Allowance for loan losses	(5,415)	(4,480)
Total loans, net of allowance	4,507,435	3,962,044
Real estate owned, at lower of cost or fair value	1,528	1,369
Financial derivatives, at fair value	23,182	3,816
Interest receivable (includes $12,584 and $7,938, respectively, related to consolidated trusts)	122,782	112,700
Guarantee and commitment fees receivable	38,871	40,189
Deferred tax asset, net	12,291	42,916
Prepaid expenses and other assets	86,322	47,780
Total Assets	15,606,020	15,540,354
Notes payable:
Due within one year	8,440,123	9,111,461
Due after one year	5,222,977	4,967,036
Total notes payable	13,663,100	14,078,497
Debt securities of consolidated trusts held by third parties	1,142,704	713,536
Financial derivatives, at fair value	58,152	77,199
Accrued interest payable (includes $10,881 and $6,705, respectively, related to consolidated trusts)	49,700	47,621
Guarantee and commitment obligation	37,282	38,609
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	9,415	29,089
Reserve for losses	2,020	2,083
Total Liabilities	14,962,373	14,986,634
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 12)
Common stock:
Additional paid-in capital	118,655	117,862
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	33,758	(11,019)
Retained earnings	275,714	231,228
Total Stockholders' Equity	643,425	553,517
Non-controlling interest	222	203
Total Equity	643,647	553,720
Total Liabilities and Equity	15,606,020	15,540,354
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock:
Preferred stock	58,333	58,333
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock:
Preferred stock	73,044	73,044
Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock:
Preferred stock	73,382	73,382
Common Class A, Voting [Member]
Common stock:
Common Stock	1,031	1,031
Common Class B, Voting [Member]
Common stock:
Common Stock	500	500
Common Class C, Non-Voting [Member]
Common stock:
Common Stock	9,008	9,156
Investment Securities [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale, at fair value	2,515,851	2,775,025
Trading, at fair value	0	491
Marketable Securities	2,515,851	2,775,516
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities:
Assets:
Available-for-sale, at fair value	4,853,685	4,152,605
Held-to-maturity, at amortized cost	1,149,231	1,274,016
Marketable Securities	6,002,916	5,426,621
USDA Securities [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale, at fair value	0	1,888,344
Held-to-maturity, at amortized cost	2,009,225	0
Trading, at fair value	20,388	28,975
Marketable Securities	$ 2,029,613	$ 1,917,319