Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Ownership Interests in Investments Held Under Fair Value Accounting

A summary of our ownership interests in the investments held under fair value accounting is presented in the following table:

Limited partnership	Company Direct and Indirect Ownership in Limited Partnership
Managed funds of funds
SVB Strategic Investors Fund, LP (1)	12.6	%
SVB Strategic Investors Fund II, LP (1)	8.6
SVB Strategic Investors Fund III, LP (1)	5.9
SVB Strategic Investors Fund IV, LP (1)	5.0
Strategic Investors Fund V Funds (1)	Various
SVB Capital Preferred Return Fund, LP (1)	20.0
SVB Capital—NT Growth Partners, LP (1)	33.0
Other private equity fund (1)	58.2
Managed direct venture funds
Silicon Valley BancVentures, LP (1)	10.7
SVB Capital Partners II, LP (1)	5.1
SVB Capital Shanghai Yangpu Venture Capital Fund (1)	6.8

(1) The general partners of these funds are owned and controlled by SVB Financial. The limited partners of these funds do not have substantive participating or kick-out rights. Therefore, these funds are consolidated and any gains or losses resulting from changes in the estimated fair value of the investments are recorded as investment gains or losses in our consolidated net income.

Maximum Estimated Useful Lives by Asset Classification

The maximum estimated useful lives by asset classification are as follows:

Leasehold improvements	Lesser of lease term or asset life
Furniture and equipment	3 years
Computer software	3-7 years
Computer hardware	3-5 years