Regulatory Matters (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Capital Ratios for Company and Bank under Federal Regulatory Guidelines, Compared to Minimum Regulatory Capital Requirements for Adequately Capitalized and Well Capitalized Depository Institution

The following table presents the capital ratios for the Company and the Bank under federal regulatory guidelines, compared to the minimum regulatory capital requirements for an adequately capitalized and a well capitalized depository institution, as of December 31, 2012 and 2011:

	Capital Ratios						Capital Amounts
(Dollars in thousands)	Actual		Well Capitalized Minimum		Adequately Capitalized Minimum		Actual		Well Capitalized Minimum		Adequately Capitalized Minimum
December 31, 2012:
Total risk-based capital:
SVB Financial	14.05	%	10.0	%	8.0	%	$	1,901,672	$	1,353,298	1,082,639
Bank	12.53		10.0		8.0		1,650,732		1,317,789		1,054,231
Tier 1 risk-based capital:
SVB Financial	12.79		6.0		4.0		1,730,866		811,979		541,319
Bank	11.24		6.0		4.0		1,481,571		790,673		527,115
Tier 1 leverage:
SVB Financial	8.06		N/A		4.0		1,730,866		N/A		859,057
Bank	7.06		5.0		4.0		1,481,571		1,049,750		839,800
December 31, 2011:
Total risk-based capital:
SVB Financial	13.95	%	10.0	%	8.0	%	$	1,651,545	$	1,183,790	$	947,032
Bank	12.33		10.0		8.0		1,414,138		1,146,740		917,392
Tier 1 risk-based capital:
SVB Financial	12.62		6.0		4.0		1,493,823		710,274		473,516
Bank	10.96		6.0		4.0		1,257,030		688,044		458,696
Tier 1 leverage:
SVB Financial	7.92		N/A		4.0		1,493,823		N/A		754,516
Bank	6.87		5.0		4.0		1,257,030		915,095		732,076