Regulatory Matters Capital Ratios for Company and Bank under Federal Regulatory Guidelines, Compared to Minimum Regulatory Capital Requirements for Adequately Capitalized and Well Capitalized Depository Institution (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
SVB Financial Group
Total risk-based capital, actual ratio	13.13%	14.05%
Total risk-based capital, well capitalized minimum ratio	10.00%	10.00%
Total risk-based capital, adequately capitalized minimum ratio	8.00%	8.00%
Total risk-based capital, actual amount	$ 2,218,996	$ 1,901,672
Total risk-based capital, well capitalized minimum amount	1,690,150	1,353,298
Total risk-based capital, adequately capitalized minimum amount	1,352,120	1,082,639
Tier 1 risk-based capital, actual ratio	11.94%	12.79%
Tier 1 risk-based capital, well capitalized minimum ratio	6.00%	6.00%
Tier 1 risk-based capital, adequately capitalized minimum ratio	4.00%	4.00%
Tier 1 risk-based capital, actual amount	2,018,455	1,730,866
Tier 1 risk-based capital, well capitalized minimum amount	1,014,090	811,979
Tier 1 risk-based capital, adequately capitalized minimum amount	676,060	541,319
Tier 1 leverage, actual ratio	8.31%	8.06%
Tier 1 leverage, adequately capitalized minimum ratio	4.00%	4.00%
Tier 1 leverage, actual amount	2,018,455	1,730,866
Tier 1 leverage, adequately capitalized minimum amount	972,130	859,057
Silicon Valley Bank
Total risk-based capital, actual ratio	11.32%	12.53%
Total risk-based capital, well capitalized minimum ratio	10.00%	10.00%
Total risk-based capital, adequately capitalized minimum ratio	8.00%	8.00%
Total risk-based capital, actual amount	1,880,254	1,650,732
Total risk-based capital, well capitalized minimum amount	1,661,287	1,317,789
Total risk-based capital, adequately capitalized minimum amount	1,329,030	1,054,231
Tier 1 risk-based capital, actual ratio	10.11%	11.24%
Tier 1 risk-based capital, well capitalized minimum ratio	6.00%	6.00%
Tier 1 risk-based capital, adequately capitalized minimum ratio	4.00%	4.00%
Tier 1 risk-based capital, actual amount	1,680,212	1,481,571
Tier 1 risk-based capital, well capitalized minimum amount	996,772	790,673
Tier 1 risk-based capital, adequately capitalized minimum amount	664,515	527,115
Tier 1 leverage, actual ratio	7.04%	7.06%
Tier 1 leverage, well capitalized minimum ratio	5.00%	5.00%
Tier 1 leverage, adequately capitalized minimum ratio	4.00%	4.00%
Tier 1 leverage, actual amount	1,680,212	1,481,571
Tier 1 leverage, well capitalized minimum amount	1,194,012	1,049,750
Tier 1 leverage, adequately capitalized minimum amount	$ 955,210	$ 839,800