Cash and Cash Equivalents (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Deposits at the Federal Reserve Bank earning interest at the Federal Funds target rate	$ 715	$ 72
Interest-earning deposits in other financial institutions	300	283
Fair value of securities purchased under agreements to resell	176	136
Fair value of securities received as collateral that have been resold or repledged	$ 0	$ 0

Interest bearing Deposits in Federal Reserve Banks

No definition available.

Name:	sivb_InterestBearingDepositsInFederalReserveBanks
Namespace Prefix:	sivb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value of collateral permitted, by contact or custom, to be sold or re-pledged.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 860

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1A

-Subparagraph (c)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7523297&loc=SL6224234-111729

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueOfSecuritiesReceivedAsCollateralThatCanBeResoldOrRepledged
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value of the collateral, or portion thereof, that has been re-pledged, delivered, or otherwise used.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 860

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1A

-Subparagraph (c)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7523297&loc=SL6224234-111729

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueOfSecuritiesReceivedAsCollateralThatHaveBeenResoldOrRepledged
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

For banks and other depository institutions (including Federal Reserve Banks, if applicable): Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions for relatively short periods of time including, for example, certificates of deposits, which are presented separately from cash on the balance sheet.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section 45

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6476743&loc=d3e59706-112781

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 2

-Article 9

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestBearingDepositsInBanks
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant