Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income before noncontrolling interests	[2],[3],[4]	$ 374,820	[1]	$ 478,660	[5],[6]	$ 544,783	[5],[6]
Change in cumulative translation gains (losses):
Foreign currency translation gains (losses)		2,570		10,982		(5,483)
Related tax (expense) benefit		(957)		(4,425)		2,179
Change in unrealized (losses) gains on available-for-sale securities:
Unrealized holding (losses) gains		(36,702)		92,815		(259,193)
Related tax benefit (expense)		14,730		(37,383)		105,500
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income		(1,201)		18,598		(538)
Related tax expense (benefit)		481		(7,510)		218
Cumulative-effect adjustment for unrealized gains on securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity		0		37,700		0
Related tax expense		0		(15,178)		0
Amortization of unrealized gains on securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity		(10,412)		(6,915)		0
Related tax benefit		4,191		2,784		0
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax		(27,300)		91,468		(157,317)
Comprehensive income		347,520		570,128		387,466
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	[2]	(30,916)	[1]	(214,790)		(330,266)
Comprehensive income attributable to SVBFG		$ 316,604		$ 355,338		$ 57,200

[1] During the second quarter of 2015 we adopted new accounting guidance related to our consolidated variable interest entities (ASU 2015-02). Amounts prior to January 1, 2015 have not been revised for the adoption of this guidance. See Note 2— "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of the “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” under Part II, Item 8 of this report for additional details.

[2] During the second quarter of 2015 we adopted new accounting guidance related to our consolidated variable interest entities (ASU 2015-02). Amounts prior to January 1, 2015 have not been revised for the adoption of this guidance. See Note 2— "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of the “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” under Part II, Item 8 of this report for additional details.

[3] Prior period amounts have been revised to reflect the retrospective application of new accounting guidance adopted in the first quarter of 2015 related to our investments in qualified affordable housing projects (ASU 2014-01). See Note 2— "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of the “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” under Part II, Item 8 of this report for additional details.

[4] Prior period amounts have been revised to reflect the retrospective application of new accounting guidance adopted in the first quarter of 2015 related to our investments in qualified affordable housing projects (ASU 2014-01). See Note 2— "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of the “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” under Part II, Item 8 of this report for additional details.

[5] Cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were revised to reflect the retrospective application of our adoption of ASU 2014-01.

[6] See Note 2— "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-Adoptions of New Accounting Standards” of the “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” under Part II, Item 8 of this report for additional details.