Interim Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income before noncontrolling interests	$ 94,380	$ 94,459	$ 170,977	$ 196,849
Change in cumulative translation (losses) gains:
Foreign currency translation (losses) gains	(1,795)	529	(2,049)	2,690
Related tax benefit (expense)	731	(321)	835	(1,141)
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities:
Unrealized holding gains (losses)	40,937	(45,541)	211,768	41,566
Related tax (expense) benefits	(16,686)	18,191	(86,289)	(17,024)
Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income	(12,328)	(141)	(11,582)	(2,737)
Related tax expense	5,017	57	4,713	1,105
Amortization of unrealized gains on securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity	(2,250)	(2,604)	(4,817)	(5,432)
Related tax benefit	905	1,047	1,938	2,186
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	14,531	(28,783)	114,517	21,213
Comprehensive income	108,911	65,676	285,494	218,062
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,416)	(8,316)	1,161	(22,190)
Comprehensive income attributable to SVBFG	$ 107,495	$ 57,360	$ 286,655	$ 195,872