Interim Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income before noncontrolling interests	$ 115,647	$ 87,962	$ 286,624	$ 284,811
Change in cumulative translation (losses) gains:
Foreign currency translation (losses) gains	(119)	(102)	(2,168)	2,588
Related tax benefit (expense)	50	87	885	(1,054)
Change in unrealized (losses) gains on available-for-sale securities:
Unrealized holding (losses) gains	(54,204)	58,902	157,564	100,468
Related tax benefit (expense)	21,932	(24,200)	(64,357)	(41,224)
Reclassification adjustment for losses (gains) included in net income	15	(13)	(11,567)	(2,750)
Related tax (benefit) expense	(6)	6	4,707	1,111
Amortization of unrealized gains on securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity	(1,690)	(2,565)	(6,507)	(7,997)
Related tax benefit	680	1,032	2,618	3,218
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(33,342)	33,147	81,175	54,360
Comprehensive income	82,305	121,109	367,799	339,171
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4,566)	(6,229)	(3,405)	(28,419)
Comprehensive income attributable to SVBFG	$ 77,739	$ 114,880	$ 364,394	$ 310,752