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Variable Interest Entities
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Investments In Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]  
Variable Interest Entities
Variable Interest Entities
Our involvement with VIEs includes our investments in venture capital and private equity funds, debt funds, private and public portfolio companies and our investments in qualified affordable housing projects.
The following table presents the carrying amounts and classification of significant variable interests in consolidated and unconsolidated VIEs as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Consolidated VIEs
 
Unconsolidated VIEs
 
Maximum Exposure to Loss in Unconsolidated VIEs
December 31, 2016:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
11,469

 
$

 
$

Non-marketable and other securities (1)
 
196,140

 
314,810

 
314,810

Accrued interest receivable and other assets
 
294

 

 

Total assets
 
$
207,903

 
$
314,810

 
$
314,810

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities (1)
 
517

 
58,095

 

Total liabilities
 
$
517

 
$
58,095

 
$

December 31, 2015:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
11,811

 
$

 
$

Non-marketable and other securities (1)
 
203,714

 
364,450

 
364,450

Accrued interest receivable and other assets
 
494

 

 

Total assets
 
$
216,019

 
$
364,450

 
$
364,450

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities (1)
 
433

 
90,978

 

Total liabilities
 
$
433

 
$
90,978

 
$

 
 
(1)
Included in our unconsolidated non-marketable and other securities portfolio and accrued expenses and other liabilities at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are investments in qualified affordable housing projects of $112.4 million and $154.4 million, respectively, and related unfunded commitments of $58.1 million and $91.0 million, respectively.

Non-marketable and other securities
Our non-marketable and other securities portfolio primarily represents investments in venture capital and private equity funds, debt funds, private and public portfolio companies and investments in qualified affordable housing projects. A majority of these investments are through third party funds held by SVB Financial in which we do not have controlling or significant variable interests. These investments represent our unconsolidated VIEs in the table above. Our non-marketable and other securities portfolio also includes investments from SVB Capital. SVB Capital is the venture capital investment arm of SVB Financial, which focuses primarily on funds management. The SVB Capital family of funds is comprised of direct venture funds that invest in companies and funds of funds that invest in other venture capital funds. We have a controlling and significant variable interest in five of these SVB Capital funds and consolidate these funds for financial reporting purposes.
All investments are generally non-redeemable and distributions are expected to be received through the liquidation of the underlying investments throughout the life of the investment fund. Investments may be sold or transferred subject to the notice and approval provisions of the underlying investment agreement. Subject to applicable regulatory requirements, including the Volcker Rule, we also make commitments to invest in venture capital and private equity funds, but are not obligated to fund commitments beyond our initial investment. For additional details, see Note 18—"Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements, Guarantees and Other Commitments" of the "Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements" under Part II, Item 8 of this report.
The Bank also has variable interests in qualified affordable housing projects tax credit funds, in connection with fulfilling its responsibilities under the Community Reinvestment Act ("CRA"), that are designed to generate a return primarily through the realization of federal tax credits. These investments are typically limited partnerships in which the general partner, other than the Bank, holds the power over significant activities of the VIE. For additional information on our investments in qualified affordable housing projects see Note 8—"Investment Securities" of the "Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements" under Part II, Item 8 of this report.
As of December 31, 2016, our exposure to loss with respect to the consolidated VIEs is limited to our net assets of $207.4 million and our exposure to loss for our unconsolidated VIEs is equal to our investment in these assets of $314.8 million.