Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income before noncontrolling interests	$ 390,266	$ 374,820	[1],[2]	$ 478,660
Change in cumulative translation gains (losses):
Foreign currency translation (losses) gains	(5,245)	2,570		10,982
Related tax benefit (expense)	2,050	(957)		(4,425)
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities:
Unrealized holding gains (losses)	39,016	(36,702)		92,815
Related tax (expense) benefit	(15,911)	14,730		(37,383)
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income	(12,195)	(1,201)		18,598
Related tax expense (benefit)	4,963	481		(7,510)
Cumulative-effect adjustment for unrealized gains on securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity	0	0		37,700
Related tax expense	0	0		(15,178)
Amortization of unrealized gains on securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity	(7,786)	(10,412)		(6,915)
Related tax benefit	3,134	4,191		2,784
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	8,026	(27,300)		91,468
Comprehensive income	398,292	347,520		570,128
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7,581)	(30,916)	[1],[3]	(214,790)
Comprehensive income attributable to SVBFG	$ 390,711	$ 316,604		$ 355,338

[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] 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.