Interim Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income before noncontrolling interests	$ 63,172	$ 216,180	$ 348,078	$ 353,213
Change in cumulative translation (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation loss	(2,259)	(1,540)	(638)	(6,341)
Related tax benefit	935	631	281	2,539
Change in unrealized (losses) gains on available-for-sale securities:
Unrealized holding (losses) gains	(48,724)	27,289	62,669	(167,021)
Related tax benefit (expense)	19,716	(11,032)	(25,292)	68,299
Reclassification adjustment for losses (gains) included in net income	990	(219)	17,411	(949)
Related tax (benefit) expense	(400)	85	(7,030)	363
Cumulative-effect adjustment for unrealized gains on securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity	0	0	37,700	0
Related tax expense	0	0	(15,178)	0
Amortization of unrealized gains on securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity	(2,996)	0	(4,043)	0
Related tax benefit	1,206	0	1,628	0
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(31,532)	15,214	67,508	(103,110)
Comprehensive income	31,640	231,394	415,586	250,103
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(177)	(148,559)	(142,985)	(196,117)
Comprehensive income attributable to SVBFG	$ 31,463	$ 82,835	$ 272,601	$ 53,986