Interim Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Total SVBFG Stockholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 2,605,233	$ 45	$ 547,079	$ 1,174,878	$ 108,553	$ 1,830,555	$ 774,678
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		44,627,182
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans, net of restricted stock cancellations (in shares)		906,242
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans, net of restricted stock cancellations	33,242	1	33,241			33,242
Common stock issued under ESOP (in shares)		74,946
Common stock issued under ESOP	5,166		5,166			5,166
Income tax benefit from stock options exercised, vesting of restricted stock and other	3,148		3,148			3,148
Net income	353,213			157,096		157,096	196,117
Capital calls and distributions, net	7,922						7,922
Net change in unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, net of tax	(99,308)				(99,308)	(99,308)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(3,802)				(3,802)	(3,802)
Share-based compensation expense	18,826		18,826			18,826
Other, net	4		3	1		4
Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	2,923,644	46	607,463	1,331,975	5,443	1,944,927	978,717
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2013		45,608,370
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	3,079,328	46	624,256	1,390,732	(48,764)	1,966,270	1,113,058
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		45,800,418
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans, net of restricted stock cancellations (in shares)		504,766
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans, net of restricted stock cancellations	13,878		13,878			13,878
Common stock issued under ESOP (in shares)		30,762
Common stock issued under ESOP	3,890		3,890			3,890
Income tax benefit from stock options exercised, vesting of restricted stock and other	7,973		7,973			7,973
Net income	348,078			205,093		205,093	142,985
Capital calls and distributions, net	(37,984)						(37,984)
Net change in unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, net of tax	47,758				47,758	47,758
Cumulative-effect for unrealized gains on securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity, net of tax	22,522				22,522	22,522
Amortization of unrealized gains on securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity, net of tax	(2,415)				(2,415)	(2,415)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(357)				(357)	(357)
Common stock issued in public offering (shares)		4,485,000
Common stock issued in public offering	434,866	5	434,861			434,866
Share-based compensation expense	22,479		22,479			22,479
Balance at Sep. 30, 2014	$ 3,940,016	$ 51	$ 1,107,337	$ 1,595,825	$ 18,744	$ 2,721,957	$ 1,218,059
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2014		50,820,946