Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses - Recorded Investment in Loans Modified in TDRs within Previous 12 months Subsequently Defaulted (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Receivables [Abstract]
TDRs modified within the previous 12 months that defaulted in the period	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

Financing Receivable Modifications Recorded Investment Subsequently Defaulted

No definition available.

Name:	sivb_FinancingReceivableModificationsRecordedInvestmentSubsequentlyDefaulted
Namespace Prefix:	sivb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration