Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total	Common stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Total SVBFG Stockholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 2,250,389	$ 44	$ 484,216	$ 999,733	$ 85,399	$ 1,569,392	$ 680,997
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		43,507,932
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans, net of restricted stock cancellations (in shares)		1,045,690
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans, net of restricted stock cancellations	29,282	1	29,281			29,282
Common stock issued upon settlement of 3.875% Convertible Notes, net of shares received from associated convertible note hedge (in shares)		73,560
Common stock issued upon settlement of 3.875% Convertible Notes, net of shares received from associated convertible note hedge	4,344		4,344			4,344
Income tax benefit from stock options exercised, vesting of restricted stock and other	7,770		7,770			7,770
Net income	249,813			175,103		175,103	74,710
Capital calls and distributions, net	59,057						59,057
Net change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, net of tax	23,612				23,612	23,612
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(458)				(458)	(458)
Share-based compensation expense	21,468		21,468			21,468
Deconsolidation of noncontrolling interests	(40,086)						(40,086)
Other, net	42			42		42
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
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans, net of restricted stock cancellations (in shares)		1,098,290
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans, net of restricted stock cancellations	41,404	1	41,403			41,404
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	5,658		5,658			5,658
Net income	546,119			215,853		215,853	330,266
Capital calls and distributions, net	8,114						8,114
Net change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, net of tax	(154,013)				(154,013)	(154,013)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(3,304)				(3,304)	(3,304)
Share-based compensation expense	24,947		24,947			24,947
Other, net	4		3	1		4
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
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans, net of restricted stock cancellations (in shares)		608,745
Common stock issued under employee benefit plans, net of restricted stock cancellations	18,256		18,256			18,256
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	9,595		9,595			9,595
Net income	478,715			263,925		263,925	214,790
Capital calls and distributions, net	(89,186)						(89,186)
Net change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, net of tax	66,520				66,520	66,520
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	6,557				6,557	6,557
Share-based compensation expense	29,491		29,491			29,491
Other, net	1		1			1
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	(4,131)				(4,131)	(4,131)
Common stock issued in public offering		4,485,000
Common stock issued in public offering, shares	434,866	5	434,861			434,866
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 4,056,424	$ 51	$ 1,120,350	$ 1,654,657	$ 42,704	$ 2,817,762	$ 1,238,662
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		50,924,925