Interim Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income before noncontrolling interests		$ 281,365	$ 154,118	$ 736,417	$ 394,514
Change in foreign currency cumulative translation gains and losses:
Foreign currency translation (losses) gains		(3,259)	1,928	(5,337)	4,463
Related tax benefit (expense)		905	(787)	1,482	(1,821)
Change in unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities:
Unrealized holding (losses) gains		(24,902)	925	(98,032)	(12,471)
Related tax benefit (expense)		6,994	(429)	27,269	5,207
Reclassification adjustment for losses (gains) included in net income	[1]	0	101	0	(384)
Related tax (benefit) expense	[1]	0	(41)	0	157
Reclassification of unrealized gains on equity securities to retained earnings for ASU 2016-01	[1]	0	0	(40,316)	0
Related tax expense	[1]	0	0	11,145	0
Amortization of unrealized holding gains on securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity		(1,777)	(1,594)	(3,915)	(4,931)
Related tax benefit		494	641	1,085	1,984
Reclassification of stranded tax effect to retained earnings for ASU 2018-02	[1]	0	0	(319)	0
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax		(21,545)	744	(106,938)	(7,796)
Comprehensive income		259,820	154,862	629,479	386,718
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(6,548)	(5,498)	(28,841)	(21,218)
Comprehensive income attributable to SVBFG		$ 253,272	$ 149,364	$ 600,638	$ 365,500

[1] See "Adoption of New Accounting Standards" in Note 1—“Basis of Presentation” of the “Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)” under Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional details.