Basis of Presentation (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

SVB Financial Group is a diversified financial services company, as well as a bank holding company and a financial holding company. SVB Financial was incorporated in the state of Delaware in March 1999. Through our various subsidiaries and divisions, we offer a diverse set of banking and financial products and services to support our clients of all sizes and stages throughout their life cycles. In these notes to our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, when we refer to “SVB Financial Group,” “SVBFG," the “Company,” “we,” “our,” “us” or use similar words, we mean SVB Financial Group and all of its subsidiaries collectively, including Silicon Valley Bank (the “Bank”), unless the context requires otherwise. When we refer to “SVB Financial” or the “Parent” we are referring only to the parent company, SVB Financial Group (not including subsidiaries).

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments of a normal and recurring nature that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to fairly present our financial position, results of operations and cash flows in accordance with GAAP. Such unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for any future periods. These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (“2019 Form 10-K”).

Use of Estimates

The preparation of unaudited interim consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates may change as new information is obtained. Significant items that are subject to such estimates include measurements of fair value, the valuation of non-marketable and other equity securities, the valuation of equity warrant assets and the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses for loans and for unfunded credit commitments.

Principles of Consolidation and Presentation

Our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SVB Financial Group and consolidated entities. We consolidate voting entities in which we have control through voting interests or entities through which we have a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity (“VIE”). We determine whether we have a controlling financial interest in a VIE by determining if we have: (a) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance, (b) the obligation to absorb the expected losses or (c) the right to receive the expected returns of the entity. Generally, we have significant variable interests if our commitments to a limited partnership investment represent a significant amount of the total commitments to the entity. We also evaluate the impact of related parties on our determination of variable interests in our consolidation conclusions. We consolidate VIEs in which we are the primary beneficiary based on a controlling financial interest. If we are not the primary beneficiary of a VIE, we record our pro-rata interests based on our ownership percentage.

VIEs are entities where investors lack sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support or equity investors, as a group, lack one of the following characteristics: (a) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance, (b) the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the entity, or (c) the right to receive the expected returns of the entity. We assess VIEs to determine if we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE. A primary beneficiary is defined as a variable interest holder that has a controlling financial interest. A controlling financial interest requires both: (a) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and (b) obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits of a VIE that could potentially be significant to a VIE. Under this analysis, we also evaluate kick-out rights and other participating rights, which could provide us a controlling financial interest. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is required to consolidate the VIE.

We also evaluate fees paid to managers of our limited partnership investments. We exclude those fee arrangements that are not deemed to be variable interests from the analysis of our interests in our investments in VIEs and the determination of a primary beneficiary, if any. Fee arrangements based on terms that are customary and commensurate with the services provided are deemed not to be variable interests and are, therefore, excluded.

All significant intercompany accounts and transactions with consolidated entities have been eliminated. We have not provided financial or other support during the periods presented to any VIE that we were not previously contractually required to provide.

Reclassifications

Certain prior period amounts primarily related to the adoption of the Accounting Standard Update (ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments) ("ASU 2016-13" or "CECL") as mentioned below have been reclassified to conform to current period presentations.

Loans

Loans are reported at amortized cost which consists of the principal amount outstanding, net of unearned loan fees. Unearned loan fees reflect unamortized deferred loan origination and commitment fees net of unamortized deferred loan origination costs. In addition to cash loan fees, we often obtain equity warrant assets that give us an option to purchase a position in a client company's stock in consideration for providing credit facilities. The grant date fair values of these equity warrant assets are deemed to be loan fees and are deferred as unearned income and recognized as an adjustment of loan yield through loan interest income. The net amount of unearned loan fees is amortized into loan interest income over the contractual terms of the underlying loans and commitments using the constant effective yield method, adjusted for actual loan prepayment experience, or the straight-line method, as applicable.

Allowance for Credit Losses: Loans

The allowance for credit losses for loans considers credit risk and is adjusted by a provision for expected credit losses ("ECL") charged to expense and reduced by the charge-off of loan amounts, net of recoveries. Our allowance for credit losses is an estimate of expected losses inherent with the Company's existing loans at the balance sheet date. Determining the appropriateness of the allowance is complex and requires judgment by management about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain.

Portfolio Segments

The estimation of ECL on loans process involves procedures to appropriately consider the unique characteristics of our six loan portfolio segments. Our six portfolio segments are determined by using the following risk dimensions: (i) underwriting methodology, (ii) industry niche and (iii) life stage. The six portfolio segments are further disaggregated into ten classes of financing receivable, or risk-based segments, and represents the level at which credit risk is monitored. Credit quality is assessed and monitored by evaluating various attributes and the results of those evaluations are utilized in underwriting new loans and in our process to estimate ECL. The following provides additional information regarding our six portfolio segments:

(i) Investor Dependent - Accelerator (Early-Stage) and Growth (Mid-Stage and Later-Stage)

Investor Dependent loans are made primarily to technology and life science/healthcare companies in both our Accelerator (Early-Stage) and Growth practices (Mid-Stage and Later-Stage). Investor Dependent loans typically have modest or negative cash flows and no established record of profitable operations. Repayment of these loans may be dependent upon receipt by borrowers of additional equity financing from venture capital firms or others, or in some cases, a successful sale to a third party or an IPO. Venture capital firms may provide financing selectively, at reduced amounts, or on less favorable terms, which may have an adverse effect on our borrowers' ability to repay their loans to us. When repayment is dependent upon the next round of venture investment and there is an indication that further investment is unlikely or will not occur, it is often likely that the company would need to be sold to repay the debt in full. If reasonable efforts have not yielded a likely buyer willing to repay all debt at the close of the sale or on commercially viable terms, the account will most likely be deemed to be impaired and charged-off.

We further disaggregate Investor Dependent loans into three subcategories. Early-Stage consists of pre-revenue, development-stage companies and companies that are in the early phases of commercialization, with revenues of up to $5 million. Mid-Stage companies consist of growth-stage enterprises with revenues of between $5 million and $15 million or, in the case of biotechnology, pre-revenue clinical-stage companies. Later-Stage consists of companies with revenues of $15 million or more. This disaggregation is based in part on the materially different historical loss rate we

have experienced with each cohort, with historical loss rates being the highest in the Early-Stage segment, and declining in the Mid-Stage and Later-Stage segments, as a function of the relatively higher enterprise value and asset coverage that is created as a company progresses through the various stages of development.

(ii) Cash Flow Dependent

Cash Flow Dependent loans are made primarily to technology and life science/healthcare companies, which include Sponsor Led Buyout lending, and require the borrower to maintain cash flow from operations that is sufficient to service all debt. Borrowers must demonstrate normalized cash flow in excess of all fixed charges associated with operating the business. Sponsor Led Buyout loans are typically used to assist a select group of experienced private equity sponsors with the acquisition of businesses and are larger in size, and repayment is generally dependent upon the cash flows of the acquired company. The acquired companies are typically established, later-stage businesses of scale and characterized by reasonable levels of leverage and loan structures that include meaningful financial covenants. The sponsor's equity contribution is often 50 percent or more of the acquisition price.

(iii)     Balance Sheet Dependent

Balance Sheet Dependent loans are made primarily to technology and life science/healthcare companies, which include asset-based loans, and are structured to require constant current asset coverage (i.e., cash, cash equivalents, accounts receivable and, to a much lesser extent, inventory) in an amount that exceeds the outstanding debt. These loans are generally made to companies in our Growth and Corporate Finance practices. The repayment of these arrangements is dependent on the financial condition, and payment ability, of third parties with whom our clients do business. As a result of the adoption of CECL and in connection with the revised approach to portfolio disaggregation discussed above, certain loans that were previously considered to be Balance Sheet Dependent have been reclassified as Investor Dependent - Later-Stage.

(iv) Private Equity/Venture Capital

The vast majority of our Private Equity/Venture Capital portfolio consists of capital call lines of credit, the repayment of which is dependent on the payment of capital calls by the underlying limited partner investors in the funds managed by these firms. These facilities are generally governed by meaningful financial covenants oriented towards ensuring that the funds' remaining callable capital is sufficient to repay the loan, and larger commitments (typically provided to larger private equity funds) are often secured by an assignment of the general partner's right to call capital from the fund's limited partner investors.

(v) Private Bank

Our Private Bank clients are primarily private equity/venture capital professionals and senior executives in the innovation companies they support. We offer a customized suite of private banking services, including mortgages, home equity lines of credit, restricted stock purchase loans, real estate secured home equity capital call lines of credit and other secured and unsecured lending products, as well as cash and wealth management services. In addition, we provide real estate secured loans to eligible employees through our Employee Home Ownership Program.

(vi) Premium Wine and Other

Our Premium Wine clients primarily consist of premium wine producers across the Western United States, primarily in California's Napa Valley, Sonoma County and Central Coast regions, as well as the Pacific Northwest. Our other loan portfolio segment primarily includes our community development loans made as part of our responsibilities under the Community Reinvestment Act.

We maintain a systematic process for the evaluation of individual loans and portfolio segments for inherent risk of estimated credit losses for loans. At the time of approval, each loan in our portfolio is assigned a credit risk rating. Credit risk ratings are assigned on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 representing loans with a low risk of nonpayment, 9 representing loans with the highest risk of nonpayment and 10 representing loans which have been charged-off. The credit risk ratings for each loan are monitored and updated on an ongoing basis. This credit risk rating process includes, but is not limited to, consideration of such factors as payment status, the financial condition and operating performance of the borrower, borrower compliance with loan covenants, underlying collateral values and performance trends, the degree of access to additional capital, the presence of credit enhancements such as third party guarantees (where applicable), the degree to which the borrower is sensitive to external factors and the depth and experience of the borrower's management team. Our policies require a committee of senior management to review, at least quarterly, credit relationships with a credit risk rating of 5 through 9 that exceed specific dollar values.

Expected Credit Loss Measurement

The methodology for estimating the amount of ECL reported in the allowance for credit losses has two main components: (1) ECL assessed on a collective basis for pools of loans that share similar risk characteristics which includes a qualitative adjustment based on management’s assessment of the risks that may lead to a future loan loss experience different from our historical loan loss experience and (2) ECL assessed for individual loans that do not share similar risk characteristics with other loans. We do not estimate ECL on accrued interest receivable ("AIR") on loans as AIR is reversed or written off when the full collection of the AIR related to a loan becomes doubtful. AIR on loans totaled $111.8 million at March 31, 2020 and $119.1 million at December 31, 2019 and is reported in "Accrued interest receivable and other assets" in our unaudited interim consolidated balance sheets.

While the evaluation process of our allowance for credit losses on loans uses historical and other objective information, the classification of loans and the estimate of the allowance for credit losses for loans rely on the judgment and experience of our management. A committee comprised of senior management evaluates the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses for loans, which includes review of loan portfolio segmentation, quantitative models, internal and external data inputs, economic forecasts, credit risk ratings and qualitative adjustments.

Loans That Share Similar Risk Characteristics With Other Loans

We derive an estimated ECL assumption from a non-discounted cash flow approach based on our portfolio segments discussed above. This approach incorporates: (1) probability of default ("PD"), (2) loss given default ("LGD") and (3) exposure at default ("EAD"), over the estimated life of the exposure. PD and LGD assumptions are developed based on quantitative models and inherent risk of credit loss, both of which involve significant judgement. Renewals and extensions within our control are not considered in the estimated contractual term of a loan. However, we include potential extensions if management has a reasonable expectation that we will execute a TDR with the borrower. The quantitative models are based on historical credit loss experience, adjusted for probability-weighted economic scenarios. These scenarios are used to support a reasonable and supportable forecast period of three years for all portfolio segments. To the extent the remaining contractual lives of loans in the portfolio extend beyond this three-year period, we revert to historical averages gradually over the remaining contractual lives, adjusted for prepayments. The macroeconomic scenarios are reviewed on a quarterly basis.    

We also apply a qualitative factor adjustment to the results obtained through our quantitative ECL models to consider relevant qualitative factors that relate to the environment in which the entity operates and are specific to the borrower. These adjustments are based upon our assessment of the risks that may lead to a future loan loss experience different from our historical loan loss experience. These risks are aggregated to become our qualitative allocation. Based on our qualitative assessment estimate of changing risks in the lending environment, the qualitative allocation may vary significantly from period to period and may include, but is not limited to, consideration of the following factors:

• Changes in lending policies and procedures, including changes in underwriting standards and collection, charge-off, and recovery practices not considered elsewhere in estimating credit losses;

• Changes in international, national, regional, and local economic and business conditions and developments that affect the collectability of the portfolio, including the condition of various market segments;

• Changes in the nature and volume of the portfolio and in the terms of loans;

• Changes in the experience, ability and depth of lending management and other relevant staff;

• Changes in the volume and severity of past due loans, the volume of nonaccrual loans and the volume and severity of adversely classified or graded loans;

• Changes in the quality of the institution’s loan review system;

• Changes in the value of underlying collateral for collateral-dependent loans;

• The existence and effect of any concentrations of credit, and changes in the level of such concentrations; and

• The effect of other external factors such as competition and legal and regulatory requirements on the level of estimated credit losses in the institution’s existing portfolio.

Loans That Do Not Share Similar Risk Characteristics

We monitor our loan pools to ensure all assets therein continue to share similar risk characteristics with other financial assets inside the pool. Changes in credit risk, borrower circumstances or the recognition of write-offs may indicate that a loan's risk profile has changed, and the asset should be removed from its current pool. For a loan that does not share risk characteristics with other loans, expected credit loss is measured based on the net realizable value, that is, the difference between the discounted value of the expected future cash flows and the amortized cost basis of the loan. When a loan is collateral-dependent and the repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of the collateral, the ECL is measured as the difference between the amortized cost basis of the loan and the fair value of the collateral. The fair value of the collateral will

be determined by the most recent appraisal, as adjusted to reflect a reasonable marketing period for the sale of the asset(s) and an estimate of reasonable selling expenses. Collateral-dependent loans will have independent appraisals completed and accepted at least annually.

Allowance for Credit Losses: Unfunded Credit Commitments

We maintain a separate allowance for credit losses for unfunded credit commitments which is included in other liabilities and the related ECL in our provision for credit losses. We estimate the amount of expected losses by using historical trends to calculate a probability of an unfunded credit commitment being funded and derive historical lifetime expected loss factors for each portfolio segment similar to our funded loan ECL. The collectively assessed ECL for unfunded credit commitments also includes the same qualitative allocations applied for our funded loan ECL. For unfunded credit commitments related to loans that do not share similar risk characteristics with other loans, where applicable, a separate estimate of ECL will be included in our total allowance for credit losses on unfunded credit commitments. Loan commitments that are determined to be unconditionally cancellable by the Company do not require an allowance for credit losses.

Investment Securities

Available-for-Sale Securities and the Allowance for Credit Losses on Available-for-Sale Securities

Our available-for-sale securities portfolio is a fixed income investment portfolio that is managed to earn an appropriate portfolio yield over the long-term while maintaining sufficient liquidity and credit diversification and meeting our asset/liability management objectives. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, net of applicable taxes, are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income, which is a separate component of SVBFG's stockholders' equity, until realized.

We analyze available-for-sale securities for impairment related to credit losses each quarter. Market valuations represent the current fair value of a security at a specified point in time and incorporates the risk of timing of interest due and the return of principal over the contractual life of each security. Gains and losses on securities are realized when there is a sale of the security prior to maturity. A credit impairment is recognized through a valuation allowance against the security with an offset through earnings; the allowance is limited to the amount that fair value, calculated as the present value of expected future cash flow discounted at the security’s effective interest rate, is less than the amortized cost basis. We separate the amount of the impairment related to credit losses, if any, and the amount due to all other factors. The credit loss component is recognized in earnings and recorded as an allowance for credit losses for AFS securities.

Held-to-Maturity Securities and the Allowance for Credit Losses on Held-to-Maturity Securities

Debt securities purchased with the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity securities and are recorded at amortized cost, net of any allowance for credit losses.

We measure ECL on held-to-maturity securities on a collective basis by major security type and standard credit rating. Our held-to-maturity securities portfolio, with the exception of our municipal bond portfolio, are either explicitly or implicitly guaranteed by the U.S. government, are highly rated by major rating agencies and have a long history of no credit losses. With respect to these securities, we consider the risk of credit loss to be zero and, therefore, we do not record an ECL. Our municipal bond portfolio primarily consists of highly rated bonds and currently carry ratings no lower than Aa3. The estimate of ECL on our municipal bond portfolio considers historical credit loss information and severity of loss in the event of default and leverages external data adjusted for current conditions. A reasonable and supportable forecast period of one year is applied to our municipal bond portfolio, with immediate reversion to long-term average historical loss rates when remaining contractual lives of securities exceed one year. We do not estimate ECL on accrued interest receivable ("AIR") from held-to-maturity securities as AIR is reversed or written off when the full collection of the AIR related to a security becomes doubtful. AIR from held-to-maturity securities totaled $41.5 million at March 31, 2020 and $45.2 million at December 31, 2019 and is reported in "Accrued interest receivable and other assets" in our unaudited interim consolidated balance sheets.

Expected credit loss on municipal bonds that do not share common risk characteristics with our collective portfolio are individually measured based on net realizable value, or the difference between the discounted value of the expected future cash flows and the recorded amortized cost basis of the security.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Financial Instruments - Credit Losses

In June 2016, the FASB issued a new Accounting Standard Update (ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments- Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments), which amends the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects a current expected credit loss measurement to estimate the allowance for credit losses over the contractual life of the financial assets (including loans, unfunded credit commitments and HTM securities) and

requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. While the CECL model does not apply to available-for-sale debt securities, ASU 2016-13 does require entities to record an allowance for credit losses when recognizing credit losses for available-for-sale securities, rather than reduce the amortized cost of the securities by direct write-offs, which allows for reversal of credit impairments in future periods based on improvements in credit. We adopted the guidance on January 1, 2020, using a modified retrospective approach. We recognized the cumulative effect of initially applying CECL as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings, net of tax. The comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods.

We completed a comprehensive implementation process that included loss forecasting model development, evaluation of technical accounting topics, updates to our allowance for credit loss accounting policies, reporting processes and related internal controls, overall operational readiness for our adoption of CECL as well as parallel runs for CECL alongside our previous allowance process. We provided quarterly updates to senior management and to the Audit and Credit Committees of the Board of Directors throughout the implementation process. For additional details regarding our allowance for credit losses methodology, see Note 7 — “Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses: Loans and Unfunded Credit Commitments” of the “Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)” under Part I, Item 1 of this report.

Based on our loan, unfunded credit commitment, and HTM security portfolios composition at December 31, 2019, and the then current economic environment, the cumulative effect of the changes to our consolidated balance sheets at January 1, 2020, for the adoption of CECL were as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)	Balance at December 31, 2019		Adjustments Due to Adoption of ASC 326			Balance at January 1, 2020
Assets:
Allowance for credit losses: loans	$	304,924	$	25,464		$	330,388
Allowance for credit losses: held-to-maturity securities	—		174			174
Deferred tax assets	28,433		13,415			41,848
Other liabilities:
Allowance for credit losses: unfunded credit commitments	67,656		22,826			90,482
Stockholders' equity:
Retained earnings, net of tax	4,575,601		(35,049		)	4,540,552

Prior to the effective adoption date of CECL, Federal banking regulatory agencies had provided relief for the initial capital decrease at adoption by allowing the impact to be phased-in over three years on a straight-line basis. Subsequent to our adoption of CECL, Federal banking regulatory agencies provided relief to banking organizations by way of an interim final rule based on the recent disruptions in economic conditions caused by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic ("COVID-19") as well as the significant resources required to implement CECL. At the time of the adoption of CECL, we were not expecting to utilize the initial relief provided by the Federal banking regulatory agencies as the initial capital decrease at adoption did not have a material impact to our capital ratios; however, the impact to our capital from subsequent increases in our allowance for credit losses from the day one adoption impact related to COVID-19 economic factors was deemed significant. As a result, we have elected to use the regulatory capital phase-in under the interim final rule. Refer to the "Capital Resources" section under Part I, Item 2 of this report for additional details.

Additionally, under the prior guidance, our loan portfolio and credit quality disclosures were disaggregated based on client market segments. Upon adoption of CECL, our technology (software/internet and hardware) and life science/healthcare market segments are disclosed by the portfolio segment that aligns with their respective underwriting methodology and the level at which credit risk is now monitored by management. The primary underwriting method for our technology and life science/healthcare portfolios are classified as investor dependent (early-stage and growth), cash flow dependent or balance sheet dependent, as noted above, and prior period amounts were reclassified for comparability. There are no other material changes to our current market segments.

Other Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2018, the FASB issued a new Accounting Standard Update (ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement). The ASU primarily modifies certain disclosures with respect to Level 3 fair value measurements. We adopted the guidance on January 1, 2020. The adoption did not have an impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations and did not have a material impact on the disclosures in our notes to our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.