Segment Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net interest income (loss)	$ 130,453		$ 106,436		$ 250,752		$ 207,276
(Provision for) reduction of loan losses	(134)		(7,408)		2,913		(18,153)
Noninterest income	123,708		40,157		213,662		89,430
Noninterest expense	(121,032)	[1]	(104,180)	[1]	(238,467)	[1]	(202,756)	[1]
Income before income tax expense	132,995	[2]	35,005	[2]	228,860	[2]	75,797	[2]
Total average loans, net of unearned income	5,532,831		4,112,040		5,423,051		4,113,789
Total average assets	18,254,531		14,554,262		18,103,208		14,062,581
Total average deposits	15,269,739		11,905,441		14,969,806		11,438,924
Global Commercial Bank
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net interest income (loss)	108,452	[3]	90,983	[3]	212,254	[3]	178,451	[3]
(Provision for) reduction of loan losses	(730)	[3]	(7,571)	[3]	661	[3]	(18,427)	[3]
Noninterest income	36,551	[3]	32,862	[3]	71,415	[3]	63,804	[3]
Noninterest expense	(85,462)	[1],[3]	(73,877)	[1],[3]	(171,847)	[1],[3]	(145,201)	[1],[3]
Income before income tax expense	58,811	[2],[3]	42,397	[2],[3]	112,483	[2],[3]	78,627	[2],[3]
Total average loans, net of unearned income	4,822,497	[3]	3,673,144	[3]	4,766,104	[3]	3,669,378	[3]
Total average assets	5,264,434	[3]	4,006,279	[3]	5,169,591	[3]	4,004,197	[3]
Total average deposits	15,099,789	[3]	11,767,045	[3]	14,803,648	[3]	11,308,998	[3]
SVB Private Bank
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net interest income (loss)	4,837		3,120		9,238		6,200
(Provision for) reduction of loan losses	596		163		2,252		274
Noninterest income	136		132		223		237
Noninterest expense	(2,477)	[1]	(1,036)	[1]	(4,480)	[1]	(2,065)	[1]
Income before income tax expense	3,092	[2]	2,379	[2]	7,233	[2]	4,646	[2]
Total average loans, net of unearned income	642,287		431,598		613,467		431,125
Total average assets	642,744		431,676		613,734		431,268
Total average deposits	156,765		153,950		153,520		139,108
SVB Capital
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net interest income (loss)	3	[3]			4	[3]	(1)	[3]
Noninterest income	6,716	[3]	2,956	[3]	14,006	[3]	7,870	[3]
Noninterest expense	(3,111)	[1],[3]	(3,632)	[1],[3]	(6,253)	[1],[3]	(7,158)	[1],[3]
Income before income tax expense	3,608	[2],[3]	(676)	[2],[3]	7,757	[2],[3]	711	[2],[3]
Total average assets	232,381	[3]	144,426	[3]	222,570	[3]	146,001	[3]
Other Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net interest income (loss)	17,161		12,333		29,256		22,626
Noninterest income	80,305		4,207		128,018		17,519
Noninterest expense	(29,982)	[1]	(25,635)	[1]	(55,887)	[1]	(48,332)	[1]
Income before income tax expense	67,484	[2]	(9,095)	[2]	101,387	[2]	(8,187)	[2]
Total average loans, net of unearned income	68,047		7,298		43,480		13,286
Total average assets	12,114,972		9,971,881		12,097,313		9,481,115
Total average deposits	$ 13,185		$ (15,554)		$ 12,638		$ (9,182)

[1] The Global Commercial Bank segment includes direct depreciation and amortization of $2.7 million and $2.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $5.7 million and $4.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

[2] The internal reporting model used by management to assess segment performance does not calculate income tax expense by segment. Our effective tax rate is a reasonable approximation of the segment rates.

[3] SVB Capital's and Global Commercial Bank's components of net interest income (loss), noninterest income, noninterest expense and total average assets are shown net of noncontrolling interests for all periods presented.