Like no other bank - Anonymous employee Silicon Valley Bank Employee Review

4.0
14 Oct 2015
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

SVB definitely has a strong client service orientation; for the most part, employees seek to do the right things to improve the client experience. The bank, while growing fast, is still small enough for someone to meet professionals across all functions and get good exposure with CEO and the Steering Committee.

Cons

While the company has brought in a lot of experienced technical and mid-management staff in the past few years to help scale the business, there are still some "home grown" managers who have not been able to keep pace with the business. CEO is commonly regarded as aloof, or indifferent -- I don't think that is true... I think he genuinely cares about the staff and culture at SVB. However, he is very deferential to his direct reports in operations and IT, to the point where it looks like he is abdicating responsibility -- it would be nice to see him lead with a vision across all functions.

Explore other reviews about Silicon Valley Bank

5.0
13 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

People are nice and it's a great culture company to work.

Cons

can not think of it

1.0
31 Mar 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Pre-2023, excellent culture and team environment, strong compensation and bonuses, and generous budgets that supported employees well.

Cons

Since the 2023 bankruptcy, the company has struggled to regain its identity. There has been significant turnover in senior leadership, and much of the experienced management team has departed. This has led to inconsistent direction, frequent misalignment between leadership messaging and execution, and a noticeable decline in employee confidence. Compensation, bonuses, and career progression opportunities have become less competitive, and overall employee support has diminished. The organization now feels more like a rebranded extension of First Citizens rather than the distinct institution it once was. There is also an over-layering of management, with too many overlapping roles and unclear accountability, which slows decision-making and creates unnecessary complexity. Finally, the company has lost much of its competitive edge post-2023, with ongoing client attrition and reputational challenges that employees are left to address without clear strategic direction.

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