Once a shining star. Now a black hole! - Anonymous employee Silicon Valley Bank Employee Review

1.0
31 Dec 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Stock price is high now, but if investors only knew the truth it won’t be for long. Highly overvalued for the time being.

Cons

Been at Silicon Valley Bank for over a decade. I’ve seen this company reach the crest of the wave as described by its former CEO. However, under its current leadership that wave is destined to crash, and crash hard it will! A recent employee engagement survey has unturned horrific results of discontent amongst the staff across many departments. There is talk about addressing these issues but nothing has been done yet. Employees have lost hope and are either leaving on their own or being forced to leave if they dare express their voices. It’s a terrible shame! I was once proud to be an SVBer, but that time has passed. It is clear that leadership is focused on the shareholders, but enough is never enough. Even with a meteoric rise in stock price, the staff is treated as an expendable commodity. Long gone are the days of the family culture which is still promoted in a desperate attempt to retain talent. I’ve lost count of times I’ve heard coworkers say they are hanging on just long enough for the upcoming bonus before they have had enough. The worst part of all is the toxic culture of leadership which has poisoned everything. The expectation for privileged treatment has trickled down across all departments. Rather than do what is right, staff is pandering to the top percent, just to make them happy, regardless of that might be best for the company.

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5.0
9 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Great Pay - Great People

Cons

- Post FCB Migration - Things have slowed down

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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