Hopeful to hopeless - Anonymous employee Silicon Valley Bank Employee Review

1.0
6 Feb 2018
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Smart cooks (shameful chefs). The people. I’ve made friends for life at SVB and for that I will always be grateful.

Cons

Ancient technology with bandaid in top of bandaid. Mid level management are useless and are pretty much there because they can discard judgment at the door and could bring themselves to compliment each of JC’s stupid ideas. And speaking of mid management, some are decent people and others clearly are taking advantage of their authority in the market. Asking your admin to lie on your expense report, making fun of associates, creating an office culture of cool kids (with whom you speak with your airhead tone) and nerds..... is not ok. Who do you think you are? As soon as you feel like the wound is scabbing, you endure another fall - that’s how I feel about navigating the day to day at SVB.

Explore other reviews about Silicon Valley Bank

5.0
9 June 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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