As we stated in our March 10, 2023 Client Alert, Silicon Valley Bank, Santa Clara, California (“SVB”), was closed on Friday, March 10, 2023 by the California Department of Financial Protection & Innovation, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) was appointed as receiver. Since our initial client alert on Friday, several key developments have occurred. (Please see our related Client Alert on developments with respect to Signature Bank that occurred yesterday, and our related Client Alert on the new Fed Bank Term Funding Program/First Republic issues that occurred yesterday as well).

Updates to SVB’s FDIC Receivership

Yesterday, the “Joint Statement by the Department of the Treasury, Federal Reserve and FDIC” was issued with respect to actions taken over the weekend affecting the SVB FDIC receivership. Two key elements of this Joint Statement are:

• “After receiving a recommendation from the boards of the FDIC and the Federal Reserve, and consulting with the President, Secretary Yellen approved actions enabling the FDIC to complete its resolution of Silicon Valley Bank, Santa Clara, California, in a manner that fully protects all depositors. Depositors will have access to all of their money starting Monday, March 13.”

• “Shareholders and certain unsecured debtholders will not be protected. Senior management has also been removed.”

Based on this Joint Statement, SVB depositors have access to all of their deposit amounts starting this morning, due to the invocation of the systemic risk exception (effectively removing the $250,000 per account FDIC insurance cap for SVB depositors).

In addition, earlier today, the FDIC issued a press release stating that it was converted the Deposit Insurance National Bank of Santa Clara to a bridge bank named Silicon Valley Bank, N.A. (the “Bridge Bank”)  While a deposit insurance national bank only has the authority to assume the deposits of a failed bank, a bridge bank is a chartered national bank that operates under a board appointed by the FDIC. It assumes the deposits and certain other liabilities and purchases certain assets of a failed bank. The bridge bank structure is designed to “bridge” the gap between the failure of a bank and the time when the FDIC can stabilize the institution and implement an orderly resolution.   

In line with the FDIC’s previous press release and information about operations of the DINB, any new funds that come in to any SVB depositor’s accounts at the Bridge Bank after SVB’s receivership on March 10, 2023 (the “Receivership Time”) should be processed by the Bridge Bank in the ordinary course and should be available to SVB deposit customers at the usual times under the Expedited Funds Availability Act.

This situation is still fluid, but given the original March 10, 2023 FDIC press release, as updated by the Joint Statement and the FDIC’s March 13, 2023 press release:

1. The FDIC named Tim Mayopoulos as CEO of the Bridge Bank. He is former president and CEO of the Federal National Mortgage Association and most recently served as president of Blend Labs, Inc.

2. The FDIC as receiver transferred to the Bridge Bank all SVB customer deposits held at SVB as of the Receivership Time.

3. All SVB customer depositors will have full access to such deposit amounts no later than today. Depositors and borrowers will automatically become customers of the Bridge Bank and will have customer service and access to their funds by ATM, debit cards, and writing checks in the same manner as before.

4. The main office and all branches of SVB will reopen today. The Bridge Bank will maintain SVB’s normal business hours.

5. Banking activities will resume today, including on-line banking and other services.

6. SVB’s official checks will continue to clear.

7. Creditors must submit claims in writing, together with proof of the claim, on or before the claims bar date, which is yet to be determined. However, potential claimants should call 1-866-799-0959 to discuss the process for filing a claim with an FDIC Claims Agent. To file a claim, send it to the following address:

FDIC as Receiver for Silicon Valley Bank
600 N. Pearl St., Suite 700
Dallas, Texas 75201

While there now is clarity on how the deposits of SVB will be handled, at this time there doesn’t appear to be clarity on how the SVB loans now held by the Bridge Bank will be administered.  The FDIC has said that all payments on the loans should be made on a timely basis.  But it is not clear whether the Bridge Bank will honor SVB’s obligations under lines of credit or will renew loans previously made by SVB.

Earlier today, Silicon Valley Bank issued a press release announcing that its Board of Directors has appointed a restructuring committee consisting of five independent directors to explore strategic alternatives for the holding company and its SVB Capital and SVB Securities businesses, as well as its other assets and investments.

In addition, earlier today the Bank of England issued a press release stating that HSBC bought the Silicon Valley Bank UK:

“The Bank of England (Bank), in consultation with the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), HM Treasury (HMT) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), has taken the decision to sell Silicon Valley Bank UK Limited (‘SVBUK’), the UK subsidiary of the US bank, to HSBC UK Bank Plc (HSBC). HSBC is authorised and supervised by the PRA and the FCA. This action has been taken to stabilise SVBUK, ensuring the continuity of banking services, minimising disruption to the UK technology sector and supporting confidence in the financial system.”

The FDIC has only established three bridge banks since 2007 (operating as receiver for over 525 bank during that same time period).  Bridge banks are utilized when a bank fails suddenly, including due to liquidity issues, and there is no time to identify a buyer through a bid process due to the speed of the failure and/or the size of the failed institution.  While the FDIC operated two bridge banks in 1992 for less than six months, the FDIC managed the bridge bank formed in IndyMac’s failure for nine months, during which the bridge bank was wound down and sold.  Given SVB’s size and product lines, there is a limited universe of potential buyers, and the FDIC may take the same approach used on IndyMac - winding down certain of SVB’s business lines and then selling the remainder.

Joshua McNulty, Peter Weinstock, and Beth Alexander Whitaker also contributed to this article.