Do not work here - Project Manager Silicon Valley Bank Employee Review

1.0
Mar 16, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The staff are wonderful, try hard, care, and are like family. Everyone works 80+ hours to get the job done.

Cons

This is for IT Project Management. They have a "framework" that is "flexible". But when you try to deviate from the framework, they say you can't do it. The framework has "stage gates" that impede on project delivery. If one document isn't completed, you fail your stage gate and progress cannot continue. They require live signatures, then you physically scan the document, and save it on a shared drive. Ever heard of esignatures and SharePoint?!? I felt like I was working for a company back in 1980, not "Silicon" Valley Bank. Then they generate a "red" list for every project that is late, even though the process was the one that made it late. And the list is frequently incorrect with the wrong PM assignment on it. If you miss one milestone, management will come down hard on you with a series of meetings all the while, you told management three months ago of the issue and they did nothing about it. FINGER POINTING CULTURE. Some people work from home or work alternative schedules but when you ask to work from home because someone died or you have the flu, the answer is no. Inconsistent policies. Worse, after all this, they frequently have announcements like "good news, I took away one required doc you have to fill out" "but I added four new ones you have to do". What kind of good news is that? Then they "grandfather" required documents "starting today and for all project three years ago". So resources scramble to meet the audit instead of focusing on delivering the project. Again, management comes down on you for working overtime or not meeting your dates when they are the obstacle to begin with. It's a no win situation. I've not learned anything during my time there that is marketable. It was a waste of my career progression.

Explore other reviews about Silicon Valley Bank

5.0
Mar 13, 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
Mar 31, 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.

1
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All