Great growth company, not so good for IT career right now. - Anonymous employee Silicon Valley Bank Employee Review

3.0
Mar 3, 2015
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good business model, great brand and strategy, well established in the technology start-up and growth sector. Decent compensation and benefits, feels less of bank and more of a start-up. Culture rewards risk taking.

Cons

Business stakeholders do not have capability to convert the company vision to strategic initiatives or stick to them. Lot of decisions are based on perceptions and not well thought out. IT is badly broken. It was in decent shape till mid-2013 when a new CIO was hired for transformation after the prior CIO left. The new CIO proved to be a fatal experiment and managed to dismantle the org, demotivate almost everyone, increased budget without output, and create a no accountability culture. COO is currently managing IT, and the situation is getting worse as there is genuine leadership vaccum in IT. Not a great place to be if you are looking for a growing career.

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.

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