scorecardThis chart shows how the failures of SVB and Signature compare with the biggest banking collapses ever
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  4. This chart shows how the failures of SVB and Signature compare with the biggest banking collapses ever

This chart shows how the failures of SVB and Signature compare with the biggest banking collapses ever

George Glover   

This chart shows how the failures of SVB and Signature compare with the biggest banking collapses ever
Investment1 min read
  • SVB's dramatic collapse Friday has plunged the US banking sector into turmoil.
  • The California bank held $209 billion in assets when it failed, according to the FDIC.

The back-to-back collapses of two large lenders has plunged the US banking sector into turbulence.

Silicon Valley Bank failed Friday after disclosing massive losses on its bond portfolio, triggering a bank run and an 86% tumble in its share price.

Signature Bank was then shut by regulators Sunday after its massive bets on cryptocurrencies turned sour, becoming the second victim of the turmoil that's now rippling across financial markets.

The two implosions are the second- and third-largest US bank collapses ever.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – which took over both SVB and Signature after they failed – has promised to make all of the banks' customers whole. It usually guarantees deposits of up to $250,000.

The only bigger wipeout in the history of US commercial banking came during the 2008 financial crisis – when the failure of Washington Mutual erased $307 billion worth of assets, according to FDIC data.

And with the spillover effects from SVB and Signature spreading to other US regional banks, the risk is rising that other names could enter the list of US banking failures.

Trading in the shares of San Francisco-based First Republic and Arizona-based Western Alliance Bank was halted Monday due to high volatility.

First Republic, which had plunged 75% before trading was paused, had $216 billion worth of assets under management as of December 31, according to a 10-K form filed last month.

Western Alliance, which suffered an 80% crash before the NYSE halted trading, disclosed last month that it held total assets of $68 billion at the end of 2022.

Read more: Silicon Valley Bank's spectacular implosion shows how digital banking can decimate a lender in 24 hours




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