What to know about Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse

Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It’s Tuesday, March 14.

It’s been a hectic and historic few days for regional banks and the tech companies that have their money stockpiled in them.

Silicon Valley Bank, or SVB, collapsed late last week as venture capitalists pulled out billions of dollars in a short time span. The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation shut down SVB on Friday and federal regulators stepped in to take control.

It was the second biggest bank failure in U.S. history, followed a few days later by the third biggest. On Sunday, federal regulators shut down New York-based Signature Bank after a run on that bank sparked by fears over the collapse of SVB.

How did this happen?

Basically everything I know about a bank run I learned from “It’s a Wonderful Life.” What happened with SVB followed the same basic playbook, but unlike George Bailey’s small-town clientele, SVB managed billions of dollars from tech startups and the venture capitalist firms that pick the industry’s winners and losers. And on Thursday alone, those investors and depositors pulled a whopping $42 billion out of SVB.

Times tech industry columnist Brian Merchant summed up the collapse like this:

1. SVB’s large deposits “were bound up in low-interest securities, and they came from venture capital-backed companies that were burning through cash faster than expected.”
2. The bank and its many startup clients are “beholden to a relatively small cadre of venture capitalists,” leaving SVB “uniquely exposed to a run on the bank should those venture capitalists decide to pull their funds at the same time.”

The catalyst federal officials and financial experts point to is rising interest rates that had been reducing the market value of the bank’s assets.

SVB’s leadership should have seen this coming, Merchant writes, arguing that the bank’s involvement in an “inherently haphazard system” put it at risk. He explained:

The last few days were chaotic for many tech companies that had accounts there — and to some of the clients that rely on their services. One such business, Wrapbook, processes payrolls for entertainment production companies. The collapse led to delayed payrolls on Friday and froze processing for uncashed checks.

The intervention by the U.S. government allowed SVB clients to access their funds again, meaning Wrapbook could resume processing payrolls beginning Monday. The company said it expects to be “fully operational” by Wednesday.

What is the federal government doing about it?

Bailing the depositors out.

The U.S. Treasury Department, Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. announced last weekend that all depositors with money in SVB would be able to get to their money again Monday. That includes customers with more than the FDIC-covered $250,000 insurance limit.

President Biden addressed the issue Monday ahead of his three-day trip to California and Nevada, promising that the bailout would not fall on taxpayers and vowing to hold the banks’ management and investors accountable.

“They knowingly took a risk, and when risks don’t pay off, investors lose their money,” Biden tweeted Monday. “That’s how capitalism works.”

What does this mean for the broader economy?

Understandably, two major bank failures in three days is bound to stir economic anxiety.

In his remarks Monday morning, Biden said “Americans can have confidence that the banking system is safe.” But Wall Street doesn’t seem so convinced as investors opened the market by selling off shares in several regional banks.

First Republic Bank saw shares plummet 78%. Other hard-hit institutions include Western Alliance Bancorp, PacWest Bancorp and Comerica Inc.

So what about all us regular, non-VC bank customers?

“For most individuals and businesses, the right course is to do nothing,” writes Jon Healey, senior editor for The Times’ Utility Journalism team.

In his explainer on the bank collapse, Healey notes that the median bank account(s) balance among Americans is $5,300 per household, per a 2019 Federal Reserve survey. The average amount across American bank customers is $41,600.

The FDIC insures our deposits at each bank we use up to $250,000. And since the vast majority of banks are insured through the FDIC (you can confirm your bank’s status using this online directory), the average person with a bank account should be covered if the situation spirals.

But banking experts say what happened with SVB and Signature Bank were unique sets of circumstances that do not signal widespread doom.

Add to that the “aggressive” government response Monday, Healey writes, and analysts contend that “depositors in other banks can stay put rather than shifting into crisis mode.”

And now, here’s what’s happening across California:

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POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Officials and engineers had known for decades that a levee that failed in Santa Cruz County during the weekend storm was at risk of failing. As my colleague Susanne Rust reports, repairs to the the Pajaro River levee were never made “in part because they believed it did not make financial sense to protect the low-income area.” Los Angeles Times

California’s community college system is exploring ways to reduce the financial burden textbook costs put on many students. One idea some campuses are pursuing is publishing their own textbooks and course materials. CalMatters

California Democrats are pushing forward to strengthen the state’s role as an abortion rights haven. Lawmakers introduced a package of 17 bills Monday, including some aimed at enhancing privacy protections. Los Angeles Times

In the high-profile race to fill the L.A. City Council seat vacated when Nury Martinez resigned, a few big progressive groups have kept a low profile. Some far-left activists point to a weaker ground game in the San Fernando Valley district, which includes the neighborhoods of Lake Balboa, North Hollywood, Van Nuys and Sun Valley. Los Angeles Times

HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

The Sierra snowpack is now over 200% its average for early March. That’s more good short-term news as much of the state marks downgraded drought statuses, but experts warn that more wild swings are in store for California long-term. The Sacramento Bee

The East Coast lobster industry is taking on the West Coast’s famous aquarium. Via its Seafood Watch program, the Monterey Bay Aquarium put American lobsters on its do-not-eat list, citing threats to rare whales that could get tangled in fishing gear. Maine Lobstermen’s Assn. and other industry groups are now suing the aquarium for defamation. Associated Press

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Tired: bike tours. Wired: railbike tours. You can now sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery as you pedal your way (with electric assistance) along 17 miles of railroad tracks in Ventura County. Los Angeles Times

When Cerritos College basketball coach Russ May put Kade West, who is deaf and has autism, into a game late last year, it marked a beautiful moment for the passionate player, his team and fans. But the coach had broken a bylaw in letting the 20-year-old play, leading to a suspension, a forfeit game and West being temporarily stripped of his uniform. Los Angeles Times

AND FINALLY

Today’s California landmark is from Tuck Donnelly of Santa Barbara: Point Conception.

Donnelly writes:

What are California’s essential landmarks? Fill out this form to send us your photos of a special spot in California — natural or human-made. Tell us why it’s interesting and what makes it a symbol of life in the Golden State. Please be sure to include only photos taken directly by you. Your submission could be featured in a future edition of the newsletter.

Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments to essentialcalifornia@latimes.com.