Fed review says supervisors saw SVB risks by March 2022 but did not act decisively
Federal Reserve supervisors knew or should have known about Silicon Valley Bank's vulnerabilities by March 2022, but did not take prompt and decisive action, according to initial findings from an independent review announced Friday.
The review identified unrealized securities losses above capital, a deposit base that was 94 percent uninsured and a lack of readiness to borrow from the discount window. Vice Chair Michelle Bowman said regulatory tailoring did not cause the delay. The review instead pointed to risk aversion and unclear decision rights inside supervision.
It also found no evidence that social media triggered or accelerated the run. Bowman said examination teams will now send monthly reports to supervision leaders when they are uncertain whether to act.