Financial Performance Evaluation of A Bankrupt Bank: The Case of Silicon Valley Bank

Abstract

The aim of this research paper is to evaluate and compare the financial performance of Silicon Valley Bank spanning the two-year period prior to its eventual bankruptcy in March 2023, using financial data derived from the former bank’s annual reports. Comparative financial ratio analysis was conducted pertaining to four groups of financial indicators, profitability, capital structure, liquidity and market performance. The results of this analysis reveal a decline in performance in 2022 in comparison with the 2021 business year. The decline coincided with the public emergence of formidable business and market risks for the bank. This study fills a critical gap in the literature by assessing the connection between firm performance and both accounting & market indicators during a time of heightened financial distress, whereas previous studies tended to take a closer look at the relationship between firm performance and one specific class on financial indicator while neglecting the other, equally important class of indicators.