First Citizens Bank acquires Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) for $500 million. The crypto-friendly Silicon Valley Bank bank was worth $40 billion a year ago, now it’s acquired at a 99% discount. First Citizens BancShares will take over $119 billion in deposits.

 

First Citizens BankShares holding company of First Citizens Bank was in advance talks to acquire Silicon Valley Bank from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) on Monday. The news of First Citizens acquiring SVB calmed investors’ concerns about the credit crunch and broader systemic banking crisis.

 

The 17 Silicon Valley Bridge Bank, National Association branches will open as First–Citizens Bank & Trust Company on March 27, 2023, FDIC revealed in a new release. The FDIC also said First Citizens Bank & Trust Co will buy all of Silicon Valley Bank‘s deposits and loans from the FDIC.

 

Silicon Valley Bridge Bank had approximately $167 billion in total assets and about $119 billion in total deposits by March 10. The acquisition includes the purchase of about $72 billion of Silicon Valley Bridge Bank’s assets at a discount of $16.5 billion. Moreover, the FDIC will continue to remain a receiver of $90 billion in securities and other assets.

 

According to the FDIC, the cost of the failure of Silicon Valley Bank to its Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) is nearly $20 billion. The exact cost will be revealed after the termination of the FDIC receivership.

 

Meanwhile, Bitcoin liquidity has dropped to a 10-month low. The liquidity represents how easy it is to buy and sell cryptocurrency. While the Bitcoin price has increased by over 70% since the beginning of the year, the current banking crisis, inflationary pressure, and uncertain macro environment resist BTC price at $28,000.