Fearful depositors withdrew billions of dollars from the U.S. bank in a matter of hours Friday, forcing U.S. banking regulators to urgently close the California-based institution.
In a statement, Canada’s Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions says the bank operates in this country as a foreign bank branch based in Toronto, which it supervises.
The statement notes Silicon’s business in Canada is primarily lending to corporate clients, and that the branch does not hold any commercial or individual deposits in Canada.
“I want to be clear: the Silicon Valley Bank branch in Canada does not take deposits from Canadians, and this situation is the result of circumstances particular to Silicon Valley Bank in the United States.”
The statement noted the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation was appointed as receiver.
Silicon Valley Bank served mostly technology workers and venture capital-backed companies, including some of the industry’s best-known brands.
It was the second biggest bank failure in U.S. history after the collapse of Washington Mutual in 2008.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Sunday that the federal government would not bail out Silicon Valley Bank, but is working to help depositors who are concerned about their money.
She reassured Americans during an interview with CBS' “Face the Nation” that there will be no domino effect after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, and that the American banking system is safe and well capitalized.