No gov’t bailout for Silicon Valley Bank: Yellen

The federal government won’t bail out the failed Silicon Valley Bank, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Sunday.

Yellen, appearing on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” balked at the government rescuing the nation’s 16th-largest bank, as was done for hundreds of institutions during the financial crisis in 2008.

“During the financial crisis, there were investors and owners of systemic large banks that were bailed out,” Yellen said. “And the reforms that have been put in place means that we’re not going to do that again.”

Yellen still insisted that officials are “concerned about depositors and are focused on trying to meet their needs.”

Customers are widely expected to make a run on Silicon Valley Bank on Monday morning, when cash covered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is supposed to be available.


Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen tells CBS’ “Face the Nation” that the US won’t bail out the failed Silicon Valley Bank.

Silicon Valley signpost.
Signpost pointing to Silicon Valley on a rural road in California.
Shutterstock

“I’ve been working all weekend with our banking regulators to design appropriate policies to address this situation,” Yellen said Sunday. “I can’t really provide further details at this time.”