FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * VERISSIMO MARC J   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol SVB FINANCIAL GROUP [SIVB] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Chief Strategy Officer (Last) (First) (Middle) 3003 TASMAN DRIVE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 05/02/2006 (Street) SANTA CLARA, CA 95054 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 05/02/2006   M   3,000 A $ 8.938 12,945 D   Common Stock 05/02/2006   S   3,000 D $ 50 9,945 D   Common Stock 05/03/2006   M   2,000 A $ 8.938 11,945 D   Common Stock 05/03/2006   S   2,000 D $ 50.647 9,945 D   Common Stock               11,544 I By self in 401k/ESOP

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 8.938

05/02/2006

M

3,000

01/21/2000

01/21/2009

Common Stock

3,000

$ 8.938

7,000

D

Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 8.938

05/03/2006

M

2,000

01/21/2000

01/21/2009

Common Stock

2,000

$ 8.938

5,000

D

Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 50.38

05/02/2006

A

1,984

05/02/2007(1)

05/02/2013

Common Stock

1,984

$ 0

1,984

D

Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 50.38

05/02/2006

A

8,016

05/02/2007(1)

05/02/2013

Common Stock

8,016

$ 0

8,016

D

Restricted Stock Unit

$ 0

05/02/2006

A

6,375

12/01/2007(2)

12/31/2007

Common Stock

6,375

$ 0

6,375

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
VERISSIMO MARC J 3003 TASMAN DRIVE SANTA CLARA, CA 95054			Chief Strategy Officer

Signatures

By: Lisa Bertolet as attorney in fact For: Marc Verissimo		05/04/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Stock options were granted to the reporting person. Vesting will occur annually from the date of grant over 4 years with 25% vesting each year.
(2)	The reporting person was granted restricted stock units (RSUs) which are subject to performance-based vesting. The RSUs are effective as of 5/2/06, and will vest on 12/1/07, based on the level of return on average equity (ROE) achieved by the Company at December 31, 2006 as follows: (i) if less than 90% of target, none will vest; (ii) if 90% but less than 100% of target 2,125 will vest; (iii) if 100% but less than 110% of target 4,250 will vest; and (iv) if 110% or greater of target 6,375 will vest. Vesting is subject to adjustment by the Compensation Committee as approved to take into account extraordinary items that may impact the calculation of ROE.

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