[edgoode]

Could Microsoft, Apple, Google, or Amazon place a bid

Strategically, a consumer or cloud co w/ a banking arm might make a great strategic position. And the new relationships with the customer base of SVB could accelerate the acquirer

Not to mention all the bundling..

[xyst]

I think they need to be a member of the FDIC to even make a bid. But even if they did not, I doubt these companies would want to be regulated under banking laws or setup the infrastructure to do so. There's a reason why these companies establish "partnerships" with well known banks (ie, Apple x Goldman Sachs). They are simply not setup to deal with the regulation. It's better to farm it out to a well established bank and let them take the hits from violating banking laws at all levels (ie, state vs federal vs international).

[drdec]

I doubt it. Part of the point of the exercise is to calm the rest of the banking market. Letting an inexperienced (re banking) company take over will increase the uncertainty.

[chiph]

Apple had $51bn in cash at the end of 2022. They could easily raise whatever additional funds needed to submit a winning bid. But I don't see them wanting to own a bank. They already have financing options for people to buy their hardware, and Apple Cash is working fine with whatever level of regulation it has.