First Citizens Bank, a top 20 U.S. bank, has officially launched First Citizens Innovation Banking, the division dedicated to serving the innovation economy in the U.S. and internationally. The bank is also launching First Citizens Fund Banking to support its large portfolio of private equity and venture capital clients.
First Citizens Innovation Banking is the new name for the former Silicon Valley Bank Technology & Healthcare Banking division. The business has served the innovation economy for more than 40 years, providing tailored financial solutions and sector expertise to investors, startups and high growth companies across technology and healthcare. Earlier this year, First Citizens announced that its Silicon Valley Bank division would become First Citizens Innovation Banking and First Citizens Fund Banking, and that the Silicon Valley Bank Wine Division would rebrand as First Citizens Bank.
Frank Holding, Jr., Chairman and CEO of First Citizens Bank, called the launch a milestone and said the bank is building on the legacy of Silicon Valley Bank while adding scale and resources. He also stressed that strengthening the business remains a priority.
“Today marks an exciting milestone as we introduce First Citizens Innovation Banking,” Holding said. “We are building on the legacy of Silicon Valley Bank and bringing greater scale and resources to make our platform even stronger. Investing in, and strengthening, this business remains a priority for First Citizens. We are committed to the innovation economy for the long term, and, as First Citizens Innovation Banking, we will continue to provide market leading solutions, services and insights our clients rely on to succeed.”
To mark the launch, the bank has started a marketing campaign called “Where Silicon Valley Banks.” It will appear across digital, print and outdoor locations in select innovation markets nationally, and will feature in First Citizens’ presence at events and conferences later in 2026, including San Francisco and Los Angeles Tech Weeks, Money20/20 and HLTH.
Marc Cadieux, President of First Citizens Innovation Banking, said the campaign line reflects what has stayed the same despite the new name. He pointed to the team’s expertise, relationships and focus on founders and investors as unchanged.
“Silicon Valley is more than just a region in California – it’s synonymous with innovation, entrepreneurship and growth,” Cadieux said. “For decades, we have helped founders, entrepreneurs and investors build and scale industry-defining companies. Our business was purpose-built for the innovation economy, and that will continue. While our name has changed, our expertise, relationships and dedication to the innovation economy have not, which is why we are, and will continue to be, where Silicon Valley banks.”
First Citizens Bank is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, and describes itself as a 125-year-old institution with a relationship-first approach. Its parent company, First Citizens BancShares, is a Fortune 500 company with more than $225 billion in assets.
For startup founders and investors who bank with the division, the message from the bank is that the people and the service stay the same, and only the name on the door is different. Rebrands like this tend to be judged on whether clients notice any change in how they are served. For the wider market, it shows how a bank is positioning itself to keep a strong place in technology and healthcare lending.
Herald View
The most interesting choice in this rebrand is what the bank decided to keep. The Silicon Valley Bank name is gone from the division, but “Silicon Valley” sits at the center of the campaign line, which suggests the bank sees the place as a stronger asset than the old label, and is betting that clients will stay loyal to the people and relationships more than to a name. The test is whether that loyalty holds as the new name settles in and the campaign moves from billboards into day-to-day banking.
