Benzinga - A search on eBay Inc (NASDAQ: EBAY) shows 130 results for “Silicon Valley Bank,” the regional bank that was recently shut down and taken over by the FDIC.
The bank, a unit of SVB Financial Group (NASDAQ: SIVB), is now the subject of a rush from collectors for authentic merchandise and newly created swag.
So while investors might not make any money back, those who were customers or employees of the bank can possibly turn a profit from merchandise emblazoned with the "SVB" logo.
Many of the results are for newly created items like t-shirts and coffee mugs with the phrase “risk management department.” Another t-shirt design has a new take on classic road races that are 5k or 10 in length, calling it a 250k bank run, with K now standing for thousands of dollars instead of kilometers.
Other items on the auction and marketplace website could be authentic souvenirs given to bank customers and former employees of the bank. Many of the sellers have low feedback or selling history, suggesting they recently joined eBay or returned just to sell the merchandise.
Here are some of the highlights:
- Cooler Bag: $45.45 with 8 bids
- 12 oz Wine Tumbler: $50 with 8 bids
- Hoodie: $300 with no bids
- Ugly Christmas Sweater: $400 with no bids
- Insulated Water Bottle Set: $105.50 with 3 bids, two of the bottles are brand new including a white Yeti according to the listing, six bottles in the picture
- Tumbler and Bottle Set: $250 with 32 bids, sealed stainless steel set of 2 wine tumblers and bottle, listing says was given to employees in 2021
- Hat and Tumbler: $305 with 32 bids, listing says “two pieces of genuine Silicon Valley Bank corporate swag” and says it was limited edition. Hat is all sizes adult with a Velcro strap, Tumbler is 12oz. The listing jokingly says “10 year treasury bonds sold separately.”
- Picnic Set Kit: $46 with 21 bids
- Wireless Speaker: $47 with 13 bids, listing says speaker was received as a welcome gift for joining Silicon Valley Bank full time.
- Insulated Coffee Mug: Sold for $122.50 with 18 bids, listing says is from a person who worked at the bank as a data scientist
- Yeti 20oz Rambler: $152.50 with 21 bids
- SVB Full Time Box: $203.50 with 30 bids
In addition to selling items via eBay, members of the e-commerce website Etsy Inc (NASDAQ: ETSY) are also hawking SVB merchandise. A search on the site reveals over 1,500 items for sale.
Collectors buying merchandise and collectibles from collapsed companies like FTX and Lehman Brothers is nothing new. Ted Aronson, a collector of financial memorabilia from disgraced companies and individuals, has spent over $25,000 on various memorabilia of this kind.
Highlights in his collection include a framed picture of Bernie Madoff, a stock certificate from Keely Motor Company and an Enron code of ethics booklet.
Aronson told The Wall Street Journal that the Enron booklet is one of the biggest conversation starters in his collection.
As for the SVB items, Aranson remains unsure if he was going to add any to his collection.
“I didn’t rush out and buy the SVB crap," Aronson said. "Maybe I will in the future,”
Next: SVB Financial CEO Sold $3.6M In Shares Prior To Bank's Collapse
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