Following the turbulence of $2008-2010,$ only one of the following remained an independent publicly$-$traded financial services company. The others failed or were merged into other companies, often assisted or prodded by the US Secretary of the Treasury or the FDIC, to rescue them from failing. Which of the following survived as an independent institution that did not fail nor had to merge into another company at that time?

a$)$ Merrill Lynch

b$)$ Washington Mutual Savings Bank

c$)$ Silicon Valley Bank $($SVB$)$

d$)$ Bear Stearns