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Business segment information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Interest income | $ 192,437 |  | $ 157,427 |  | $ 119,478 |
Interest expense | (87,460) |  | (54,717) |  | (44,975) |
Net interest income | 104,977 |  | 102,710 |  | 74,503 |
Net other income | 26,828 | [1] | 36,103 | [1] | 2,262 | [1]
Operating expenses | (55,814) |  | (50,087) |  | (42,218) |
Net operating income | 75,991 | [2] | 88,726 | [2] | 34,547 | [2]
Reversal of provision (provision) for loans and off-balance sheet credit losses | 12,389 |  | (4,393) |  | 4,835 |
Recoveries, net of impairment of assets | 0 |  | (57) |  | 233 |
Net income (loss) | 93,325 |  | 83,856 |  | 39,821 |
Net income (loss) attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interest | 293 |  | 676 |  | (2,423) |
Net income attributable to Bladex - business segment | 88,087 |  | 83,600 |  | 42,038 |
Other income unallocated - Gain on sale of premises and equipment | 5,626 |  | 0 |  | 0 |
Discontinued operations | (681) | [2] | (420) | [2] | 206 | [2]
Net income attributable to Bladex | 93,032 |  | 83,180 |  | 42,244 |
Total assets and contingencies (end of period balances): |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest-earning assets | 6,743,769 | [3],[4] | 6,380,057 | [3],[4] | 5,100,791 | [3],[4]
Other assets and contingencies | 237,077 | [5] | 364,016 | [5] | 382,437 | [5]
Third party participation | (3,384) |  | (5,547) |  | (18,950) |
Total interest-earning assets, other assets and contingencies | 6,977,462 |  | 6,738,526 |  | 5,464,278 |
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest income | 183,365 | [6] | 140,697 | [6] | 104,822 | [6]
Interest expense | (73,398) | [6] | (58,969) | [6] | (50,306) | [6]
Net interest income | 109,967 | [6] | 81,728 | [6] | 54,516 | [6]
Net other income | 12,216 | [1],[6] | 11,001 | [1],[6] | 10,306 | [1],[6]
Operating expenses | (38,322) | [6] | (34,895) | [6] | (28,304) | [6]
Net operating income | 83,861 | [2],[6] | 57,834 | [2],[6] | 36,518 | [2],[6]
Reversal of provision (provision) for loans and off-balance sheet credit losses | 12,389 | [6] | (4,393) | [6] | 4,835 | [6]
Recoveries, net of impairment of assets | 0 | [6] | (57) | [6] | 233 | [6]
Net income attributable to Bladex | 96,250 | [6] | 53,384 | [6] | 41,586 | [6]
Total assets and contingencies (end of period balances): |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest-earning assets | 5,708,456 | [3],[4],[6] | 4,982,876 | [3],[4],[6] | 4,059,943 | [3],[4],[6]
Other assets and contingencies | 237,077 | [5],[6] | 364,016 | [5],[6] | 382,437 | [5],[6]
Total interest-earning assets, other assets and contingencies | 5,945,533 |  | 5,346,892 |  | 4,442,380 |
Treasury Segment [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest income | 9,072 | [6] | 16,730 | [6] | 14,656 | [6]
Interest expense | (14,062) | [6] | 4,252 | [6] | 5,331 | [6]
Net interest income | (4,990) | [6] | 20,982 | [6] | 19,987 | [6]
Net other income | 14,612 | [1],[6] | 25,102 | [1],[6] | (8,044) | [1],[6]
Operating expenses | (17,492) | [6] | (15,192) | [6] | (13,914) | [6]
Net operating income | (7,870) | [2],[6] | 30,892 | [2],[6] | (1,971) | [2],[6]
Reversal of provision (provision) for loans and off-balance sheet credit losses | 0 | [6] | 0 | [6] | 0 | [6]
Net income (loss) | (7,870) | [6] | 30,892 | [6] | (1,971) | [6]
Net income (loss) attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interest | 293 | [6] | 676 | [6] | (2,423) | [6]
Net income attributable to Bladex | (8,163) | [6] | 30,216 | [6] | 452 | [6]
Total assets and contingencies (end of period balances): |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest-earning assets | 1,035,313 | [3],[4],[6] | 1,397,181 | [3],[4],[6] | 1,040,848 | [3],[4],[6]
Third party participation | (3,384) | [6] | (5,547) | [6] | (18,950) | [6]
Total interest-earning assets, other assets and contingencies | $ 1,031,929 | [6] | $ 1,391,634 | [6] | $ 1,021,898 | [6]
[1] | Net other income excludes reversals (provisions) for loans and off-balance sheet credit losses, recoveries on assets, and gain on sale of premises and equipment.
[2] | Net operating income refers to net income excluding reversals (provisions) for loans and off-balance sheet credit losses and recoveries on assets.
[3] | Includes selected deposits placed, and loans, net of unearned income and deferred loan fees.
[4] | Includes cash and due from banks, interest-bearing deposits with banks, securities available for sale and held to maturity, trading securities and the balance of the Investment Fund.
[5] | Includes customers' liabilities under acceptances, letters of credit and guarantees covering commercial and country risk, and credit commitments.
[6] | The numbers set out in these tables have been rounded and accordingly may not total exactly.

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