XML 43 R87.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

Allowance for credit losses (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Line Items] |  |  |
Balance at beginning of the year | $ 72,976 | $ 88,547 | $ 78,615
Provision (reversal of provision) for loan losses | (1,598) | (8,343) | 8,841
Loan recoveries and other | 1,373 | 262 | 2,156
Loans written-off | 0 | (7,490) | (1,065)
Balance at end of the year | 72,751 | 72,976 | 88,547
Components: |  |  |
Generic allowance | 71,797 | 72,976 | 73,747
Specific allowance | 954 | 0 | 14,800
Total allowance for loan losses | 72,751 | 72,976 | 88,547
Corporate [Member] |  |  |
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Line Items] |  |  |
Balance at beginning of the year | 32,488 | 48,865 | 54,160
Provision (reversal of provision) for loan losses | (972) | (8,887) | (5,295)
Loan recoveries and other | 0 | 0 | 0
Loans written-off | 0 | (7,490) | 0
Balance at end of the year | 31,516 | 32,488 | 48,865
Components: |  |  |
Generic allowance | 30,562 | 32,488 | 34,065
Specific allowance | 954 | 0 | 14,800
Total allowance for loan losses | 31,516 | 32,488 | 48,865
Banking and Financial Institutions [Member] |  |  |
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Line Items] |  |  |
Balance at beginning of the year | 28,836 | 30,523 | 18,790
Provision (reversal of provision) for loan losses | 656 | (1,704) | 10,017
Loan recoveries and other | 1,373 | 17 | 1,716
Loans written-off | 0 | 0 | 0
Balance at end of the year | 30,865 | 28,836 | 30,523
Components: |  |  |
Generic allowance | 30,865 | 28,836 | 30,523
Specific allowance | 0 | 0 | 0
Total allowance for loan losses | 30,865 | 28,836 | 30,523
Middle Market Companies [Member] |  |  |
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Line Items] |  |  |
Balance at beginning of the year | 10,887 | 8,952 | 5,265
Provision (reversal of provision) for loan losses | (518) | 1,690 | 4,312
Loan recoveries and other | 0 | 245 | 440
Loans written-off | 0 | 0 | (1,065)
Balance at end of the year | 10,369 | 10,887 | 8,952
Components: |  |  |
Generic allowance | 10,369 | 10,887 | 8,952
Specific allowance | 0 | 0 | 0
Total allowance for loan losses | 10,369 | 10,887 | 8,952
Sovereign [Member] |  |  |
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Line Items] |  |  |
Balance at beginning of the year | 765 | 207 | 400
Provision (reversal of provision) for loan losses | (764) | 558 | (193)
Loan recoveries and other | 0 | 0 | 0
Loans written-off | 0 | 0 | 0
Balance at end of the year | 1 | 765 | 207
Components: |  |  |
Generic allowance | 1 | 765 | 207
Specific allowance | 0 | 0 | 0
Total allowance for loan losses | $ 1 | $ 765 | $ 207

X
- Details
Name: | blx_ComponentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | blx_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Balance of generic allowance at the end of the reporting period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | blx_GenericAllowance
Namespace Prefix: | blx_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Balance of specific allowance at the end of the reporting period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | blx_SpecificAllowance
Namespace Prefix: | blx_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of loans and leases that have been written off from both loan receivables and allowance reserve for credit loss. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28368275&loc=d3e5212-111524 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(d)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 7 -Subparagraph d -Article 9 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossesWriteOffs
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of recovery of loans and lease receivables which had previously been fully or partially written-off as bad debts. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossRecoveryOfBadDebts
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of allowance to cover probable credit losses on loans and leases. Includes carryover of or adjustments to the allowance for loan losses in connection with business combinations. Excludes allowance for loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(d)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 7 -Subparagraph d -Article 9 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b)(1)(ii) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6379141&loc=d3e15032-111544 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 6 -Section L -Subsection 1 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of expense related to estimated loss from loan and lease transactions. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 11 -Article 9 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.11) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProvisionForLoanAndLeaseLosses
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration