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Cash and stock-based compensation plans (Details Textual) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Exercised stock options | $ 1,469,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised | $ 3,702,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised | $ 13,136,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised
Deferred Compensation Plan (Dc Plan) [Member] |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense |  | 0 us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = blx_DeferredCompensationPlanDcPlanMember | 1,000 us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = blx_DeferredCompensationPlanDcPlanMember
Stock Purchase Options [Member] |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Stock Based Compensation Vesting Rate | 25.00%blx_RestrictedStockVestingRate / blx_OptionsAxis = blx_StockPurchaseOptionsMember |  |
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense | 242,000 us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / blx_OptionsAxis = blx_StockPurchaseOptionsMember | 282,000 us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / blx_OptionsAxis = blx_StockPurchaseOptionsMember | 485,000 us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / blx_OptionsAxis = blx_StockPurchaseOptionsMember
Unallocated Share Based Compensation Expense | 601,000 blx_UnallocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / blx_OptionsAxis = blx_StockPurchaseOptionsMember |  |
Exercisable Aggregate intrinsic value | 493,000 us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1 / blx_OptionsAxis = blx_StockPurchaseOptionsMember |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Total Intrinsic Value | 1,911,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue / blx_OptionsAxis = blx_StockPurchaseOptionsMember | 2,673,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue / blx_OptionsAxis = blx_StockPurchaseOptionsMember | 3,375,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue / blx_OptionsAxis = blx_StockPurchaseOptionsMember
Exercised stock options | 1,470,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised / blx_OptionsAxis = blx_StockPurchaseOptionsMember | 2,886,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised / blx_OptionsAxis = blx_StockPurchaseOptionsMember | 5,709,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised / blx_OptionsAxis = blx_StockPurchaseOptionsMember
Unamortized Compensation Cost Amortization Period | 3 years 1 month 13 days |  |
Stock Option Plan 2006 - Directors and Executives [Member] |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Exercisable Aggregate intrinsic value |  | 442,000 us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1 / blx_OptionsAxis = blx_StockOptionPlanTwoThousandSixDirectorsAndExecutivesMember | 570,000 us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1 / blx_OptionsAxis = blx_StockOptionPlanTwoThousandSixDirectorsAndExecutivesMember
Exercised stock options |  | 814,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised / blx_OptionsAxis = blx_StockOptionPlanTwoThousandSixDirectorsAndExecutivesMember | 2,130,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised / blx_OptionsAxis = blx_StockOptionPlanTwoThousandSixDirectorsAndExecutivesMember
Indexed Stock Option Plan [Member] |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Exercisable Aggregate intrinsic value |  |  | 1,213,000 us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1 / blx_OptionsAxis = blx_IndexedStockOptionPlanMember
Exercised stock options |  |  | 5,292,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised / blx_OptionsAxis = blx_IndexedStockOptionPlanMember
Restricted Stock Directors [Member] |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Stock Granted During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation | 28,500 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensationGross / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockDirectorsMember | 28,500 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensationGross / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockDirectorsMember | 32,317 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensationGross / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockDirectorsMember
Stock Based Compensation Grants Fair Value | 862,000 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensationGross / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockDirectorsMember | 713,000 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensationGross / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockDirectorsMember | 714,000 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensationGross / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockDirectorsMember
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense | 846,000 us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockDirectorsMember | 637,000 us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockDirectorsMember | 428,000 us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockDirectorsMember
Unallocated Share Based Compensation Expense | 1,417,000 blx_UnallocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockDirectorsMember |  |
Vested Aggregate Fair Value | 659,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockDirectorsMember | 581,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockDirectorsMember | 337,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockDirectorsMember
Unamortized Compensation Cost Amortization Period | 2 years 7 days |  |
Restricted Stock Units and Stock Purchase Options Granted To Certain Executives [Member] |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Stock Based Compensation Vesting Rate | 25.00%blx_RestrictedStockVestingRate / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockUnitsAndStockPurchaseOptionsGrantedToCertainExecutivesMember |  |
Stock Based Compensation Grants Fair Value | 1,600,000 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensationGross / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockUnitsAndStockPurchaseOptionsGrantedToCertainExecutivesMember | 2,100,000 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensationGross / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockUnitsAndStockPurchaseOptionsGrantedToCertainExecutivesMember | 3,700,000 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensationGross / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockUnitsAndStockPurchaseOptionsGrantedToCertainExecutivesMember
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense | 1,158,000 us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockUnitsAndStockPurchaseOptionsGrantedToCertainExecutivesMember | 2,077,000 us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockUnitsAndStockPurchaseOptionsGrantedToCertainExecutivesMember | 1,317,000 us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockUnitsAndStockPurchaseOptionsGrantedToCertainExecutivesMember
Unallocated Share Based Compensation Expense | 1,966,000 blx_UnallocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockUnitsAndStockPurchaseOptionsGrantedToCertainExecutivesMember |  |
Vested Aggregate Fair Value | 1,424,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockUnitsAndStockPurchaseOptionsGrantedToCertainExecutivesMember | 2,002,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockUnitsAndStockPurchaseOptionsGrantedToCertainExecutivesMember | 1,050,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockUnitsAndStockPurchaseOptionsGrantedToCertainExecutivesMember
Distribution Of The Fair Value In Restricted Stock Units | 900,000 blx_DistributionOfFairValueInRestrictedStockUnits / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockUnitsAndStockPurchaseOptionsGrantedToCertainExecutivesMember |  | 3,200,000 blx_DistributionOfFairValueInRestrictedStockUnits / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockUnitsAndStockPurchaseOptionsGrantedToCertainExecutivesMember
Distribution Of The Fair Value In Stock Purchase Options | 700,000 blx_DistributionOfFairValueInStockPurchaseOptions / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockUnitsAndStockPurchaseOptionsGrantedToCertainExecutivesMember |  | 500,000 blx_DistributionOfFairValueInStockPurchaseOptions / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockUnitsAndStockPurchaseOptionsGrantedToCertainExecutivesMember
Unamortized Compensation Cost Amortization Period | 2 years 1 month 28 days |  |
Other Plans Expatriate Officer Plan [Member] |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Salaries, Wages and Officers' Compensation | 133,000 us-gaap_SalariesWagesAndOfficersCompensation / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_OtherPlansExpatriateOfficerPlanMember | 120,000 us-gaap_SalariesWagesAndOfficersCompensation / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_OtherPlansExpatriateOfficerPlanMember | 131,000 us-gaap_SalariesWagesAndOfficersCompensation / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_OtherPlansExpatriateOfficerPlanMember
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities | 222,000 us-gaap_AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrentAndNoncurrent / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_OtherPlansExpatriateOfficerPlanMember | 176,000 us-gaap_AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrentAndNoncurrent / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_OtherPlansExpatriateOfficerPlanMember |
Restricted Stock Directors (Discontinued) [Member] |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Stock Based Compensation Vesting Rate | 20.00%blx_RestrictedStockVestingRate / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockDirectorsDiscontinuedMember |  |
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense |  |  | 41,000 us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockDirectorsDiscontinuedMember
Vested Aggregate Fair Value |  |  | $ 75,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = blx_RestrictedStockDirectorsDiscontinuedMember

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- Definition Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date, including liabilities incurred and payable to vendors for goods and services received, taxes, interest, rent and utilities, compensation costs, payroll taxes and fringe benefits (other than pension and postretirement obligations), contractual rights and obligations, and statutory obligations. + 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 210.9-03.15(1),(5)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.15) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 15 -Article 7 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph 1, 5 -Article 9 + Details
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- Definition Fair value of share-based awards for which the grantee gained the right by satisfying service and performance requirements, to receive or retain shares or units, other instruments, or cash. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (d)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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