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v2.4.1.9

Short-term borrowings and debt (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Borrowings: |  |
At fixed interest rates | $ 1,256,411 blx_ShortTermBorrowingAtFixedInterestRate | $ 1,289,851 blx_ShortTermBorrowingAtFixedInterestRate
At floating interest rates | 1,348,431 blx_ShortTermBorrowingAtFloatingInterestRate | 1,017,527 blx_ShortTermBorrowingAtFloatingInterestRate
Total borrowings | 2,604,842 blx_BorrowingsCurrent | 2,307,378 blx_BorrowingsCurrent
Debt: |  |
At fixed interest rates | 77,695 blx_ShortTermDebtAtFixedInterestRate | 287,987 blx_ShortTermDebtAtFixedInterestRate
At floating interest rates | 10,000 blx_ShortTermDebtAtFloatingInterestRate | 110,000 blx_ShortTermDebtAtFloatingInterestRate
Total debt | 87,695 us-gaap_DebtCurrent | 397,987 us-gaap_DebtCurrent
Total short-term borrowings and debt | 2,692,537 us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings | 2,705,365 us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings
Average outstanding balance during the year | 2,191,253 us-gaap_ShorttermDebtAverageOutstandingAmount | 2,048,110 us-gaap_ShorttermDebtAverageOutstandingAmount
Maximum balance at any month-end | 2,692,537 us-gaap_ShorttermDebtMaximumMonthendOutstandingAmount | 2,705,365 us-gaap_ShorttermDebtMaximumMonthendOutstandingAmount
Weighted average interest rate at end of the period | 0.81%us-gaap_ShortTermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRate | 1.09%us-gaap_ShortTermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
Weighted average interest rate during the period | 0.93%blx_ShortTermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRateDuringYear | 1.21%blx_ShortTermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRateDuringYear
U S Dollar [Member] |  |
Debt: |  |
Total short-term borrowings and debt | 2,626,800 us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_USDollarMember | 2,536,815 us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_USDollarMember
Peso [Member] |  |
Debt: |  |
Total short-term borrowings and debt | 11,042 us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_PesoMember | 73,964 us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_PesoMember
Japanese Yen [Member] |  |
Debt: |  |
Total short-term borrowings and debt | 4,185 us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_JapaneseYenMember | 4,749 us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_JapaneseYenMember
Range of fixed interest rates on borrowings | 0.75%us-gaap_ShortTermDebtPercentageBearingFixedInterestRate / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_JapaneseYenMember | 0.75%us-gaap_ShortTermDebtPercentageBearingFixedInterestRate / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_JapaneseYenMember
Swiss Franc [Member] |  |
Debt: |  |
Total short-term borrowings and debt | $ 50,510 us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_SwissFrancMember | $ 89,837 us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_SwissFrancMember
Range of fixed interest rates on borrowings | 0.55%us-gaap_ShortTermDebtPercentageBearingFixedInterestRate / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_SwissFrancMember | 0.80%us-gaap_ShortTermDebtPercentageBearingFixedInterestRate / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_SwissFrancMember
Maximum [Member] | U S Dollar [Member] |  |
Debt: |  |
Range of fixed interest rates on borrowings | 1.20%us-gaap_ShortTermDebtPercentageBearingFixedInterestRate / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_USDollarMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember | 1.43%us-gaap_ShortTermDebtPercentageBearingFixedInterestRate / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_USDollarMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember
Range of floating interest rates on borrowings | 1.16%us-gaap_ShortTermDebtPercentageBearingVariableInterestRate / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_USDollarMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember | 1.47%us-gaap_ShortTermDebtPercentageBearingVariableInterestRate / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_USDollarMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember
Maximum [Member] | Peso [Member] |  |
Debt: |  |
Range of fixed interest rates on borrowings | 3.60%us-gaap_ShortTermDebtPercentageBearingFixedInterestRate / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_PesoMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember | 4.58%us-gaap_ShortTermDebtPercentageBearingFixedInterestRate / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_PesoMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember
Range of floating interest rates on borrowings | 3.69%us-gaap_ShortTermDebtPercentageBearingVariableInterestRate / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_PesoMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember | 4.24%us-gaap_ShortTermDebtPercentageBearingVariableInterestRate / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_PesoMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember
Minimum [Member] | U S Dollar [Member] |  |
Debt: |  |
Range of fixed interest rates on borrowings | 0.64%us-gaap_ShortTermDebtPercentageBearingFixedInterestRate / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_USDollarMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember | 0.67%us-gaap_ShortTermDebtPercentageBearingFixedInterestRate / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_USDollarMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember
Range of floating interest rates on borrowings | 0.46%us-gaap_ShortTermDebtPercentageBearingVariableInterestRate / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_USDollarMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember | 0.79%us-gaap_ShortTermDebtPercentageBearingVariableInterestRate / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_USDollarMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember
Minimum [Member] | Peso [Member] |  |
Debt: |  |
Range of fixed interest rates on borrowings | 3.58%us-gaap_ShortTermDebtPercentageBearingFixedInterestRate / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_PesoMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember | 4.13%us-gaap_ShortTermDebtPercentageBearingFixedInterestRate / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_PesoMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember
Range of floating interest rates on borrowings | 0.00%us-gaap_ShortTermDebtPercentageBearingVariableInterestRate / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_PesoMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember | 4.03%us-gaap_ShortTermDebtPercentageBearingVariableInterestRate / blx_ForeignCurrencyAxis = blx_PesoMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember

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