XML 150 R105.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9

Cash and stock-based compensation plans (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
First Year [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Restricted Stock Vesting Percentage	35.00%blx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRestrictedStockVestingPercentage / us-gaap_AwardDateAxis = blx_FirstYearMember	35.00%blx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRestrictedStockVestingPercentage / us-gaap_AwardDateAxis = blx_FirstYearMember	25.00%blx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRestrictedStockVestingPercentage / us-gaap_AwardDateAxis = blx_FirstYearMember
Second Year [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Restricted Stock Vesting Percentage	35.00%blx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRestrictedStockVestingPercentage / us-gaap_AwardDateAxis = blx_SecondYearMember	35.00%blx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRestrictedStockVestingPercentage / us-gaap_AwardDateAxis = blx_SecondYearMember	25.00%blx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRestrictedStockVestingPercentage / us-gaap_AwardDateAxis = blx_SecondYearMember
Third Year [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Restricted Stock Vesting Percentage	30.00%blx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRestrictedStockVestingPercentage / us-gaap_AwardDateAxis = blx_ThirdYearMember	30.00%blx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRestrictedStockVestingPercentage / us-gaap_AwardDateAxis = blx_ThirdYearMember	25.00%blx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRestrictedStockVestingPercentage / us-gaap_AwardDateAxis = blx_ThirdYearMember

X

- Definition

Represents the percentage of shares vesting on each grant's date anniversary.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	blx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRestrictedStockVestingPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	blx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardDateAxis=blx_FirstYearMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardDateAxis=blx_SecondYearMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardDateAxis=blx_ThirdYearMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: