Loans (Details 8) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Troubled Debt Restructuring Loans [Member]
Number of contracts	2
Balance recorded before restructuring	$ 890
Balance recorded after restructuring	919
Troubled Debt Restructuring Loans [Member] \| Private Corporation [Member]
Number of contracts	0
Balance recorded before restructuring	0
Balance recorded after restructuring	0
Troubled Debt Restructuring Loans [Member] \| State Owned Corporation [Member]
Number of contracts	0
Balance recorded before restructuring	0
Balance recorded after restructuring	0
Troubled Debt Restructuring Loans [Member] \| Private Banking and Financial Institutions [Member]
Number of contracts	0
Balance recorded before restructuring	0
Balance recorded after restructuring	0
Troubled Debt Restructuring Loans [Member] \| State Owned Bankingandfinancial Institutions [Member]
Number of contracts	0
Balance recorded before restructuring	0
Balance recorded after restructuring	0
Troubled Debt Restructuring Loans [Member] \| Private Middle Market Companies [Member]
Number of contracts	2
Balance recorded before restructuring	890
Balance recorded after restructuring	919
Troubled Debt Restructuring Loans [Member] \| Sovereign [Member]
Number of contracts	0
Balance recorded before restructuring	0
Balance recorded after restructuring	0
Past Due Trouble Debt Restructuring Loans [Member]
Number of contracts	2
Balance recorded	909
Past Due Trouble Debt Restructuring Loans [Member] \| Private Corporation [Member]
Number of contracts	0
Balance recorded	0
Past Due Trouble Debt Restructuring Loans [Member] \| State Owned Corporation [Member]
Number of contracts	0
Balance recorded	0
Past Due Trouble Debt Restructuring Loans [Member] \| Private Banking and Financial Institutions [Member]
Number of contracts	0
Balance recorded	0
Past Due Trouble Debt Restructuring Loans [Member] \| State Owned Bankingandfinancial Institutions [Member]
Number of contracts	0
Balance recorded	0
Past Due Trouble Debt Restructuring Loans [Member] \| Private Middle Market Companies [Member]
Number of contracts	2
Balance recorded	909
Past Due Trouble Debt Restructuring Loans [Member] \| Sovereign [Member]
Number of contracts	0
Balance recorded	$ 0

Number of financing receivables that have been modified by troubled debt restructurings.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 33

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=SL6953676-111524

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableModificationsNumberOfContracts2
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Post-modification amount of investment in financing receivables modified by troubled debt restructurings.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableModificationsPostModificationRecordedInvestment2
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Pre-modification amount of investment in financing receivables modified by troubled debt restructurings.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableModificationsPreModificationRecordedInvestment2
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of investment related to financing receivables modified by troubled debt restructurings within the previous 12 months, for which there was a payment default.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 34

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=SL6953682-111524

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableModificationsSubsequentDefaultRecordedInvestment1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableTroubledDebtRestructuringAxis=blx_PastDueTroubleDebtRestructuringLoansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableTroubledDebtRestructuringAxis=blx_TroubledDebtRestructuringLoansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: