XML 165 R147.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Risk management (Details 5) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Disclosure of financial risk management [Abstract] |  |
Tier 1 capital | $ 1,048,304 | $ 1,054,719
Risk weighted assets | $ 5,601,518 | $ 6,350,544
Tier 1 capital ratio | 18.71% | 16.61%

X
- Definition It is composed of corecapital, which consists primarily of common stock and disclosed reserves + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | blx_CoreCapital
Namespace Prefix: | blx_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | blx_DisclosureOfFinancialRiskManagementAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | blx_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition TheTier 1 capital ratiois theratioof a bank's coreequity capitalto its total risk-weighted assets. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | blx_Tier1CapitalRatio
Namespace Prefix: | blx_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of risk-weighted assets as calculated in accordance with U.S. Federal regulatory capital standards. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RiskWeightedAssets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant