Financial instruments with off-balance sheet credit risk (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Bank's Financial Instruments With Off-Balance Sheet Credit Risk [Table Text Block]

The Bank’s outstanding financial instruments with off-balance sheet credit risk were as follows:

(In thousands of US$)	December 31,
	2012		2011
Confirmed letters of credit		106,415		266,547
Stand-by letters of credit and guarantees - Commercial risk		25,167		18,899
Credit commitments		103,294		75,962
		234,876		361,408

Remaining Maturity Profile Of Bank's Outstanding Financial Instruments With Off-Balance Sheet Credit Risk [Table Text Block]

As of December 31, 2012, the remaining maturity profile of the Bank’s outstanding financial instruments with off-balance sheet credit risk is as follows:

(In thousands of US$)
Maturities	Amount
Within 1 year		219,421
From 1 to 2 years		1,000
From 2 to 5 years		13,791
After 5 years		664
		234,876

Disclosure Related To Off Balance Sheet Exposure By Country Risk [Table Text Block]

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011 the breakdown of the Bank’s off-balance sheet exposure by country risk is as follows:

(In thousands of US$)
Country:	2012		2011
Argentina		-		92
Bolivia		820		944
Brazil		23,630		41,116
Chile		6,084		12,367
Colombia		9,098		2,396
Costa Rica		1,000		11,661
Dominican Republic		1,535		1,603
Ecuador		79,760		215,272
El Salvador		625		2,025
Guatemala		180		501
Honduras		562		400
Jamaica		-		295
Mexico		27,289		14,677
Panama		58,219		1,801
Paraguay		-		81
Peru		2,843		2,467
Spain		-		9,660
Switzerland		-		500
United States of America		-		21,780
Venezuela		23,231		21,770
		234,876		361,408