BLX Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior SA

PANAMA CITY, May 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Banco Latinoamericano de Exportaciones, S.A. ("Bladex" or "the Bank") (NYSE:BLX), announced today that Standard & Poor's Rating Services has upgraded the Company's long-term issuer credit rating to BBB from BBB-, and its short-term issuer credit rating to A-2 from A-3. The outlook is stable. A press release distributed earlier today by Standard & Poor's stated that the decision was "based on Bladex's conservative risk management and a successful strategy that has resulted in significant growth of its loan portfolio, a more diversified customer and geographic base, and good quality. The rating action also considers the Bank's growing revenue base, its good liquidity, and adequate capital levels." Jaime Rivera, Chief Executive Officer of Bladex, stated, "The rating action validates Bladex's ability to execute on its strategy and confirms the strength of the Bank's growing business." Bladex is a supranational bank established by the Central Banks of Latin America and Caribbean countries to promote trade finance in the Region. Based in Panama, its shareholders include central and state-owned entities in 23 countries of the Region, as well as Latin American and international commercial banks and institutional and retail investors. For further information, please access our web site on the Internet at http://www.bladex.com/ or contact: Bladex, Head Office, Calle 50 y Aquilino de la Guardia, Panama, Republic of Panama Attention: Jaime Celorio, Chief Financial Officer Tel.: (507) 210-8563, E-mail: or -or- i-advize Corporate Communications, Inc., 82 Wall Street, Suite 805, New York, NY 10005 Attention: Melanie Carpenter or Peter Majeski Tel.: (212) 406-3690, E-mail: DATASOURCE: Bladex CONTACT: Jaime Celorio, Chief Financial Officer, Bladex, +011-507-210-8563, or ; Melanie Carpenter or Peter Majeski, +1-212-406-3690, , both of i-advize Corporate Communications for Bladex Web site: http://www.bladex.com/

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