Bladex (Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior) is a Panama-incorporated specialized multinational bank that provides trade finance and credit solutions to financial institutions and corporations across Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1977-1978 by Latin American and Caribbean central banks, Bladex does not serve retail customers and takes no retail deposits. Bladex's core product is short-term bilateral lending to finance import and export transactions, with roughly 65% of its loan portfolio maturing within 12 months. Bladex also confirms and issues letters of credit and guarantees, structures and syndicates credit facilities, and provides factoring and working capital solutions. Customers are primarily top-tier Latin American commercial banks, state-owned financial institutions, and large corporates in sectors like oil and gas, food and beverage, and electric power. Bladex earns net interest income on its loan and investment portfolios, funded primarily through deposits from central banks and financial institutions, Yankee CDs, interbank borrowings, and bond issuances. Fee income — from LC fees, syndication fees, and credit commitment fees — has grown to roughly 20% of revenues. Bladex operates two segments: a Commercial Business segment covering lending and trade instruments, and a Treasury segment managing its investment portfolio and liquidity. Bladex's growth strategy focuses on expanding its loan portfolio, scaling fee income through two new technology platforms (a digital trade finance platform and a treasury/capital markets platform), and building lower-cost operational deposits tied to clients' trade payment flows.