Redemption of Preferred Shares

    Banco Latinoamericano de Exportaciones, S.A. Redemption of Preferred Shares 
 
    PANAMA CITY, May 16 -- Banco Latinoamericano de Exportaciones, S.A. 
(Bladex or the "Bank") (NYSE: BLX) notifies its holders of preferred 
shares that pursuant to the terms and conditions of its preferred 
shares, effective May 15 2006, the Bank will redeem all of its outstanding 
preferred shares, which were not redeemed in previous years.  
    In order to receive payment, holders of preferred shares must send their 
preferred share certificates to Bladex to the following address: 
 
    Luisa Lin de Polo 
    Manager  
    Shareholder Relations 
    Bladex 
    P.O. Box 0819-08730  
    Panama, Republic of Panama 
    Phone:   [phone] 
    Fax:     [phone] 
    E-mail:  [e-mail] 
 
    Upon the redemption of these preferred shares, Bladex would have redeemed 
all of its outstanding preferred shares.   
 
    Bladex is a supranational bank originally established by the Central Banks 
of Latin American and Caribbean countries to promote trade finance in the 
Region. Based in Panama, its shareholders include central banks and  
state-owned entities in 23 countries in the Region, as well as Latin American 
and international commercial banks, along with institutional and retail 
investors. Through December 31, 2005, Bladex had disbursed accumulated credits 
of over US$135 billion. 
 
SOURCE  Banco Latinoamericano de Exportaciones, S.A. 
    -0-                             05/16/2006 
    /CONTACT:  Luisa Lin de Polo, Manager, Shareholder Relations,  
[phone], Fax: [phone], [e-mail]/ 
    /Web site:  http://www.blx.com / 
    (BLX) 
 



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