Resilience and passion are what set Luba Levin apart and made her one of this year’s Community Bank Heroes.

Levin learned resilience at an early age; her family emigrated from Russia to the U.S. in 1989 when Luba was just 12. Adjusting to a new language and culture was not easy, Levin said, but “it made me stronger and the person I am today.”

The family settled in Brookline. Levin graduated from Brookline High School and Pine Manor College with a degree in business and accounting, and began her banking career in 1998 at State Street Bank. But just two years later, Levin’s resilience was tested again when both her parents were killed in a car crash.

“Not a day goes by that I don’t think of them,” she said.

After taking a year off to heal from the loss, Levin spent the next 10 years at Citizens Bank in Chestnut Hill, working herself up to the position of premier banker. She was recruited into a similar position at Rockland Trust in 2013, where she advises and supports high net worth individuals and business owners in the Newton-Needham-Chestnut Hill area. Now vice president and senior relationship manager, working at a community bank has brought out Levin’s passion for helping others.

“Rockland Trust is all about community and helping others,” she said. “They allow an employee two days off a year to go volunteer for any organization. This is important to me. I have a passion to help everybody. I need to be able to be happy, and helping others makes me happy. What can I do to help you? That’s my thing. I always find time for everybody.”

Helping women and children is her particular passions.

As the mother of two young daughters, ages 10 and 14, Levin has volunteered at Cradles to Crayons in Boston both with her children and with her colleagues at Rockland Trust. Levin is also a member of the board of the John M. Barry Boys and Girls Club in Newton, where she serves on the development and gala committees, and volunteers at the annual golf tournament fundraiser. In addition, she is a member of the Ellie Fund Gala committee for the past three years, and was recently appointed to the Advisory Committee. The Ellie Fund provides support to families facing the challenge of a cancer diagnosis. Levin also helped the Newton Jewish Community Center secure a grant to construct a nature center at the local JCC Pavilion, and is active on their development committee.

“It’s great to be able to call up people I know and ask for things for auctions and other events,” Levin said. “People always give to us. We’re not asking for ourselves. We’re asking for amazing causes.”

Amazing causes and an amazing woman.

“It’s all about helping others,” she said. “I love people. I love what I do. You have to have passion in what you do.”

Luba Levin

by Linda Goodspeed time to read: 2 min
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