The Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting held its third annual summit last week at Bank of America’s Boston headquarters at 100 Federal St.

In an effort to showcase the impact that Latinos and other new Americans are having within Boston’s business community, the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting held its third annual summit in Boston last week. Major financial institutions sponsored the event, while several local bank leaders spoke about leadership and teamwork.

The summit, which was held on Nov. 9 at Bank of America’s Boston headquarters at 100 Federal St., was called “Profiles in Success: Latino and Other New Americans Make Their Mark in the Executive Suite.” The Association for Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting, a nonprofit group, has worked to enhance opportunities for Latinos in accounting, finance and related professions.

According to Rene Jarquin, president of ALPFA Boston, the Hub is the third-largest chapter in the country with more than 600 members, 50 percent of whom are women. The Boston chapter is also ranked No. 1 in corporate sponsorships with more than 30 corporate sponsors. In the last year, the membership of the Boston chapter has grown by 50 percent.

Jane Magpiong, president of the Private Bank of Bank of America, noted that the North Carolina-based institution has been a leader in supporting the Latino population. Bank of America, she said, was one of the first banks to accept the Mexican consulate identification for customers opening a new account.

Magpiong also said Bank of America was one of the first commercial banks to offer a Spanish-language ATM. Last year, the bank opened more than 1 million checking accounts with Latino or Hispanic customers.

Ultimately, Magpiong said, growth comes from diversity.

“It’s about investing personally,” she said. “It’s about investing financially.”

Of the bank’s 175,000 associates around the world, Hispanics compose 15 percent of the institution’s employees. Fifty percent of Bank of America’s new hires last year were bilingual.

“This is a company understanding the power of diversity,” said Magpiong, who also serves as Bank of America’s Massachusetts president. Bank of America’s Private Bank has approximately $163 billion in assets under management and is focused on providing wealth management capabilities and solutions to high-net-worth individuals. In her role as president, Magpiong is responsible for managing sales and relationship management professionals serving wealthy clients and mid-market institutions throughout the United States.

Magpiong noted that reaching out to the Latino and Hispanic population is not a separate initiative from the bank’s core business. Instead, it is a way the bank does business.

“It is about being creative,” said Magpiong. “It’s about learning how to motivate each other.”

Alvaro G. de Molina, Bank of America’s chief financial officer, is Latino, and Magpiong said having a diverse set of leaders allows the bank to grow.

“Success depends on leadership,” she said.

‘Direct and Honest’
Other bank leaders offered advice on how to manage careers and grow business. Gisela LoPiano, senior vice president at Boston Private Bank & Trust Co., told attendees to work outside their comfort zone. LoPiano joined Boston Private Bank & Trust in 2003 as a team leader in commercial banking, which focuses on the needs of privately held businesses, partnerships, professional services firms, nonprofit organizations, real estate developers and high-net-worth individuals.

“These clients are like companies Â… very high-net-worth,” LoPiano said.

LoPiano’s parents immigrated to the United States from Cuba and she was born and raised in Miami. She said language and cultural barriers are hurdles for many competent workers.

“[These hurdles] make you shyer than you might otherwise be,” LoPiano said.

In order to be successful, LoPiano suggested being confident.

“You really have to present yourself [so] others see you in a way you want to be seen,” LoPiano said.

With more than 18 years of banking experience, LoPiano said, she has learned some tricks to leading her staff. She noted that working with employees who challenge her allows her to continue to grow.

Vicary Graham, regional president of Mellon Private Wealth Management in Boston, manages all of the investment and private banking business activities within the region. She serves nationally on the Executive Council for Private Wealth Management. Regionally, Graham serves on the Committee for Public Responsibility overseeing and approving Mellon’s charitable programs in New England.

Graham also founded the Boston Co.’s jumbo mortgage business in 1983.

One way financial institutions can stay connected to the community, Graham said, is through organizations like the Association for Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting.

Graham said it is important to strengthen the weakest link in a team.

“Your weakest staff member is really who people look at,” Graham said.

In order to improve a weak employee, Graham suggested paying attention.

“My first client is the employees that I work with,” she said. “Be very direct and honest with your staff.”

Being accessible, a good listener and someone who takes actions on issues important to employees is also her guide to improvement.

“If you’re honest and direct about what your mission is, they [employees] will be successful,” Graham said.

Equal treatment is also beneficial when dealing with staff members. LoPiano said she pays attention to all of her colleagues, ranging from administrative assistants to the president of the bank.

The summit also included insight from leaders in other industries. Jeff Naylor, chief financial officer and senior executive vice president at TJX Cos. in Framingham, suggested obtaining career knowledge from the higher-ups.

“You tend to learn from the people you work for,” Naylor said.

Other financial institutions that sponsored the summit included Citizens Bank, Sovereign Bank, Eastern Bank, State Street, Putnam Investments and John Hancock Financial Services. Recently, Eastern Bank and ALPFA partnered to create a financial literacy workshop, The Money Conference, in conjunction with Chelsea Human Services Collaborative.