COSTA MESA : Financial Workshop Is Geared to Latinos

The group Latinos of Costa Mesa and the Bank of America will hold a free workshop for people interested in learning about managing personal finance and opening bank accounts.

Spanish-speaking employees of the Harbor-Adams Branch of the Bank of America--including a teller, an operations assistant and a community relations officer--will present a slide program, talk to the group and give information on opening and operating a checking account, all in Spanish, said Manager Linda Foley.

“It’s both community relations and business development because there’s a tremendous Hispanic market,” Foley said. “There are a lot of services of a commercial bank that should be made available” to this market.

Foley said Latinos make up about 23% of the branch’s customers and more than 40% at some other branches.

To cater to this market, the bank offers checks, deposit slips and other informational materials in Spanish. People who attend the workshop will also learn which branches of the bank have Spanish-speaking employees.

Although Latinos of Costa Mesa hopes to attract the Spanish-speaking immigrant population, it plans to open the workshop to anyone interested, said founder Roy Alvarado.

The group formed last year after the City Council adopted ordinances they saw as anti-immigrant and anti-Latino. In addition to the financial workshop, the group hopes to hold meetings on drug abuse, becoming involved in city government and helping social service agencies.

“We have a big list of issues we want to take on in educating the immigrant community,” Alvarado said. The 45-minute workshop will be 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18 at Estancia High School, 2323 Placentia Ave.