Sparta - James C. Riter has been appointed vice president of business development for First Hope Bank. Working from the bank’s Sparta office, Riter will develop relationships with businesses located throughout First Hope’s market area. “We’re very pleased to welcome someone of Jim’s expertise to First Hope Bank,” said Donald D. Somma, a senior vice president of the bank. “His experience runs the gamut of commercial financial products and services.” Prior to joining First Hope, Riter was with the Bank of New York for more than 27 years, serving as vice president/branch manager for the past ten years. He has also sold residential real estate with Schlott Realtors of Pine Brook, attaining Million Dollar Sales status and earning the designations of Graduate Realtor Institute and Certified Residential Specialist from the Association of Realtors. After attending Kent State University, Riter served four years as a radarman in the U.S. Navy aboard the Destroyer U.S.S. Fiske, which was based in Newport, R.I. He has also taken banking courses from the American Institute of Banking. Riter is a both a licensed Uniform Securities Agent (Series 63) and an Investment Company/Variable Contracts Representative (Series 6) He is a member and past president of the Boonton Rotary Club. Riter and his wife, Kim, reside in Pine Brook. They have two grown children, James, Jr., and Jeffrey.