First Hope associate advances

Hope — At First Hope Bancorp’s annual reorganization meeting, the Board of Directors approved the advancement of Jeanne DeGroot to Vice President--Mortgage Underwriting Manager. DeGroot began her career at First Hope Bank as a teller in 1995. She joined the Mortgage Department of the Bank in 1996, where she has since held positions of increasing responsibility. She is responsible for supervision of the Mortgage Department. She has received extensive training in underwriting guidelines for residential mortgage and home equity products. She has in depth knowledge of residential lending, including conventional, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and reverse mortgages. She has taken courses and seminars sponsored by the American Bankers Association and the New Jersey Bankers Association and through Fannie Mae and other mortgage providers. DeGroot also helped First Hope receive the regulatory approvals needed for the bank to offer FHA and reverse mortgages. DeGroot attended Centenary and Rider Colleges. She and her husband Frank reside in Knowlton Township. They have two grown children.