Joseph A. Cicero, a former executive with Maryland and Virginia banks, has been appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer for Baltimore Bancorp and its chief subsidiary, the Bank of Baltimore.

He is the latest in a series of appointments at the bank following the takeover in September by Edwin F. Hale Sr. and a group of dissident shareholders in a bitter proxy fight. Mr. Hale is the owner of trucking and shipping operations and the Baltimore Blast, an indoor soccer team.

Mr. Cicero replaces James H. Langmead, who was chief financial officer of the Bank of Baltimore and the vice president and controller for the holding company. Mr. Langmead left the bank in December.

Mr. Cicero's latest job was as senior executive vice president and chief financial officer of Perpetual Savings Bank of Vienna, Va., a thrift that was taken over by federal regulators. The deposits and some assets of Perpetual were turned over Friday to Crestar Financial Corp., a bank holding company based in Richmond, Va.

"That place would have folded long ago without him," said David L. Spilman, director of investor relations for Baltimore Bancorp.

Mr. Cicero was also a senior vice president and chief financial officer of Equitable Bank N.A. of Baltimore until 1985.

"I'm happy to be back in Baltimore again and look forward to the challenging opportunities presented by Baltimore Bancorp," Mr. Cicero said in a statement. "I feel good about the company's prospects and my ability to contribute in measurable ways."