The shares of stock of corporations organized under this Article shall have a par value and, except as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 106-988 in respect to distributions in kind upon dissolution, no dividend shall be paid thereon at a rate in excess of six per centum (6%) per annum on stock having a preference as to dividends, or eight per centum (8%) per annum on stock not having a preference as to dividends, except that any such dividends may be cumulative without interest. (1933, c. 178, s. 7; 2011-145, s. 13.25(cc), (dd).)