a. The board of managers, in determining whether any bond, debenture, other security or investment meets the requirements as to the legality of investment therein, may rely and be fully protected in relying upon statistical, financial, corporate or other information as to such bond, debenture, other security or investment, and upon ratings or other opinion as to the financial or other status thereof, or its legality for investment, contained in or offered by any financial, statistical, investment, rating or other publication or service published for the use of and accepted as reliable by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance;

b. An investment made by a savings bank, legal under the laws of this State when made, shall continue to be legal, anything in this act to the contrary notwithstanding, but nothing herein contained shall relieve the board of managers from the duty to exercise reasonable discretion in deciding whether to retain or to dispose of such investment; provided, however, that any securities issued in exchange therefor under any reorganization or recapitalization, if not legal for investment under this act, shall be sold or disposed of within five years from the time of acquisition by the savings bank unless upon application by said bank to the commissioner he shall extend the time for the sale or disposition thereof.

L.1944, c. 104, p. 273, s. 2.