(a) Except as specifically permitted under § 34-28-350, no South Carolina association, South Carolina savings and loan holding company, Southern Region association, or Southern Region savings and loan holding company having a South Carolina association subsidiary may acquire an association or savings and loan holding company which is not either a South Carolina savings and loan holding company or a Southern Region savings and loan holding company or an association which is not either a South Carolina association or a Southern Region association.

(b) Except as expressly permitted by federal law, no association which is not either a South Carolina association or a Southern Region association and no savings and loan holding company which is not either a South Carolina savings and loan holding company or a Southern Region savings and loan holding company may acquire a South Carolina association, a South Carolina savings and loan holding company, or a Southern Region savings and loan holding company controlling a South Carolina association.