(a) The Board may not approve any proposed transactions set forth in Section 34-28-310:

1. (1) Which would result in a monopoly, or which would be in furtherance of any combination or conspiracy to monopolize or to attempt to monopolize the savings and loan business in this State; or
2. (2) The effect of which in this State may be substantially to lessen competition, or to tend to create a monopoly, or which in any other manner would be in restraint of trade, unless it finds that the anticompetitive effects of the proposed transaction are clearly outweighed in the public interest by the probable effect of the acquisition in meeting the convenience and needs of the community to be served; and
3. (3) Which does not meet the requirements set forth in subsection (b) of this section, if applicable. In every case the Board shall take into consideration the financial and managerial resources and future prospects of the savings and loan holding company and the association involved, and the convenience and needs of the communities to be served. Whenever the transaction must be approved by one or more regulatory agencies of the United States Government under criteria substantially similar to the criteria in this subsection, the Board shall delay its determination until after receipt of the ruling by the applicable federal regulatory agencies and if the proposed transaction is approved, then the approval is conclusive on the Board with respect to the criteria unless the Board finds that the determination made by the federal regulatory agency is not supported by evidence that is substantial when viewed in light of the whole record considered by the federal agency. In the event the Board denies the application under this subsection, it shall issue a ruling stating the specific reasons why it disagrees with the approval determination made by the applicable federal regulatory agency.

(b) Whenever an application is filed as is required under Section 34-28-310 or if approval of the Board pursuant to this subsection (b) is required under Section 34-28-320, the Board shall approve the transaction if it is otherwise approved as required by applicable laws and if in addition:

1. (1) The laws of the state in which the Southern Region association or Southern Region savings and loan holding company, as applicable, filing the application has its principal place of business, permit South Carolina associations and South Carolina savings and loan holding companies, as applicable, to acquire associations and savings and loan holding companies in that state;
2. (2) Under the laws of the state where it has its principal place of business the Southern Region association or Southern Region savings and loan holding company filing the application could be acquired by the South Carolina association or South Carolina savings and loan holding company, as applicable;
3. (3) Any conditions, restrictions, and requirements (other than regulations or requirements relating to the procedural steps necessary for approval of acquisitions) that would apply to the acquisition by a South Carolina association or a South Carolina savings and loan holding company of a Southern Region association or Southern Region savings and loan holding company in the state where it has its principal place of business, which would not apply to acquisitions by Southern Region associations or Southern Region savings and loan holding companies of a South Carolina association or a South Carolina savings and loan holding company, as applicable, must be applicable to the transaction proposed by the Southern Region association or Southern Region savings and loan holding company filing the application;
4. (4) Each South Carolina association sought to be acquired directly or indirectly in the proposed transaction has been in existence and continuously operated as an association for a period of five years or more prior to the date the application for approval of the transaction was filed with the Board. This requirement does not prohibit a Southern Region association or Southern Region savings and loan holding company from acquiring all or substantially all of the ownership of a South Carolina association organized solely for the purpose of facilitating the acquisition of a South Carolina association that has been in existence and continuously operated as an association for the requisite five-year period.