S.C. Code Ann. § 34-28-800 – Foreign associations

(1) For the purpose of this section, "foreign association" includes any person, firm, company, association, fiduciary, partnership, or corporation, or whatever name called, actually engaged in the business of a savings association, which is not organized under the provisions of this chapter or the laws of the United States, and the principal business office of which is located outside the territorial limits of this State.
(2) No foreign association shall do any business of a savings association within this State or maintain an office in this State for the purpose of doing business including, but not limited to, establishment of a branch office except as otherwise authorized by this chapter or otherwise by law. The origination of real estate mortgages covering real property located in this State or acquiring a participation interest in any mortgage is considered doing business as a savings association if the state of domicile of the principal business office of the foreign association does not permit associations from this State to originate real estate mortgages covering real property located in that state, unless an association having an authorized office in this State is either the originator of the mortgage or is a partner or joint venturer in the company that originates the mortgages.
(3) The Board is authorized and required to obtain an injunction or to take any other action necessary to prevent any foreign association from doing any business of an association in this State.
(4) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2), for the purpose of this section and any other law of this State prohibiting, limiting, or regulating the doing of business in this State by foreign associations or foreign corporations of any type, any federal association the principal office of which is located outside this State, and any foreign association which is subject to state or federal supervision which by law are subject to periodic examination by these supervisory authorities and to a requirement of periodic audit, are not considered to be doing business in this State by reason of engaging in any of the following activities:
1. (a) The purchase, acquisition, holding, sale, assignment, transfer, collecting, and enforcement of obligations or any interest therein secured by real estate mortgages or other instruments in the nature of a mortgage, covering real property located in this State, or the foreclosure of these instruments, or the acquisition of title to the property at foreclosure, or otherwise, as a result of default under these instruments, or the holding, protection, rental, maintenance, and operation of the property so acquired, or the disposition thereof; provided the associations shall not hold, own, or operate property for a period exceeding five years without securing the approval of the Board.
2. (b) The advertising or solicitation of savings accounts or the making of any representations with respect thereto in this State through the medium of the mail, radio, television, magazines, or newspapers or any other medium which is published or circulated within this State provided that the advertising, solicitation, or the making of these representations is accurately descriptive of the facts.
(5) Any foreign association or federal association described in subsection (4) which engages in any of the activities described in paragraph (a) thereof pursuant to the provisions of this section is subject to suit in the courts of this State by this State and the citizens of this State. Service on the association must be effected by serving the Secretary of State of this State, except that the provisions of this section shall have no other application to the questions of whether any foreign association or federal association is subject to service of process and suit in this State as a result of the transaction of business or other activities in this State.