(a) Except as specifically permitted under § 23-37-812, no Arkansas association, Arkansas savings and loan holding company, southern region association, or southern region savings and loan holding company having an Arkansas association subsidiary may acquire an association or savings and loan holding company which is not either an Arkansas savings and loan holding company or a southern region savings and loan holding company or an association which is not either an Arkansas association or a southern region association.
(b) Except as expressly permitted by federal law, no association which is not either an Arkansas association or a southern region association and no savings and loan holding company which is not either an Arkansas savings and loan holding company or a southern region savings and loan holding company may acquire an Arkansas association, an Arkansas savings and loan holding company, or a southern region savings and loan holding company controlling an Arkansas association.