The State Bank Commissioner shall, immediately upon the receipt from the Secretary of State of the articles of merger, consolidation or conversion, conduct such examination as the Commissioner may deem necessary to ascertain from the best sources of information at his or her command:

(1) Whether the name of the surviving, new or converted association, or federal savings and loan association is likely to mislead the public;

(2) Whether the consolidation, merger or conversion is made for legitimate purposes;

(3) Whether the interests of the shareholders or creditors are adequately protected;

(4) Whether the surviving, new or converted association meets all the requirements of this chapter and violates none of its prohibitions.

The cost of such examination and any other charges of the State Bank Commissioner, bearing upon the filing of the articles of merger, consolidation or conversion, shall be assessed upon the associations in the manner provided by law for assessments by the State Bank Commissioner of costs of examinations or other charges.

Each federal savings and loan association desiring to merge, consolidate or convert shall pay to the Secretary of State, at the time the articles of merger, consolidation or conversion are filed, such reasonable fees, as shall be established by rule and regulation by the State Bank Commissioner, for the investigation made by the State Bank Commissioner, pursuant to this chapter, to determine whether the articles should be approved. Such fees shall be paid by the Secretary of the State to the State Treasurer, to become a part of the General Fund of the State.

Within 30 days after the receipt of the articles of merger, consolidation or conversion from the Secretary of State, the State Bank Commissioner shall, upon the basis of the facts disclosed by the investigation provided for by this section, either approve or disapprove such articles. The Commissioner shall immediately notify the Secretary of State in writing of the Commissioner’s action. If the Commissioner shall approve the articles of merger, consolidation or conversion, the Commissioner shall endorse his or her approval thereon, and shall return them to the Secretary of State.

If the State Bank Commissioner disapproves the articles of merger, consolidation or conversion, the Commissioner shall return them to the Secretary of State, stating in detail the Commissioner’s reasons for doing so. The Secretary of State shall immediately give notice to the associations or federal savings and loan associations desiring to merge, consolidate or convert, or to the federal savings and loan association desiring to convert of the action of the State Bank Commissioner, and of the reasons therefor as stated to him by said State Bank Commissioner. Such associations or federal savings and loan association may appeal from such disapproval as provided by law in § 8710 of Title 29.

5 Del. C. 1953, § 2006; 49 Del. Laws, c. 253; 57 Del. Laws, c. 740, § 21; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.