The department may, with leave of court, pay off all mortgages, security deeds, security agreements, and liens of or upon any real or personal property which belong to the financial institution. It may, without leave of court, purchase, at a judicial sale or at any sale authorized by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction, any real or personal property in order to protect any equity which the financial institution has in such real or personal property.
OCGA § 7-1-167