Section 23-37-807 - Applications to the board for approval(a) Whenever an application is filed as required under § 23-37-806, or if approval of the Savings and Loan Association Board [abolished] pursuant to this section is required under § 23-37-810, the board shall approve the transaction if it is otherwise approved as required by applicable laws, and if, in addition: (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 Arkansas associations and Arkansas savings and loan holding companies, as applicable, to acquire associations and savings and loan holding companies in that state;(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 Arkansas association or Arkansas savings and loan holding company, as applicable; and(3) Each Arkansas 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 (5) 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 an Arkansas association organized solely for the purpose of facilitating the acquisition of an Arkansas association in existence and continuously operated as an association for the requisite five-year period.(b) The board shall rule on any application requiring approval under this section not later than ninety (90) days following the date of acceptance of a completed application seeking approval of the proposed transaction. If the board fails to rule on the application within the requisite ninety-day period, the proposed transaction is approved.(c) The applicant is entitled to notice and a hearing contesting the denial by the board of any application.