Section 45-28-40 Banks.

Any bank, whether incorporated or unincorporated, within the state, now or hereafter situated in, or having a branch in, Etowah County, shall have the power to establish, maintain, and operate within the limits of the county, where a place of business of such bank is situated, one or more branches or branch banks, branch offices, branch agencies, additional offices or branch places of business for the receipt of deposits, payment of checks, lending of money, and the conduct of a general banking and trust business, provided that such bank, before the establishment of any such branch or branches, shall first secure the written consent of the State Superintendent of Banks and meet the requirements of the appropriate regulatory banking authorities. Provided, however, that any branch bank established under this section shall be within the corporate limits of a municipality, in Etowah County and, where the population of the municipality was less than 3,000 persons according to the last federal decennial census, any branch shall be located no farther from the city hall than three-fourths of one mile, this provision deemed necessary for police and fire protection purposes. Provided further, that the limitation contained in the foregoing sentence shall not apply to the town of Hokes Bluff.