A bond or undertaking by the laws of North Carolina required or permitted to be given by a public official, fiduciary, or a party to an action or proceeding, conditioned for the doing or not doing of an act specified therein, shall be sufficient when it is executed or guaranteed by a corporation authorized in this State to act as guardian or trustee, or to guarantee the fidelity of persons holding places of public or private trust, or to guarantee the performance of contracts, other than insurance policies, or to give or guarantee bonds and undertakings in actions or proceedings.

The bond or undertaking of a corporation having such power shall be sufficient, although the law or regulation in accordance with which it is given requires two or more sureties, or requires the sureties to be residents or freeholders.? But the clerk of the superior court may exercise his discretion as to accepting such a corporation’s surety on the bonds of fiduciaries or parties to actions or proceedings. (1895, c. 270; 1899, c. 54, s. 45; 1901, c. 706; Rev., s. 273; C.S., s. 339.)