Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 16-13-96 and 16-13-97, refunding warrants issued hereunder may without advertisement be exchanged for a like amount of the warrants being refunded. If part of an authorized issue is so exchanged, the officers authorized to effect such exchange may select from the total authorized issue the particular refunding warrants to be so delivered, and the maturities of the refunding warrants at any time outstanding need not meet the requirements of this article as to equal annual instalments of principal and interest. Refunding warrants may be delivered to a bank designated by the issuing board to be held in escrow pending delivery pursuant to an order of the issuing board for the delivery or exchange of such refunding warrants, all or any part of which warrants held in escrow may be issued and sold or exchanged as other refunding warrants issued under the terms of this article.