The Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) is issuing its final regulation describing the requirements for de novo applications for federal savings association charters. The term ``de novo application'' generally refers to any application to establish a new federal savings association, rather than applications from existing institutions that merely wish to convert to federal savings association charters. This final rule converts the agency's existing policy statement on de novo applications into a regulation, conforms the regulation to current law, and simplifies the regulatory requirements for establishing a de novo federal association, thereby reducing compliance costs.