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The ECB, which supervises the 129 euro zone banks it deems most systemically important, has sent letters to banks with a large exposure to Britain, according to several people familiar with the matter.
The watchdog is taking stock of what specific exposure banks have to Britain and what contingency plans they have drawn up to prepare for all possible scenarios.
"ECB Banking Supervision is engaging with the relevant banks to ensure they are adequately assessing the risks and are prepared for all possible outcomes," an ECB spokesman said.
Britain is the world's fifth-biggest economy, and the EU's second largest. Many euro zone banks have large operations in London, home to the world's biggest foreign exchange market and a major global investment banking hub.
A source at a large German bank said the ECB had asked about its exposure to sterling, as well as its wider exposure to Britain in its fixed income, equities and loans portfolios.