MILAN (Reuters) - The European Central Bank has asked several banks to submit a plan by the end of February spelling out how they intend to reduce their problematic loans, a source familiar with the matter said on Monday.
The source, who declined to name the banks involved, said the request was a follow-up to the ECB's new guidance on non-performing loans issued last year.
Italy's biggest bank by assets UniCredit (MI:CRDI) earlier on Monday said it had been requested to present such a plan by Feb. 28. Genoa-based Banca Carige (MI:CRGI) must also submit its own plan by that deadline.
Italian banks are saddled with 356 billion euros ($378 billion) of soured debts, a third of the euro zone's total, accumulated during a long recession.