More banks eyeing move to Frankfurt due to Brexit, Germany says

Germany has reported much increased interest from financial institutions looking to move to the country following the UK's vote to leave the European Union.

After reports that numerous banks were looking to up sticks from London and cross the water to the continent or Ireland, the German financial centre of Frankfurt, home of the European Central Bank, has been pitching itself as the best option.

"Frankfurt is a love at second sight. But a love that lasts all the longer," said state secretary Thomas Steffen, a senior finance ministry official, from a banking conference on Monday, according to Reuters.

"I have to say that we at the finance ministry are registering an increasing number of requests. And we are very, very open to such discussions," Steffen said.

Reuters reported last week that Goldman Sachs is mulling a move of some of its operations from London to Frankfurt, while prior to the referendum, JPMorgan chief Jamie Dimon said he may move around 4,000 jobs outside the UK if Brexit hit the bank's ability to do business in Europe.

Anthony Browne, chief executive of the British Bankers’ Association, said last month that many bigger banks were preparing to relocate out of the UK in the first few months of 2017 amid fears that 'passporting' rights for financial companies would be withdrawn if the UK pursues a 'hard Brexit'.