Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner called for new policies to encourage banks that received government assistance during this year's bailout efforts to lend to small businesses during remarks at the President's small business forum held on Wednesday at the Treasury Department in Washington.

In his remarks, Geithner argued that the entire banking industry benefitted from taxpayer assistance over the past year during the government's recovery effort. He said that banks are somewhat responsible for damage caused by the current economic crisis, and that they are therefore obligated to help communities "get back on their feet."

"We need banks to be working with us, not against recovery," said Geithner.

The Treasury Secretary called on members of Congress to help local banks, which do the greatest percentage of small business lending, increase credit to smaller firms by providing them with government loans that are not attached to a burdensome amount of new regulations.

Geithner made his remarks as an opening statement for President Obama's forum of policymakers, lenders and small business owners announced by Obama on October 21. The event was co-hosted by Small Business Administrator Karen Mills.