WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama challenged top bankers today to explore "every responsible way" to increase lending, saying they were obliged to help after being rescued by taxpayers.

In a statement after more than an hour with the executives, Obama said he reminded them much of the financial crisis that took the U.S. banking system to the brink of collapse had been "of their own making."

He also exhorted the executives — both in private and in public — to drop their opposition an overhaul of the nation's financial industry.

"If they wish to fight common sense consumer protections, that's a fight I'm more than willing to have," Obama told reporters in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the executive mansion.

He also urged lenders to find creative ways to free up lending. Obama said banks have benefited from bailouts and should use that strength to lend more money to consumers and businesses.

Bank of America CEO Kenneth Lewis pledged to Obama his bank would lend $5 billion more to small- and mid-sized businesses in 2010 than it did in 2009. He said the move is part of the bank's broader effort to support an economic recovery.

JPMorgan said last month it would boost such lending by $4 billion.