Bernanke says community banks have strengthened

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke leaves a Senate Banking Committee hearing on the status the Dodd-Frank implementation, Thursday, May 11, 2011, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)

February 16, 2012 7:21:10 AM PST

by MARTIN CRUTSINGER Associated Press

WASHINGTON - February 16, 2012 --

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Thursday that the health of the nation's community banks has strengthened, despite what he described as a frustratingly slow economic recovery.