President Barack Obama wants to help small businesses by giving smaller community banks more access to the government's rescue fund.

It's a plan to shift the some $700-billion away from big financial institutions.

The president said Wednesday if small banks will help lend to small businesses, he'll help them make it happen.

One area bank says it's a good idea to keep the economy on the up.

"Small businesses are the backbone not just here but all across the country," said Kim Thomas, executive vice-president of community banking at Citizens First Bank.

Every day Kim Thomas is involved with small businesses.

They're customers who've been the focus of Citizens First Bank for years.

"When small businesses succeed, then the communities succeed and when the communities prosper, the community banks prosper," she said.

Thomas says when times are tough, small banks should step in.

It's the same message the president focused on Wednesday.

"There is still too little credit flowing to our small businesses. There are still too many entrepreneurs who can't get the loan they need to open their doors and start hiring," President Obama said.

The president wants to help small businesses grow.

He wants smaller, community banks to have more access to the government's $700-billion rescue fund.

"Anything we can do, that the government can do is what we need to be doing at this time," Thomas said.

Citizens First was one of a number of healthy banks given money earlier this year through the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, in hopes of reviving some businesses.

It's a program Thomas says has been a success.

"Several million dollars have been lent to small businesses since that time," she said.

That's something Thomas says has helped jump-start the economy and the president's plan to increase loan amounts again for small businesses would be a helpful way to continue that.

"Banks hopefully will continue to lend and work with businesses as we get through this and come out on the other side."

President Obama said he wants to focus his plan on hard-hit rural and underserved areas.