President Barack Obama is complimenting banks that are reimbursing taxpayers to the tune of $68 billion in federal bailout assistance.

Bank Repayments: Obama Hails $68B To Treasury

Appearing at a White House event to call attention to slow the pace of government spending, Obama stressed that the deal to repay this sum "is not a sign that our troubles are over — far from it."

But he did call it a "positive sign" and said he is happy that people are beginning to see "an initial return on a few of these investments."

The Treasury Department did not identify the banks involved in the repayment. But it did say they had been approved to send back money they got from a $700 billion federal bailout program established by Congress at the height of the financial crisis.