US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson signaled the government may invest in banks as the next step in trying to resolve the deepening credit crisis.

Paulson told reporters in Washington on Wednesday that legislation Congress passed last week to rescue financial institutions gave him broad authority that he intends to use, beyond just buying mortgage-related assets on banks' balance sheets. He indicated that an option available may be boosting companies' capital with cash infusions.

"It is the policy of the federal government to use all resources at its disposal to make our financial system stronger," Paulson said. "We will use all of the tools we've been given to maximum effectiveness, including strengthening the capitalization of financial institutions of every size."