WASHINGTON — The deep recession and the public's anger with banking institutions are giving the Obama administration and congressional Democrats potent weapons to push through credit card reforms that the consumer lending industry has held at bay for decades.

Still-rising unemployment, continuing troubles among homeowners and new evidence that Americans have suffered a staggering erosion of family wealth over the past two years have contributed to a unique opportunity to crack down on credit card companies.

Seizing the moment, President Obama called top industry executives to the White House yesterday and demanded an end to the widespread practice of jacking up interest rates and adding unexpected fees to consumers' bills.

"There has to be strong and reliable protections for consumers, protections that ban unfair rate increases and forbid abusive fees and penalties," Obama said. "The days of any-time, any-reason rate hikes and late-fee traps have to end."

In the past, the credit card industry, its lobbyists and its allies in the financial services industry have repeatedly stymied efforts by liberal Democrats and consumer groups to impose new restrictions on how companies operate.

But as early as next week, House Democrats expect to act on a bill that would make it harder for the industry to slap new fees and rates on cardholders while also requiring clearer disclosure of the costs and risks for cardholders. The bill would codify and expedite rules already proposed by the Federal Reserve Board, rules that would not be implemented until 2010.

Legislation pending in the Senate would go further, barring lenders from imposing interest rate increases for consumers' existing balances.

The House bill drew some bipartisan support when it was approved by the Financial Services Committee earlier this month. But the more restrictive Senate bill was approved on a party-line vote.

The credit card industry, its lobbyists and its allies in the financial services industry are fighting back hard, arguing that a rash of new government rules and restrictions could crimp consumer credit just when families need it most.

Edward Yingling, president of the American Banking Association, said after the meeting with Obama that the industry already was laboring to carry out the rules proposed by the Federal Reserve despite concerns that they would be "likely to shrink credit availability and result in increased rates for some consumers."

Any additional regulation should be crafted to "achieve the right balance between enhancing consumer protections and ensuring that credit remains available to consumers and small businesses at a reasonable cost," he said.