REFILE-Bernanke sees risk in private equity financing

(Refiles to remove the word "on" from the headline)

CHICAGO, May 17 (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Thursday that banks can share significant risk in financing private equity deals.

"There are some significant risks associated with the financing of private equity including bridge loans. ... We are looking at that," Bernanke said in answer to a question at a conference sponsored by the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank.

The Fed governor was asked whether he saw banks taking on too much risk by financing private equity deals.