The Berenstain Bears series of children's books that are famousfor teaching children moral or safety-related lessons are nowwriting a new chapter on how to educate children on the importanceof financial literacy.

The $840 million Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union in suburban Philadelphia,and its foundation, announced recently an exclusive partnershipwith Berenstain Enterprises Inc. and formed the Financial LiteracyCenter, Bear Country Credit Union.

Bear Country Credit Union is an 1,100-square-foot center atFMFCU corporate offices in Broomall, Pa., that creates a hands-on,interactive experience for young children to learn about money.

“To reinforce our important financial literacy message andimprove the program, we added the storybook The BerenstainBears' Trouble With Money,” said Rick Durante, FMFCU's Union vice president of education. “Thechildren relate to this and know the Berenstain Bears. Theirparents do, too.”

Children from kindergarten through third grade can take a schoolfield trip to an FMFCU branch and explore Bear Country CreditUnion. Member service representatives dressed as the bearcharacters in the books will teach the concepts of save, spend andshare.

“The Berenstain Bears have entertained and educated childrenworldwide,” said Mike Berenstain, author and illustrator of TheBerenstain Bears series. “Teaming up with FMFCU to better educateyoung children about financial literacy gives our family offriendly bears an exciting new way to help kids learn, grow, andthrive.”