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SIGNATURE JANET SHORE
TITLE ASSISTANT SECRETARY
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
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<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.083
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 12.63
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.00
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS OF COLONIAL FEDERAL SECURITIES FUND YEAR END 10/31/94 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRELTY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF
COLONIAL FEDERAL SECURITIES FUND YEAR END 10/31/94.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000021847
<NAME> COLONIAL TRUST III
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> COLONIAL FEDERAL SECURITIES FUND, CLASS A
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1994
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1994
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1748828
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1683426
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<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (44423)
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 352589
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 48833
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (455853)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (217586)
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<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 9805
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<GROSS-EXPENSE> 18587
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1550293
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.46
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<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (1.560)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.771
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<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
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</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS OF COLONIAL FEDERAL SECURITIES FUND YEAR END 10/31/94 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF COLONIAL
FEDERAL SECURITIES FUND YEAR END 10/31/94.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000021847
<NAME> COLONIAL TRUST III
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> COLONIAL FEDERAL SECURITIES FUND, CLASS B
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1994
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1994
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1748828
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1683426
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<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 701796
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<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 120333
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<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (186929)
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<SHARES-REINVESTED> 2451
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (455853)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (217586)
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<GROSS-EXPENSE> 18587
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 72350
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.46
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<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (1.560)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.691
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.95
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.91
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS OF THE COLONIAL FUND YEAR END 10/31/94 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE COLONIAL FUND YEAR END
10/31/94.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000021847
<NAME> COLONIAL TRUST III
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 5
<NAME> THE COLONIAL FUND, CLASS A
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1994
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1994
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 683742
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 764965
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<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 174530
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 423
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 19694
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
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<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 4102
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<GROSS-EXPENSE> 10050
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 746182
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.41
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<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS OF THE COLONIAL FUND YEAR END 10/31/94 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE COLONIAL FUND YEAR END
10/31/94.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000021847
<NAME> COLONIAL TRUST III
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 5
<NAME> THE COLONIAL FUND, CLASS B
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1994
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1994
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<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 50974
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (61930)
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<SHARES-REINVESTED> 6421
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 174530
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<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 19694
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<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 10050
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.40
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.109
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.111)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.103
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<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.89
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</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS OF COLONIAL STRATEGIC BALANCED FUND YEAR END 10/31/94 AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF COLONIAL STRATEGIC
BALANCED FUND YEAR END 10/31/94.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000021847
<NAME> COLONIAL TRUST III
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 6
<NAME> COLONIAL STRATEGIC BALANCED FUND, CLASS A
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1994
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1994
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<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 8
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<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (80)
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<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 14957
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<GROSS-EXPENSE> 29
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.035
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.125)
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<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
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<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.65
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF COLONIAL STRATEGIC BALANCED FUND YEAR END 10/31/94 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF COLONIAL
STRATEGIC BALANCED FUND YEAR END 10/31/94.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000021847
<NAME> COLONIAL TRUST III
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 6
<NAME> COLONIAL STRATEGIC BALANCED FUND, CLASS B
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
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<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1994
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 14321
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<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 6331
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</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS OF COLONIAL STRATEGIC BALANCED FUND YEAR END 10/31/94 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF COLONIAL
STRATEGIC BALANCED FUND YEAR END 10/31/94
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000021847
<NAME> COLONAIL TRUST III
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 6
<NAME> COLONIAL STRATEGIC BALANCED FUND, CLASS D
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
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<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 14321
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<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (80)
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<GROSS-EXPENSE> 29
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</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS OF COLONIAL INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR GROWTH YEAR END 10/31/94 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF COLONIAL
INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR GROWTH YEAR END 10/31/94.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000021847
<NAME> COLONIAL TRUST III
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 7
<NAME> COLONIAL INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR GROWTH, CLASS A
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WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
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THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS OF COLONIAL INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR GORWTH YEAR END 10/31/94 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF
COLONIAL INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR GROWTH YEAR END 10/31/94.
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<CIK> 0000021847
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<TABLE> <S> <C>
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THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS OF COLONIAL INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR GROWTH YEAR END 10/31/94 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF COLONIAL
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<NAME> COLONIAL TRUST III
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<NAME> COLONIAL INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR GROWTH, CLASS D
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