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PRICING SUPPLEMENT NO. 55 Rule 424(b)(3)
DATED: September 4, 1996 File No. 333-03685
(To Prospectus dated May 23, 1996
and Prospectus Supplement dated May 23, 1996)
$4,954,795,162
THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.
MEDIUM-TERM NOTES, SERIES B
WITH MINIMUM MATURITY OF NINE MONTHS FROM DATE OF ISSUE
Principal Amount: Floating Rate Notes Book Entry Notes
$200,000,000 [x] [x]
Original Issue Date: Fixed Rate Notes Certificated Notes
09/04/96 [_] [_]
Maturity Date: 09/04/97
Option to Extend Maturity: No [x]
Yes [_] Final Maturity Date:
Optional Optional
Redemption Repayment Repayment
Redeemable On Price(s) Date(s) Price(s)
------------- -------- ------- --------
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Applicable Only to Fixed Rate Notes:
- -----------------------------------
Interest Rate:
Applicable Only to Floating Rate Notes:
- --------------------------------------
Interest Rate Basis: Maximum Interest Rate: N/A
[_] Commercial Paper Rate Minimum Interest Rate: N/A
[_] Federal Funds Rate Interest Reset Date(s): *
[_] Treasury Rate Interest Reset Period: Monthly
[_] LIBOR Reuters Interest Payment Date(s): **
[x] LIBOR Telerate
[_] Prime Rate Interest Payment Period: Monthly
[_] CMT Rate
Initial Interest Rate: 5.50266%
Index Maturity: One month
Spread (plus or minus): +0.03%
- -------------------------
* 10/04/96, 11/04/96, 12/04/96, 01/06/97, 02/04/97, 03/04/97, 04/04/97,
05/05/97, 06/04/97, 07/07/97 and 08/04/97.
** 10/04/96, 11/04/96, 12/04/96, 01/06/97, 02/04/97, 03/04/97, 04/04/97,
05/05/97, 06/04/97, 07/07/97, 08/04/97 and 09/04/97.
The distribution of Notes will conform to the requirements set forth
in the applicable sections of Schedule E to the By-laws of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
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