<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> BD
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
unaudited Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition at August 25, 2000 and
the unaudited Consolidated Statement of Income for the nine-months ended August
25, 2000, which are contained in the body of the accompanying Form 10-Q and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000777001
<NAME> THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> US
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-2000
<PERIOD-START> MAY-27-2000
<PERIOD-END> AUG-25-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1
<CASH> 1,350,753
<RECEIVABLES> 21,856,722
<SECURITIES-RESALE> 36,313,163
<SECURITIES-BORROWED> 63,382,318
<INSTRUMENTS-OWNED> 45,513,097
<PP&E> 530,956
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 174,852,518
<SHORT-TERM> 18,206,309
<PAYABLES> 43,704,484
<REPOS-SOLD> 62,228,387
<SECURITIES-LOANED> 0
<INSTRUMENTS-SOLD> 20,473,903
<LONG-TERM> 19,356,873
0
800,000
<COMMON> 184,806
<OTHER-SE> 3,926,794
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 174,852,518
<TRADING-REVENUE> 1,689,737
<INTEREST-DIVIDENDS> 4,138,265
<COMMISSIONS> 894,143
<INVESTMENT-BANKING-REVENUES> 780,945
<FEE-REVENUE> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,508,872
<COMPENSATION> 2,087,182
<INCOME-PRETAX> 889,205
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 889,205
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> 577,994
<EPS-BASIC> 4.00
<EPS-DILUTED> 4.00
</TABLE>
