UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 24F-2
Annual Notice of Securities Sold
Pursuant to Rule 24f-2
Read instructions at end of Form before preparing Form.
1. Name and address of issuer: Pilgrim America Bank and Thrift Fund, Inc.
40 North Central Avenue, Suite 1200
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
2. The name of each series or class of securities for which this Form is filed
(If the Form is being filed for all series and classes of securities of the
issuer, check the box but do not list series or classes): X
3. Investment Company Act File Number: 811-4504
Securities Act File Number: 333-33445
4(a). Last day of fiscal year for which this Form is filed: 12/31/97
4(b). __ Check box if this Form is being filed late (i.e., more than 90 calendar
days after the end of the issuer's fiscal year). (See Instruction A.2)
Note: If the form is being filed late, interest must be paid on the registration
fee due.
4(c).__ Check box if this is the last time the issuer will be filing this Form.
5. Calculation of registration fee:
(i) Aggregate sale price of securities sold during the fiscal
year pursuant to section 24(f): $ 135,818,356
(ii) Aggregate price of securities redeemed or
repurchased during the fiscal year: $ 43,147,277
(iii) Aggregate price of securities redeemed or repurchased during
any PRIOR fiscal year ending no earlier than October 11, 1995
that were not previously used to reduce registration fees
payable to the
Commission: $ 0
(iv) Total available redemption credits[add items 5(ii)
and 5(iii)]: -$43,147,277
(v) Net sales--if Item 5(i) is greater than Item 5(iv)
[subtract Item 5(iv) from Item 5(i)]: $ 92,671,079
(vi) Redemption credits available for use in future
years -- if Item 5(i) is less than Item 5(iv)
[subtract Item 5(iv) from Item 5(i)]: $ ( 0 )
(vii) Multiplier for determining registration fee (See Instruction
C.9) x .000295
(viii) Registration fee due [multiply Item 5(v) by Item
5(vii)] (enter "0" if no fee is due): = $27,337.97
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6. Prepaid Shares
If the response to item 5(i) was determined by deducting an amount of
securities that were registered under the Securities Act of 1933
pursuant to rule 24e-2 as in effect before October 11, 1997, then
report the amount of securities (number of shares or other units)
deducted here: _______. If there is a number of shares or other units
that were registered pursuant to rule 24e-2 remaining unsold at the end
of the fiscal year for which this form is filed that are available for
use by the issuer in future fiscal years, then state that number here:
__________.
7. Interest due -- if this Form is being filed more than 90
days after the end of the issuer's fiscal year (see Instruction D):
+ $ 0
8. Total of the amount of the registration fee due plus any
interest due [line 5(viii) plus line 7]: = $27,337.97
9. Date the registration fee and any interest payment
was sent to the Commission's lockbox depository: March 25, 1998
Method of Delivery:
X Wire Transfer
Mail or other means
SIGNATURES
This report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
issuer and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ James M. Hennessy
Senior Vice President and Secretary
Date: March 25, 1998
*Please print the name and title of the signing officer below the signature.