<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000931145
<NAME> THE BEAR STEARNS FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 031
<NAME> INCOME PORTFOLIO - CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2001
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 16753756
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 16575762
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<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 494929
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 439919
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<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (529641)
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<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (94330)
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<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 507800
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (56030)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 6601
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 545951
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
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<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
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<GROSS-EXPENSE> 252566
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.53
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<EXPENSE-RATIO> .80
</TABLE>