<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000931145
<NAME> THE BEAR STEARNS FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 081
<NAME> BALANCED PORTFOLIO - CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 13710231
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 14274960
<RECEIVABLES> 105164
<ASSETS-OTHER> 69322
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 14449446
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 314047
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 88983
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 403030
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 14139611
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 301842
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 342738
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 6787
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (664711)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 564729
<NET-ASSETS> 14046416
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 171873
<INTEREST-INCOME> 576496
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (190699)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 557670
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (495495)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (468033)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (405858)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (138819)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 69599
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (144406)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 6911
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (3751254)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 36656
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (169216)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 122347
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 97
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 606899
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 4512294
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 13.11
<PER-SHARE-NII> .39
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.54)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.41)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 12.55
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.20
</TABLE>
