UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) April 8, 2005



                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.
              (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)




  DELAWARE                     File No. 1-8989                   13-3286161
  --------                     ---------------                   ----------
 State or Other                (Commission File                  (IRS Employer
 Jurisdiction of                Number)                          Identification
 Incorporation) Number)


                383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York                   10179
                (Address of Principal Executive Offices)              (Zip Code)

         Registrant's telephone number, including area code:     (212)  272-2000
                                                                 ---------------

                                 Not Applicable
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425) 
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) 
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))






Item 8.01.  Other Events.

The Board of Directors of The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. (the "Registrant")
declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 25 cents per share on the
outstanding shares of common stock payable April 29, 2005 to stockholders of
record on April 19, 2005. A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99 to
this Form 8-K and by this reference incorporated herein and made a part hereof.

This information shall be considered "filed" for purposes of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits


                        (c)   Exhibit:

                             (99) Press Release, dated April 8, 2005.

















                                    Signature



Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                       THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.

                                       By:     /s/ Jeffrey M. Farber
                                               ----------------------
                                                Jeffrey M. Farber
                                                Controller
                                               (Principal Accounting Officer)

Dated:      April 12, 2005







                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.                Description

(99)                       Press Release, dated April 8, 2005
























Exhibit No. (99)


                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.
                    DECLARES $0.25 COMMON STOCK CASH DIVIDEND


NEW YORK  -April 8, 2005- The Bear  Stearns  Companies  Inc.  (NYSE:  BSC) today
announced  its regular  quarterly  cash  dividend on its  outstanding  shares of
common stock.

The Board of Directors declared a regular, quarterly cash dividend of 25 cents
per share on the outstanding shares of common stock, payable April 29, 2005 to
stockholders of record on April 19, 2005.

Founded in 1923, The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. (NYSE:BSC) is the parent
company of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., a leading investment banking and securities
trading and brokerage firm. With approximately $48.8 billion in total capital,
Bear Stearns serves governments, corporations, institutions and individuals
worldwide. The company's business includes corporate finance, mergers and
acquisitions, institutional equities and fixed income sales and trading,
securities research, private client services, derivatives, foreign exchange and
futures sales and trading, asset management and custody services. Through Bear,
Stearns Securities Corp., it offers financing, securities lending, clearing and
technology solutions to hedge funds, broker-dealers and investment advisors.
Headquartered in New York City, the company has approximately 11,000 employees
worldwide. For additional information about Bear Stearns, please visit the
firm's website at http://www.bearstearns.com.