<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     The Schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
     financial statements for American Tax-Exempt Bond Trust and is qualified
     in its entirety by reference to such financial statements
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000916824
<NAME>                        American Tax Exempt Bond Trust
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                                  JAN-1-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1995
<CASH>                                           3,314,564
<SECURITIES>                                    13,697,140
<RECEIVABLES>                                      374,036
<ALLOWANCES>                                             0
<INVENTORY>                                              0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                         0
<PP&E>                                                   0
<DEPRECIATION>                                           0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  17,385,740
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              174,470
<BONDS>                                                  0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                                 0
<OTHER-SE>                                      17,211,270
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    17,385,740
<SALES>                                                  0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   376,779
<CGS>                                                    0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                            0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   148,893
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                       0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    227,886
<INCOME-TAX>                                             0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                      0
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                       227,886
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          .57
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            0