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                       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


                                  July 25, 1998
                Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported)


                   BEAR STEARNS ASSET BACKED SECURITIES, INC.
  (as Depositor under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated June 1, 1998,
 providing for the Issuance of the American Residential Home Equity Loan Trust
                   Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 1998-1)


                   BEAR STEARNS ASSET BACKED SECURITIES, INC.
                   ------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)




                                                                                 
                  Delaware                              333-49015-01                           13-3836437
                  --------                              ------------                           ----------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)    (Commission File Number)      (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


                    245 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10167
                    -----------------------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)


                                 (212) 272-4095
                                 --------------
                         (Registrant's Telephone Number,
                              Including Area Code)

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


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                    INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT

Item 5.           OTHER EVENTS

                  On June 1, 1998, Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities, Inc.
                  (the "Company") entered into a Pooling and Servicing Agreement
                  dated as of June 1, 1998 (the "Pooling and Servicing
                  Agreement"), by and among the Company, as depositor; American
                  Residential Holdings, Inc., as seller (the "Seller");
                  Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., as master servicer (the "Master
                  Servicer"); and Bankers Trust Company of California, N.A, as
                  trustee (the "Trustee"), providing for the issuance of the
                  American Residential Home Equity Loan Trust Asset-Backed
                  Certificates, Series 1998-1 (the "Certificates").

                  The following exhibit which relates specifically to the
                  Certificates is included with this Current Report:

Item 7(c).        Exhibits

                  10.1              Monthly Payment Date Statement distributed
                                    to Certificateholders, dated July 25, 1998.


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                                    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 thereunto duly authorized.

Date: August 6, 1998


                       BEAR STEARNS ASSET BACKED
                       SECURITIES, INC.


                       By:   /s/ Jonathan Lieberman
                           ------------------------------------------------
                           Jonathan Lieberman
                           Vice President



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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number                                                       Page Number
- --------------                                                       -----------

                                                                  
10.1    Monthly Payment Date Statement distributed to
        Certificateholders, dated July 25, 1998..........................5