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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


                                 April 25, 1999
                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   (Commission File Number)       (I.R.S. Employer
     of Incorporation)                                       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 April 25, 1999.

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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:  May 17, 1999


                                             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 April 25, 1999.......................5