PRICING SUPPLEMENT NO. 12                                         Rule 424(b)(3)
DATED:  August 19, 2005                                      File No. 333-121744
(To Prospectus dated February 2, 2005,
and Prospectus Supplement dated February 2, 2005)

                                 $12,410,781,162
                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.
                           Medium-Term Notes, Series B

Principal Amount: $25,000,000   Floating Rate Notes [x]  Book Entry Notes [x]

Original Issue Date: 8/24/2005  Fixed Rate Notes [ ]     Certificated Notes [ ]

Maturity Date:  8/24/2007       CUSIP#: 073928L50

Option to Extend Maturity:      No    [x]
                                Yes   [ ]  Final Maturity Date:


                                              Optional            Optional
                         Redemption           Repayment           Repayment
   Redeemable On          Price(s)             Date(s)            Price(s)
   -------------       --------------       -------------      -----------

        N/A                  N/A                 N/A                 N/A

Applicable Only to Fixed Rate Notes:
-----------------------------------

Interest Rate:

Interest Payment Dates:

Applicable Only to Floating Rate Notes:
--------------------------------------

Interest Rate Basis:                     Maximum Interest Rate:  N/A

[ ]  Commercial Paper Rate               Minimum Interest Rate:  N/A

[ ]  Federal Funds Effective Rate

[x]  Federal Funds Open Rate             Interest Reset Date(s): Daily

[ ]  Treasury Rate                       Interest Reset Period:  Daily

[ ]  LIBOR Reuters                       Interest Payment Date(s):  *

[ ]  LIBOR Telerate

[ ]  Prime Rate

[ ]  CMT Rate

Initial Interest Rate:  3.63%            Interest Payment Period:  Quarterly

Index Maturity:  N/A

Spread (plus or minus):  +0.13%


* On the 24th of each November, February, May and August, including the maturity
date.

The distribution of Notes will conform to the requirements set forth in Rule
2720 of the NASD Conduct Rules.