PRICING SUPPLEMENT NO. 3                                          Rule 424(b)(3)
DATED:  January 30, 2002                                      File No. 333-76894
(To Prospectus dated January 25, 2002,
and Prospectus Supplement dated January 25, 2002)

                                 $10,006,693,162
                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.
                           MEDIUM-TERM NOTES, SERIES B

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

Original Issue Date: 2/1/2002  Fixed Rate Notes [x]       Certificated Notes [ ]

Maturity Date:  3/3/2003       CUSIP#:  073928WH2

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:  2.54%

Interest Payment Date(s):  *

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

Interest Rate Basis:                     Maximum Interest Rate:

[ ]   Commercial Paper Rate              Minimum Interest Rate:

[ ]   Federal Funds Effective Rate

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

[ ]   Treasury Rate                      Interest Reset Period:

[ ]   LIBOR Reuters                      Interest Payment Date(s):

[ ]   LIBOR Telerate

[ ]   Prime Rate

[ ]   CMT Rate

Initial Interest Rate:                   Interest Payment Period:

Index Maturity:

Spread (plus or minus):

*    September 3, 2002 and at Maturity.

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