<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT TO
SHAREHOLDERS DATED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000217420
<NAME> UNITED FUNDS, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 04
   <NAME> UNITED BOND FUND
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                      515,545,029
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     525,669,229
<RECEIVABLES>                                8,191,114
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  15,993
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                             2,169
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             533,878,505
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                    3,226,094
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          3,226,094
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                             83,368,101
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                   459,573,882
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       86,368,101
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                      802,660
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                   (26,216,432)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                    10,124,200
<NET-ASSETS>                               530,652,411
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                           38,151,761
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                             (4,124,730)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                     34,027,031
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     1,490,998
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                 (19,287,816)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                       16,230,213
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                 (34,062,007)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                      8,247,468
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>               (15,897,636)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                          4,704,129
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                    (35,824,634)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                        575,962
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
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<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                              4,124,730
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                       536,895,373
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             6.34
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .39
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          (.20)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             (.39)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               6.14
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .77
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>