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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 EvjL7W0OTdYeEeynUUdGHA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000869392-03-000393.txt : 20031029
<SEC-HEADER>0000869392-03-000393.hdr.sgml : 20031029
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031029141539
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000869392-03-000393
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	NSAR-B
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030831
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031029
EFFECTIVENESS DATE:		20031029

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PUTNAM HIGH INCOME BOND FUND
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000810943
		IRS NUMBER:				046562068
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0831

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		NSAR-B
		SEC ACT:		1940 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-05133
		FILM NUMBER:		03963194

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE POST OFFICE SQ
		STREET 2:		MAILSTOP A 14
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8002251581

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PUTNAM LLC
		STREET 2:		ONE POST OFFICE SQ
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PUTNAM HIGH BOND FUND
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20021107

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PUTNAM HIGH INCOME CONVERTIBLE & BOND FUND
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
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<PAGE>      PAGE  4
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<PAGE>      PAGE  5
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SIGNATURE   MICHAEL T. HEALY
TITLE       PRINC. ACCT. OFFICER


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>audltr061.txt
<TEXT>
October 8, 2003


To the Trustees and Shareholders of Putnam High Income Bond Fund:

In planning and performing our audit of the financial statements
of Putnam High Income Bond Fund for the year ended August 31,
2003, we considered its internal control, including control
activities for safeguarding securities, in order to determine our
auditing procedures for the purpose of expressing our opinion on
the financial statements and to comply with the requirements of
Form N-SAR, not to provide assurance on internal control.

The management of Putnam High Income Bond Fund is responsible for
establishing and maintaining internal control.  In fulfilling
this responsibility, estimates and judgments by management are
required to assess the expected benefits and related costs of
controls.  Generally, controls that are relevant to an audit
pertain to the entitys objective of preparing financial
statements for external purposes that are fairly presented in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America.  Those controls include the
safeguarding of assets against unauthorized acquisition, use or
disposition.

Because of inherent limitations in internal control, errors or
fraud may occur and may not be detected.  Also, projection of any
evaluation of internal control to future periods is subject to
the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes
in conditions or that the effectiveness of the design and
operation may deteriorate.

Our consideration of internal control would not necessarily
disclose all matters in internal control that might be material
weaknesses under standards established by the American Institute
of Certified Public Accountants.  A material weakness is a
condition in which the design or operation of one or more of the
internal control components does not reduce to a relatively low
level the risk that misstatements caused by error or fraud in
amounts that would be material in relation to the financial
statements being audited may occur and not be detected within a
timely period by employees in the normal course of performing
their assigned functions.  However, we noted no matters involving
internal control and its operation, including controls for
safeguarding securities, that we consider to be material
weaknesses as defined above as of August 31, 2003.

This report is intended solely for the information and use of
management and the Board of Trustees and the Securities and
Exchange Commission and is not intended to be and should not be
used by anyone other than these specified parties.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
