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Schwab Funds® Summary Prospectus  February 29, 2012
 
 
Schwab Short-Term Bond Market Fundtm
 
Ticker Symbol:  SWBDX
 
 
Before you invest, you may want to review the fund’s prospectus, which contains more information about the fund and its risks. You can find the fund’s prospectus, Statement of Additional Information (SAI) and other information about the fund online at www.schwabfunds.com/prospectus. You can also obtain this information at no cost by calling 1-866-414-6349 or by sending an email request to orders@mysummaryprospectus.com. If you purchase or hold fund shares through a financial intermediary, the fund’s prospectus, SAI, and other information about the fund are available from your financial intermediary.
 
The fund’s prospectus dated December 15, 2011, and SAI dated December 15, 2011, as supplemented February 29, 2012, include a more detailed discussion of fund investment policies and the risks associated with various fund investments. The prospectus and SAI are incorporated by reference into the summary prospectus, making them legally a part of the summary prospectus.
 
Investment objective
 
The fund seeks high current income by tracking the performance of the Barclays Capital U.S. Government/Credit: 1-5 Years Index.
 
Fund fees and expenses
 
This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.
 
     
 Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
 
    None
     
     
 Annual fund operating expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)
Management fees   0.30
Distribution (12b-1) fees   None
Other expenses   0.32
     
Total annual fund operating expenses   0.62
Less expense reduction   (0.33)
     
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reduction1   0.29
     
1  The investment adviser and its affiliates have agreed to limit the total annual fund operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes and certain non-routine expenses) of the fund to 0.29% for so long as the investment adviser serves as the adviser to the fund. This agreement may only be amended or terminated with the approval of the fund’s Board of Trustees.
 
 Example
 
 
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those time periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same. The figures are based on total annual fund operating expenses after expense reduction. The expenses would be the same whether you stayed in the fund or sold your shares at the end of each period. Your actual costs may be higher or lower.
 
 Expenses on a $10,000 investment
 
             
1 year   3 years   5 years   10 years
$30
  $93   $163   $368
 
 Portfolio turnover
 
The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 94% of the average value of its portfolio.
 
Principal investment strategies
 
To pursue its goal, the fund primarily invests in a diversified portfolio of debt instruments that is designed to track the performance of the Barclays Capital U.S. Government/Credit: 1-5 Years Index. The fund uses the index as a guide in structuring the fund’s portfolio and selecting its investments. However, the fund is not required to invest any percentage of its assets in the securities represented in the index. Under normal circumstances, the dollar-weighted average maturity of the fund’s portfolio is not expected to exceed three years.
 
The fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in debt instruments of varying maturities. The fund will notify its shareholders at least 60 days before changing this policy. The fund invests primarily in investment grade instruments. The fund may invest in fixed-, variable- or floating-rate debt instruments. The fund also may invest in debt instruments of domestic and foreign issuers.
 
The fund may also invest in derivative instruments, principally futures contracts. The fund typically uses futures as a substitute for taking a position in the underlying asset or as a part of a strategy designed to reduce exposure to other risks.
 
The fund may buy and sell portfolio securities actively. If it does, its portfolio turnover rate and transaction costs will rise, which may lower fund performance and increase the likelihood of capital gain distributions.

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Principal risks
 
The fund is subject to risks, any of which could cause an investor to lose money. The fund’s principal risks include:
 
Market Risk. Bond markets rise and fall daily. As with any investment whose performance is tied to these markets, the value of your investment in the fund will fluctuate, which means that you could lose money.
 
Investment Style Risk. The fund invests in securities of the short-term bond market, as measured by the index. The fund is designed to follow the performance of the index during upturns as well as downturns. As a result, the fund will not take steps to reduce market exposure or lessen the effects of a declining market.
 
Tracking Error Risk. The fund is designed to track the performance of its benchmark index, although it may not be successful in doing so. The divergence between the performance of a fund and its benchmark index, positive or negative, is called “tracking error.” Tracking error can be caused by many factors and it may be significant. For example, the fund is not required to invest any percentage of its assets in securities represented in its benchmark index and may not invest in certain securities in the benchmark index, or match the securities’ weightings to the benchmark, due to regulatory, operational, custodial or liquidity constraints; corporate transactions; asset valuations; transaction costs and timing; tax considerations; and index rebalancing, which may result in tracking error.
 
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rates will rise and fall over time. During periods when interest rates are low, the fund’s yield and total return also may be low. Changes in interest rates also may affect the fund’s share price: a sharp rise in interest rates could cause the fund’s share price to fall. The longer the fund’s duration, the more sensitive to interest rate movements its share price is likely to be.
 
Credit Risk. The fund is subject to the risk that a decline in the credit quality of a portfolio investment could cause the fund to lose money or underperform. The fund could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a portfolio investment fails to make timely principal or interest payments or otherwise honor its obligations.
 
Liquidity Risk. A particular investment may be difficult to purchase or sell. The fund may be unable to sell a security at an advantageous time or price.
 
Derivatives Risk. The fund’s use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments and could cause the fund to lose more than the principal amount invested. In addition, investments in derivatives may involve leverage, which means a small percentage of assets invested in derivatives can have a disproportionately larger impact on the fund.
 
Foreign Investment Risk. The fund’s investments in securities of foreign issuers may involve certain risks that are greater than those associated with investments in securities of U.S. issuers. These include risks of adverse changes in foreign economic, political, regulatory and other conditions; changes in currency exchange rates or exchange control regulations (including limitations on currency movements and exchanges); differing accounting, auditing, financial reporting and legal standards and practices; differing securities market structures; and higher transaction costs. These risks may be heightened in connection with investments in emerging markets.
 
Lack of Governmental Insurance or Guarantee. An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency.
 
For more information on the risks of investing in the fund please see the “Fund details” section in the prospectus.
 
Performance
 
The bar chart below shows how the fund’s investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund’s average annual total returns for various periods compared to that of an index. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. All figures assume distributions were reinvested. Keep in mind that future performance (both before and after taxes) may differ from past performance. For current performance information, please see www.schwabfunds.com/prospectus.
 
 Annual total returns (%) as of 12/31
 
(GRAPH)
 
Best quarter: 3.87% Q3 2001     Worst quarter: (1.58%) Q1 2008
Year-to-date performance (non-annualized and pre-tax) as of
9/30/11:
2.33%
 
 Average annual total returns (%) as of 12/31/10
 
                         
    1 year   5 years   10 years
Before taxes
    3.57%       1.88%       3.02%  
After taxes on distributions
    2.98%       0.60%       1.64%  
After taxes on distributions and sale of shares
    2.32%       0.86%       1.76%  
Comparative Index (reflects no deduction for expenses or taxes)
                       
Barclays Capital U.S. Government/Credit: 1-5 Years Index
    4.08%       5.05%       4.88%  
 
The after-tax figures reflect the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during the period and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation. In addition, after-tax returns are not relevant if you hold your fund shares through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan, IRA or other tax-advantaged account.
 
Investment adviser
 
Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.

         
Summary Prospectus  February 29, 2012   2 of 4   Schwab Short-Term Bond Market Fundtm


 

Portfolio managers
 
Matthew Hastings, CFA, a managing director and portfolio manager of the investment adviser, has day-to-day responsibility for the co-management of the fund. He has managed the fund since 1999.
 
Steven Hung, a managing director and portfolio manager of the investment adviser, has day-to-day responsibility for the co-management of the fund. He has managed the fund since 1998.
 
Alfonso Portillo, Jr., a managing director and portfolio manager of the investment adviser, has day-to-day responsibility for the co-management of the fund. He has managed the fund since 2007.
 
Steven Chan, CFA, a portfolio manager of the investment adviser, has day-to-day responsibility for the co-management of the fund. He has managed the fund since 2007.
 
Brandon Matsui, CFA, a portfolio manager of the investment adviser, has day-to-day responsibility for the co-management of the fund. He has managed the fund since 2010.
 
Purchase and sale of fund shares
 
The fund is open for business each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open. When you place orders to purchase, exchange or redeem fund shares through an account at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Schwab) or another financial intermediary, you must follow Schwab’s or the other financial intermediary’s transaction procedures.
 
Eligible Investors (as determined by the fund and which generally are limited to institutional investors) may invest directly in the fund by placing purchase, exchange and redemption orders through the fund’s transfer agent. Eligible Investors must contact the transfer agent by phone or in writing to obtain an account application. Eligible Investors may contact the transfer agent:
 
  •  by telephone at 1-800-407-0256; or
 
  •  by mail in writing at Boston Financial Data Services, Attn: Schwab Funds, P.O. Box 8283, Boston, MA 02266-8323.
 
The minimum initial investment for the fund is $100. The fund may waive the minimum initial investment for certain investors.
 
Tax information
 
Dividends and capital gains distributions received from the fund will generally be taxable as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged account.
 
Payments to financial intermediaries
 
If you purchase shares of the fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

         
Summary Prospectus  February 29, 2012   3 of 4   Schwab Short-Term Bond Market Fundtm


 

Schwab Funds®

REG58792FLD-07

Schwab Short-Term Bond Market Fundtm; Ticker Symbol:  SWBDX

         
Summary Prospectus  February 29, 2012   4 of 4   Schwab Short-Term Bond Market Fundtm