WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000808490
<NAME> VARIABLE INVESTORS SERIES TRUST
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 7
   <NAME> SMALL CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
<MULTIPLIER> 1000

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                            16311
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                           26373
<RECEIVABLES>                                      613
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 2
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   26988
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                           244
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                           45
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                289
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                         11475
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                              776
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                              700
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                             150
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                           5312
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                         10062
<NET-ASSETS>                                     26699
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                    4
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                   (154)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          (150)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                          2188
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                         3046
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                             5084
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                            271
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                      (196)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                            7602
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                         3124
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                               97
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                    169
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                             22903
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            27.27
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                 (0.19)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           7.34
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              34.42
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.35
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0


</TABLE>