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> 8
   <NAME> GROWTH & INCOME 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>                            22187
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                           22160
<RECEIVABLES>                                     1014
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 3
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   23177
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                          1060
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                          681
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                               1741
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                         17326
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                             1326
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                             1641
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                          260
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                           3877
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                          (27)
<NET-ASSETS>                                     21436
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                  204
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                   31
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                   (144)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             91
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                           423
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                       (1389)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                            (875)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                             83
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                      (398)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          (5697)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                            169
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                         3454
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                               87
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                    168
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                             23265
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            16.54
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.09
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.47)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              16.16
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.25
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0


</TABLE>