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> 3
   <NAME> HIGH INCOME BOND 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>                             9394
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                            8162
<RECEIVABLES>                                      310
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                38
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                    8510
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                           83
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                 83
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                          8754
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                              934
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                             1659
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                         1768
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                           863
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                        (1232)
<NET-ASSETS>                                      8427
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                   25
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                  551
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                    (69)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            507
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                         (539)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                        (438)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                            (470)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                            188
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                      (913)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          (7040)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                           1261
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                            324
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                               40
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                    117
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                             11630
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             9.32
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   1.13
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (1.43)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               9.02
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    1.2
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0


</TABLE>