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> 1
   <NAME> 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>                            47883
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                           75884
<RECEIVABLES>                                       11
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 7
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   75902
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                           477
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                          140
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                617
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                         19767
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                             1424
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                             1487
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                             121
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                          27638
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                         28001
<NET-ASSETS>                                     75285
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                  154
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                  106
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                   (381)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          (121)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                          4187
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                       (4319)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                            (253)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                            108
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                      (170)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          (3530)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                        23452
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                              264
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                  (381)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                             75795
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            53.02
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                 (0.09)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.06)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              52.87
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.01
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0


</TABLE>