<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000808490
<NAME> VARIABLE INVESTORS SERIES TRUST
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 9
   <NAME> GROWTH & INCOME PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   8-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                          3256667
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                         3350528
<RECEIVABLES>                                    36484
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                     167
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 3387179
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                        52423
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                              52423
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                       3225253
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                           298528
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                          15642
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                         93861
<NET-ASSETS>                                   3334756
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                10010
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                17129
<OTHER-INCOME>                                   (101)
<EXPENSES-NET>                                   13967
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          13071
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                         43303
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                        93861
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                           150235
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                        13071
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                         27661
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         357601
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    (62718)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                               3645
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                         3334756
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                             8192
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                  81200
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                           1895941
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                           10.000
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                  0.045
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          1.266
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                           (0.045)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                      (0.095)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                             0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                             11.171
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.25
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>