<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000808490
<NAME> VARIABLE INVESTORS SERIES TRUST
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 9
   <NAME> GROWTH & INCOME PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                         14753428
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                        16043858
<RECEIVABLES>                                   407346
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                    2286
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                16453490
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                        244932
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                        77820
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             322752
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                      13792028
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          1127255
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                           829257
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        78331
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                         969949
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                       1290430
<NET-ASSETS>                                  16130738
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                               126014
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                31302
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                   78985
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          78331
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       1119188
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                       690668
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          1888187
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         382020
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                      84022
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                         5830692
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                    (149329)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                            47241
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                 106063
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                          12702392
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                           12.421
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                  0.069
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          1.820
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                             14.310
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.25
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>