<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000808490
<NAME> VARIABLE INVESTORS SERIES TRUST
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 4
   <NAME> HIGH INCOME BOND PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                          8449539
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                         8589168
<RECEIVABLES>                                   344305
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       3
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 8933476
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       169636
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             169636
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                       9245346
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          1020302
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                           982001
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                         (14589)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                      (606546)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                        139629
<NET-ASSETS>                                   8763840
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                 3829
<INTEREST-INCOME>                               828304
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                  101458
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         730675
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       (16476)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                       723665
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          1437864
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                       774133
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         685858
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                   (737813)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                              90256
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          992754
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                         (5486)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                    (555344)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                            59701
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                 172086
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                           8478407
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            7.914
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                  0.779
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          0.717
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                           (0.821)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                        0.000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                             0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              8.589
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.20
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>