<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001000579
<NAME> AMERIPRIME FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 17
<NAME> Ariston Convertible Securities Fund
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> US Dollars
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 16,110,623
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 23,357,764
<RECEIVABLES> 258,232
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 23,615,996
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 128,550
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 128,550
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 15,949,014
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 964,710
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 638,522
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (193,739)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 485,030
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 7,247,141
<NET-ASSETS> 23,487,446
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 53,441
<INTEREST-INCOME> (13,366)
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 233,814
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (193,739)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 617,857
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (1,773,506)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (1,349,388)
<EQUALIZATION> 1
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 172
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 14,131,053
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 5,254,139
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 172
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 7,527,526
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (132,655)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 232,046
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 233,814
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 20,897,619
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 25.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.24)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.41)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 24.35
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.25
</TABLE>