<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001026977
<NAME> CNI CHARTER FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 010
<NAME> CNI PRIME MONEY MARKET FUND CLASS I
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 526736
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 526736
<RECEIVABLES> 1520
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 528256
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 3056
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 3056
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 525170
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 201692
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 137656
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 30
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 0
<NET-ASSETS> 525200
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 19565
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (2322)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 17243
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 17243
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (8952)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1416610
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (1352579)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 5
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 64029
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 36
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 769
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2954
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 336098
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 1.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.05
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.05)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 1.00
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.63
</TABLE>