WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000919706
<NAME> THE CENTURA FUNDS INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 053
<NAME> SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> Year
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> 04/30/00
<PERIOD-START> 05/01/99
<PERIOD-END> 04/30/00
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 27201564
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 32037867
<RECEIVABLES> 354734
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 13204
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 32405805
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 202980
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 98593
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 301573
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 26832936
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1641902 <F1>
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 2363312 <F1>
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 434993
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 4836303
<NET-ASSETS> 32104232
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 229900
<INTEREST-INCOME> 8117
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 483922
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (245905)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 5554171
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 990897
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 6299163
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0 <F1>
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 3669115 <F1>
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0 <F1>
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 986472 <F1>
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 2036699 <F1>
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 328817 <F1>
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (6107331)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 769377
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 244052
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 499145
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 23908225 <F1>
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 12.72 <F1>
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.07) <F1>
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.33 <F1>
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0 <F1>
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 2.41 <F1>
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0 <F1>
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 12.57 <F1>
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.21 <F1>
<FN>
<F1> Class C
</FN>
</TABLE>