<Page>

                                                              Exhibit 99.906CERT

This certification is provided pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, and accompanies the report on Form N-CSR for
the period ended June 30, 2005 of BB&T Variable Insurance Funds (the
"Registrant").

I, Keith F. Karlawish, the President of the Registrant, certify that, to the
best of my knowledge,:

1.   the Form N-CSR fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
     15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ( 15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d));
     and

2.   the information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all
     material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
     Registrant.


    August 26,2005
- -------------------------------------------
Date


/s/ Keith F. Karlawish
- -------------------------------------------
Keith F. Karlawish
President

This certification is being furnished solely pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and is not being filed as part of Form N-CSR or as a
separate disclosure document. A signed original of this written statement
required by Section 906 has been provided to the Registrant and will be retained
by the Registrant and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its
staff upon request.

<Page>

This certification is provided pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, and accompanies the report on Form N-CSR for
the period ended June 30, 2005 of BB&T Variable Insurance Funds (the
"Registrant").

I, Troy A. Sheets, the Treasurer of the Registrant, certify that, to the best of
my knowledge,:

1.   the Form N-CSR fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
     15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ( 15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d));
     and

2.   the information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all
     material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
     Registrant.


 August 26,2005
- -------------------------------------------
Date


 /s/ Troy A. Sheets
- -------------------------------------------------------
Troy A. Sheets
Treasurer

This certification is being furnished solely pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and is not being filed as part of Form N-CSR or as a
separate disclosure document. A signed original of this written statement
required by Section 906 has been provided to the Registrant and will be retained
by the Registrant and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its
staff upon request.