Bandhan Financial Services Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 18, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Bandhan Financial Services Fund Direct Growth Plan currently has a NAV of ₹15.539 as of 17 September 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹1,122 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 1.96%, 14.35% and 0%, and the scheme is tagged High Risk. Our view is that this is a bank-and-finance-heavy equity fund with a meaningful concentration in large financial names, so it may suit investors who can accept sharp swings in exchange for focused exposure.
The recent return pattern is weaker than its 3-year record, and the 1-year figure has been modest relative to the benchmark. That makes it more suitable for investors who want a sector-tilted equity allocation and can stay invested through uneven stretches rather than those looking for steady short-term consistency.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹15.539 as of 17 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹1,122 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.61% |
| Launch Date | 28 Jul 2023 |
| Min SIP | ₹100 |
| Risk Category | High Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Equity |
| Exit Load | 0.50% on or before 30D, Nil after 30D |
| Fund Managers | Ritu Modi, Harshvardhan Agrawal, Harshal Joshi |
The fund is managed by Ritu Modi, Harshvardhan Agrawal and Harshal Joshi.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -1.51% | -3.66% |
| 3M | 0.32% | -3.71% |
| 1Y | 1.96% | -7.13% |
| 3Y | 14.35% | 5.82% |
| 5Y | Data not available | Data not available |
The short-term path has been choppy. The fund slipped over the latest month, but it still held up better than the benchmark in both the 1-month and 3-month windows, which tells us the portfolio has not moved in lockstep with the broader market.
At the 1-year mark, the fund is still ahead of the benchmark, but the margin is not wide. That suggests the strategy has defended better than the index in a weaker market phase, yet it has not produced a strong absolute gain over the past year.
The 3-year record is the more encouraging part of the picture. The fund’s return is clearly ahead of the benchmark over that stretch, which points to a better medium-term compounding outcome than the index. Even so, the recent softness matters because it shows the fund can give back part of that lead in shorter bursts.
There is no 5-year return history here because the scheme is younger than that period. For investors, the main takeaway is that the fund has shown better medium-term behaviour than the benchmark, but the latest year has been much less compelling than the 3-year stretch.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Bandhan Financial Services?
A fund’s past returns alone don’t tell you whether you should buy it today or continue holding it.
The right decision depends on factors such as your current allocation, purchase price, risk profile, investment horizon and the role this fund plays in your overall portfolio.
Already holding Bandhan Financial Services? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandhan Financial Services Fund Direct Growth Plan | 1.96% | 14.35% | Data not available |
| ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan | 69.8% | 36.32% | Data not available |
| HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 25.31% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Kotak Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 25.27% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Motilal Oswal Active Momentum Fund Direct Growth Plan | 24.51% | Data not available | Data not available |
| PGIM India Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan | 22.75% | Data not available | Data not available |
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.
Among the peer set, the fund’s 1-year return is far below the stronger short-term numbers shown by the sector-focused and thematic peers. Its 3-year return is also meaningfully lower than the longer-history peer that has a 3-year figure available, so the medium-term edge is not visible in this comparison.
That said, the peer table also shows that several funds do not have 3-year figures available, so the picture is mixed across horizons. In practical terms, the fund looks more conservative on recent upside than the stronger peer performers, while still offering a clearer 3-year history than many of the newer or shorter-track peers in the group.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| ICICI Bank Limited | Bank | 14.72% |
| HDFC Bank Limited | Bank | 10.23% |
| Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited | Bank | 5.59% |
| Axis Bank Limited | Bank | 4.72% |
| Bajaj Finance Limited | Finance | 4.33% |
| State Bank of India | Bank | 3.91% |
| Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Ltd | Finance | 3.15% |
| One 97 Communications Limited | IT | 2.39% |
| Max Financial Services Limited | Finance | 2.24% |
| Shriram Finance Limited | Finance | 2.23% |
The top 10 holdings account for approximately 53.51% of the portfolio.
To see all holdings, visit the Bandhan Financial Services Fund Direct Growth Plan page
The largest holding, ICICI Bank Limited, carries a weight of 14.72%, so it is likely to have greater influence on portfolio moves than the rest of the book. The drop from the first holding to the tenth is visible, but not extreme, which suggests the fund still keeps a broad enough spread across its listed positions.
Even so, the top 10 together account for just over half of the portfolio, which means a sizeable share is still spread across the remaining 41 disclosed holdings. That mix points to a portfolio that is not narrowly single-stock driven, but it may still be meaningfully shaped by the large bank and finance positions at the top.
Because banks dominate the leading holdings and finance names also appear multiple times, the portfolio could behave more like a focused financials allocation than a diversified broad-market equity fund. Investors should read that as a style choice: it may help when financials are strong, but it can also make the fund more sensitive when that part of the market is under pressure.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund suits investors who are comfortable with High Risk equity exposure and who can stay invested for at least a medium to long horizon. The 3-year record is better than the benchmark, but the 1-year result is modest and the latest month was weak, so short holding periods may not reflect the fund’s fuller potential.
The main trade-off is that you get focused exposure to financials and banks rather than a broad, balanced market mix. That focus can support stronger medium-term outcomes, but it also raises the chance of uneven short-run performance. Investors who want a sector-tilted equity fund and can tolerate volatility may find the profile workable.
Tax and exit load
| Holding period | Tax rate | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Units held less than 1 year | 20% | Short-term capital gains tax |
| Units held more than 1 year | 12.5% | Long-term capital gains tax |
Exit load applies at 0.50% on or before 30 days, and there is no exit load after 30 days.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Bandhan Financial Services Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹15.539 as of 17 September 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
Its 1-year return is 1.96%, its 3-year return is 14.35%, and its 5-year return is Data not available.
How does the fund compare with the Nifty 50?
It has beaten the Nifty 50 over 1 month, 3 months, 1 year and 3 years. The gap is most visible over 3 years, while the latest month was still negative for both.
How does the fund compare with the listed peer funds on 1-year returns?
Its 1-year return is much lower than the stronger peer figures in the list, including ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan and the healthcare and momentum peers.
Is there a minimum SIP amount?
Yes. The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.
Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
The fund is managed by Ritu Modi, Harshvardhan Agrawal and Harshal Joshi. The exit load is 0.50% on or before 30 days, and nil after 30 days.
Bottom line
Bandhan Financial Services Fund Direct Growth Plan has a mixed profile: the 3-year record is stronger than the benchmark, but the latest 1-year result is modest and the recent month was weak. The portfolio is also clearly tilted toward banks and financials, with the top 10 holdings accounting for just over half of assets. That makes it a focused equity fund with High Risk characteristics, better suited to investors who are comfortable with concentration and can wait through uneven shorter-term stretches.
Published on 18 September 2026 at 1:53 PM IST
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RIA disclosure
Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. Read all scheme-related documents carefully before investing. This review is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. (earlier known as Uniapps Global Research Pvt. Ltd.) under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639 for general informational purposes and is not personalized investment advice.