Bandhan Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

Bandhan Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹19.0751 as of 11 Sep 2026 and an AUM of ₹224 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 6.03%, 7.36% and 6.35%, respectively, and the scheme sits in the Medium Risk category. Our view is that it suits investors who can accept some credit and price fluctuation in exchange for a steadier return profile than equities.

The fund has stayed ahead of the benchmark over the longer periods in the figures available here, while the near-term return is more restrained. That mix points to a debt allocation that has delivered gradual compounding rather than sharp bursts, but it still needs an investor comfortable with credit-risk exposure and a moderate-risk path.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹19.0751 as of 11 Sep 2026
AUM	₹224 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.67%
Launch Date	03 Mar 2017
Min SIP	₹100
Risk Category	Medium Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Debt
Exit Load	1% on or before 365D
Fund Managers	Gautam Kaul, Debraj Lahiri

The fund is managed by Gautam Kaul and Debraj Lahiri.

Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	0.10%	-3.66%
3M	1.56%	-1.91%
1Y	6.03%	-7.62%
3Y	7.36%	6.22%
5Y	6.35%	5.84%

The recent picture is constructive. Over 1 month and 3 months, the fund stayed in positive territory while the benchmark was negative, which tells us the scheme was more resilient in the latest stretch. That is useful for a credit-risk fund because the path matters as much as the end return.

The 1-year return at 6.03% also contrasts sharply with the benchmark’s -7.62%, so the fund has clearly behaved better than the index over the last year. Even so, the gain is not especially aggressive for a credit-oriented strategy, which suggests a measured return profile rather than a high-octane rebound.

Longer-term compounding has been steadier. The 3-year return of 7.36% and 5-year return of 6.35% both sit ahead of the benchmark’s 6.22% and 5.84%, which supports a case for patient investors who want gradual accrual. The pattern in the performance path also shows some choppiness, but not enough to break the longer arc of recovery and accumulation.

Our reading is that the fund has done a better job of preserving its long-run line than the benchmark, especially in softer periods. For investors, that makes the recent and longer-term trends look consistent rather than contradictory: the scheme has not relied on one strong window, but on a more even build-up.

Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Bandhan Credit Risk?

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.

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Peer comparison

Fund	1Y return	3Y return	5Y return
Bandhan Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.03%	7.36%	6.35%
Bank of India Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan	17.93%	10.10%	27.75%
Aditya Birla SL Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan	12.82%	13.17%	10.88%
DSP Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan	11.22%	16.81%	13.33%
Axis Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan	8.64%	8.84%	7.68%
ICICI Pru Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan	8.61%	9.15%	8%

This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639. On 1-year returns, the fund trails every peer listed here, while the gap becomes even clearer against the stronger longer-term figures seen in several comparison funds. That said, the fund’s own 3-year and 5-year numbers are still ahead of the benchmark, so the picture is not weak in isolation.

The peer set also tells a split story across horizons. Some funds have notably stronger 1-year and 5-year outcomes, especially Bank of India Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan, while the current fund is more modest but steadier. Our view is that this makes the scheme look more conservative within the group, with less upside capture but a more restrained return path.

Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
8.35% Aditya Birla Real Estate Limited **	Corporate Debt	8.96%
7.75% Power Finance Corporation Limited **	Corporate Debt	8.95%
7.99% Ceat Limited **	Corporate Debt	8.93%
8.33% Tata Projects Limited **	Corporate Debt	8.93%
7.76% Aadhar Housing Finance Limited **	Corporate Debt	8.81%
7.51% Tata Housing Development Company Limited **	Corporate Debt	8.80%
7.9% Truhome Finance Limited **	Corporate Debt	8.80%
7.99% Godrej Seeds & Genetics Limited **	Corporate Debt	6.62%
7.85% Muthoot Finance Limited **	Corporate Debt	6.57%
Triparty Repo TRP_010926	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	5.52%

The largest holding is 8.96%, which is meaningful but not extreme for a credit-oriented debt portfolio. The next several positions are close behind, so the top of the portfolio is fairly tightly packed rather than dominated by one outsized line item.

Weight falls only gradually from the largest holding to the tenth, ending at 5.52%. That modest drop suggests the visible part of the portfolio is spread across several credit exposures rather than concentrated in a single issuer or a very small cluster.

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 80.89% of the portfolio, and there are 17 disclosed holdings in total. That tells us the scheme still carries a meaningful tail beyond the main positions, but the disclosed core is important enough that changes in those larger lines could have greater influence on returns.

To see all holdings, visit the Bandhan Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan page

Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund is a better fit for investors who can tolerate Medium Risk and are comfortable with a credit-risk debt strategy that may move unevenly in the short run. Its return pattern suggests a holding period of at least three to five years, because that is where the compounding picture looks more settled than in the one-year window.

The key trade-off is that the scheme has not shown the strongest recent return among the comparison funds, yet it has still held up better than the benchmark across the periods shown here. Investors looking for smoother debt-style growth may find that balance acceptable, while those seeking the highest possible short-term upside may prefer a different risk profile.

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: 1% on or before 365D. No exit load after holding period.

Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Bandhan Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹19.0751 as of 11 Sep 2026.

What are the 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?

The fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 6.03%, 7.36% and 6.35%, respectively.

How has the fund performed versus its benchmark?

It has done better than the benchmark across the periods shown here. The benchmark’s 1-year figure is negative, while the fund remains positive over 1 month, 3 months and 1 year, and also stays ahead over 3 years and 5 years.

How does it compare with the peer funds listed here?

Its 1-year return is lower than the peer funds shown here, while its 3-year and 5-year returns are also more modest than several of those peers. The fund’s profile looks steadier than the stronger return leaders in the comparison set.

What is the minimum SIP amount?

The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?

The fund is managed by Gautam Kaul and Debraj Lahiri. The exit load is 1% on or before 365D, and there is no exit load after the holding period.

Bottom line

Bandhan Credit Risk Fund Direct Growth Plan has shown a steadier long-run pattern than its benchmark, even though its latest one-year return is more restrained than several peers. The fund sits in the Medium Risk bucket, and its portfolio is built around a fairly compact set of corporate debt holdings rather than a single dominant position. For investors who want debt exposure with a credit-risk tilt and are willing to hold through moderate variation, the scheme reads as a patient, long-horizon candidate rather than a short-term return chase.

Published on 15 September 2026 at 3:12 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.