Bank of India Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

Bank of India Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan currently has a NAV of ₹15.4419 as of 11 Sep 2026 and an AUM of ₹134 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 6.15%, 6.81% and 5.85% respectively, and it sits in the Low Risk category.

Our view is that this is a steady arbitrage-oriented hybrid fund rather than a return-chasing option. The return pattern is modest but consistent, and the portfolio is dominated by cash-like and short-term instruments, which fits conservative investors who want lower volatility and a smoother path than equity-heavy funds.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹15.4419 as of 11 Sep 2026
AUM	₹134 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.37%
Launch Date	18 Jun 2018
Min SIP	₹1,000
Risk Category	Low Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Hybrid
Exit Load	0.50% on or before 15D, Nil after 15D
Fund Managers	Nilesh Jethani

The fund is managed by Nilesh Jethani.

Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	0.54%	-4.81%
3M	1.44%	-3.63%
1Y	6.15%	-8.27%
3Y	6.81%	5.59%
5Y	5.85%	5.58%

The recent return pattern is calm rather than dramatic. Over the latest 1 month and 3 months, the fund stayed positive while the benchmark was negative, which tells us the strategy has been doing what an arbitrage fund is expected to do: keep the ride relatively stable when broader market sentiment is weak.

The 1-year figure is stronger than the benchmark by a wide margin, but the comparison changes over longer stretches. The 3-year return is only modestly ahead of the benchmark, while the 5-year return is almost in line. That suggests the fund has preserved a fairly stable compounding pattern rather than building a large performance gap over time.

The time pattern also points to controlled movement rather than sharp swings. There is some month-to-month variation, but nothing that looks like equity-style volatility. For investors, that matters because the fund’s role is less about high upside and more about parking money in a relatively measured return-seeking structure.

In our view, the key takeaway is that this fund has looked better in shorter windows than the benchmark, but the longer record is more restrained. That makes it useful as a conservative allocation tool, not as a core growth engine.

Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Bank of India Arbitrage?

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 Bank of India Arbitrage? Thinking of investing now?

Get your portfolio analysed for FREE by SEBI-registered Investment Adviser (RIA) through Univest MF Premium

Peer comparison

Fund	1Y return	3Y return	5Y return
Bank of India Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.15%	6.81%	5.85%
Quant Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan	7.6%	Data not available	Data not available
WOC Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan	7.08%	Data not available	Data not available
Franklin India Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.94%	Data not available	Data not available
Motilal Oswal Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.92%	Data not available	Data not available
Invesco India Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.76%	7.46%	7%

This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.

The current fund’s 1-year return trails the strongest 1-year peer figures in this set, but it remains comfortably above the benchmark over the same period. That combination matters more than the absolute spread because this category is typically judged on steadiness and consistency, not aggressive outperformance.

On longer periods, the picture is mixed. The fund is below Invesco India Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan on both 3-year and 5-year returns, while still showing a stable long-run profile. Compared with peers where 3-year and 5-year figures are available, the current fund’s record looks adequate rather than standout, which reinforces its defensive role.

Short-term and longer-term comparisons therefore tell slightly different stories. The recent year looks respectable, but the longer horizon suggests the fund is more about keeping pace than pulling away. For investors, that is useful if they value predictability over strong relative stretching.

Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
Net Receivables / (Payables)	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	77.33%
Bank of India Liquid Fund Direct Plan – Growth	Domestic Mutual Funds Units	14.42%
Punjab National Bank (04/02/2027) ** #	Certificate of Deposit	3.63%
TREPS	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	1.46%
91 Days Tbill (MD 01/10/2026)	Treasury Bills	1.11%
364 Days Tbill (MD 08/10/2026)	Treasury Bills	0.74%
364 Days Tbill (MD 04/03/2027)	Treasury Bills	0.65%

The largest disclosed position is Net Receivables / (Payables) at 77.33%, which means the portfolio is heavily shaped by cash and settlement-related balances. That can make the fund behave more like a conservative arbitrage vehicle than a conventional multi-asset portfolio.

There is a sharp drop from the largest item to the next holding at 14.42%, and then the weights narrow quickly after that. The tenth disclosed holding is not present because only seven holdings are disclosed, so the visible mix already suggests a short list with a very heavy first line item and a much smaller tail.

All disclosed holdings together account for 99.34% of the portfolio, across 7 rows. That leaves very little room for a long tail in the visible portfolio, so the fund may be relatively concentrated in a few cash-like or short-term exposures, even if those exposures are used to support a low-volatility structure.

Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund fits investors who want a Low Risk allocation and can accept modest returns in exchange for stability. Its strongest use case is a short-to-medium horizon holding where capital preservation and smoother movement matter more than chasing equity-style growth.

The trade-off is clear: the fund has been more resilient than the benchmark in weak market phases, but its longer-term return profile is only modest. Investors who want a calmer parking option, or a conservative sleeve alongside higher-risk holdings, are the better match here.

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% if units are sold on or before 15 days. There is no exit load after 15 days.

Source data date: as of 11 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Bank of India Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹15.4419 as of 11 Sep 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s returns are 6.15% over 1 year, 6.81% over 3 years and 5.85% over 5 years.

How does it compare with the benchmark?
It has outpaced the benchmark over 1 year, 3 months and 1 month, while the 3-year and 5-year gaps are much narrower. That makes the recent stretch look stronger than the longer one.

How does it compare with the peer funds listed here?
Its 1-year return is below the strongest peer figures in the comparison set, while the longer-horizon figures are steadier but not the highest where available. The comparison suggests a conservative, consistent profile rather than a standout return leader.

What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹1,000.

What is the fund’s risk category and exit load?
It is in the Low Risk category. The exit load is 0.50% if units are sold on or before 15 days, and nil after 15 days.

Bottom line

Bank of India Arbitrage Fund Direct Growth Plan has looked steadier in the recent periods than the benchmark, but its longer-term returns are more measured. Compared with the peer set, it is competitive without standing out on available longer-horizon figures. The portfolio leans heavily toward cash-like and short-term instruments, which supports its Low Risk profile. That makes it better suited to conservative investors seeking stability and a relatively restrained return pattern rather than a high-growth allocation.

Published on 16 September 2026 at 7:56 AM IST

Explore mutual funds with Univest

Review mutual fund data, compare performance and explore fund insights on Univest.

Explore Univest

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.