New Delhi, May 2026 Saarathi Finance and Credit Private Limited (SFCPL), a non-banking financial company (NBFC) dedicated to MSME lending in semi-urban and rural India, has been assigned an 'A- (Stable)' long-term credit rating by ICRA, along with an 'A2+' rating for its commercial paper programme a significant achievement within its very first year of lending operations.

The rating follows Saarathi Finance's inaugural equity funding round of approximately ₹477 crore in May 2025, backed by marquee institutional investors including TVS Capital, Lok Capital, Evolvence Equity Partners, and Paragon Partners. The company's founder and CEO, Vivek Bansal, holds a 49% stake, with institutional investors holding around 35.5%, reflecting strong alignment between management and capital partners.

Founded in August 2024 and licensed as an NBFC in April 2025, Saarathi Finance commenced lending operations the same month. As of December 31, 2025, the company reported Assets Under Management (AUM) of approximately ₹280 crore, operating through 62 branches across six states Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu with a team of over 630 employees.

ICRA's rating recognises Saarathi Finance's robust business model, experienced leadership team, disciplined underwriting frameworks, and strong capital base. The company's portfolio is primarily composed of secured business loans backed by mortgage, targeting the self-employed MSME customer segment.

Commenting on the rating, Vivek Bansal, Founder & CEO, said: "Securing an A- rating from ICRA in our very first year is a strong validation of Saarathi Finance's vision, governance and execution capabilities. It reflects the confidence that lenders, investors and stakeholders have in our strategy to build a high-quality, inclusive MSME lending franchise.

Saarathi Finance aims to maintain a secured-to-unsecured loan mix of 85:15 on a steady-state basis while expanding operations to more states and scaling its branch network over the coming years.
About Saarathi Finance and Credit Private Limited:

Saarathi Finance is a newly licensed NBFC focused on providing loans to MSMEs across semi-urban and rural India. The company offers secured business loans (₹3–25 lakh) and unsecured business loans (₹0.5–3 lakh), with a focus on the self-employed customer segment. Backed by leading institutional investors, Saarathi Finance is committed to building a high-quality, inclusive lending franchise across India.
Media Contact:
Saarthi Finance
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