By If you’re holding premium bonds, you’ve probably wondered whether your numbers have come up. Maybe you bought them years ago and forgot about them, or perhaps you check every month, hoping for good news.
There’s a simple solution: a premium bond prize checker. This free tool tells you in seconds whether you’ve won anything. No more manually comparing numbers or waiting for letters.
Let me walk you through everything you need to know about checking your premium bonds and what to do if you’ve won.
•• What Is a Premium Bond Prize Checker?
A premium bond prize checker is an online tool from NS&I (National Savings and Investments) that tells you whether your bond numbers have won prizes. It’s free and available to anyone with premium bonds.
You can check the bonds you currently hold or the bonds you cashed in over the past six years. The tool searches all monthly prize draws and shows you if your numbers have been selected.
It takes about 30 seconds. You just need your holder’s number and a few details to confirm your identity.
•• Why Check Your Bonds Regularly
Here’s something surprising: thousands of prizes go unclaimed every year. There’s over £82 million in unclaimed premium bond prizes sitting there.
Why? People move house and don’t update their address. They forget they own bonds. They assume they’ll be notified, but if NS&I doesn’t have current details, they can’t reach you.
Check your bonds monthly using the premium bond checker, right after results are announced (usually around the 5th of each month). You might be owed money right now.
•• How to Use the NS&I Premium Bond Checker
••• Step 1: Gather Your Information
You need:
Your holder’s number (on your premium bond documents)
surname
Your initials
••• Step 2: Visit the NS&I Website
Go to the official NS&I website and find the prize checker tool. Always use the official site for security.
••• Step 3: Enter Your Details
Input your holder’s number and identifying information. The system searches all prize draws and tells you if you’ve won.
You can check current bonds or bonds cashed in within six years.
••• Step 4: Review Your Results
The checker shows:
– Whether you’ve won prizes
– Prize amounts
– Which months are from
– Whether prizes have been paid
•• Premium Bond Checker: Have I Won?
When you check, you’ll see one of three outcomes:
“You haven’t won yet.” Most common. Premium bonds have odds of 21,000 to 1 for each £1 bond number monthly. Small holdings might go months between wins.
“You’ve won, and it’s been paid.” The money should be in your account or added to your bonds.
“You’ve won,n but it’s unclaimed.” Contact NS&I immediately to arrange payment.
•• What to Do If You’ve Won
••• Contact NS&I
Call their helpline or use their contact form. Have your holder’s number ready. They’ll verify your identity and arrange payment within a few weeks.
••• Update Your Details
Fix your address or bank details immediately. Choose how to receive future prizes:
– Bank account payment
– Automatic reinvestment into more bonds
– Cheque in the post
••• Check Your Timeline
You can claim prizes from current bonds indefinitely. For cashed bonds, you have six years to claim. After that, the money goes back to the government.
•• How Often Are Prizes Drawn?
Premium bonds have a monthly prize draw, usually at the start of the month, with results announced around the 5th.
Each £1 bond enters every monthly draw. If you have 1,000 bonds, that’s 1,000 chances monthly.
Prizes range from £25 to the £1 million jackpot. Two jackpot winners monthly, plus hundreds of thousands of smaller prizes.
•• Common Problems and Solutions
••• I Don’t Have My Holder’s Number
Log in to your NS&I online account to find it. No online access? Call NS&I. You can also check using bond numbers and surname.
••• The Checker Says I’ve Won, But I Never Received Payment
NS&I doesn’t have your current details. Update them immediately and request payment.
••• I Bought Bonds Years Ago and Forgot About Them
The checker searches bonds going back decades. Contact NS&I if you’re unsure whether you still own them.
•• Understanding Your Odds
Premium bonds aren’t like lottery tickets. They’re savings where your money enters monthly prize draws instead of earning interest.
The current prize fund rate is 4.40% annually. But that money doesn’t distribute evenly. Some win big, most win smaller amounts or nothing.
Your odds depend on how many bonds you hold. Someone with £50,000 (the maximum) has 50,000 monthly entries.
•• Tips for Premium Bond Holders
“Keep details updated.” Make sure NS&I has your current address, phone, and bank details.
“Set up online access.” Managing bonds online is easier for checking prices and updating information.
“Check monthly.” Set a calendar reminder for the 6th of each month.
“Choose bank payment.” Direct bank payment is the most reliable way to receive prizes.
“Don’t rely on them for guaranteed growth.” Premium bonds are fun but not ideal if you need steady returns.
•• Frequently Asked Questions
••• How do I check if my premium bonds have won?
Use the free NS&I Premium Bond prize checker online. You need your holder’s number or bond numbers plus your surname.
••• Can I check old premium bonds I’ve cashed in?
Yes, if you cashed them within the last six years. Any prizes older than that cannot be claimed.
••• How long do I have to claim a prize?
Indefinitely if you still hold the bonds. Six years from the encashment date if you’ve cashed them.
••• What happens to unclaimed prizes?
After six years, they transferred back to the government. Check regularly and keep details current.
••• Do I get notified if I win?
NS&I tries, but only if they have current details. Don’t rely on notifications. Check yourself.
••• What’s the minimum and maximum holding?
Minimum purchase is £25. Maximum holding is £50,000.
••• Are prizes tax-free?
Yes. All prizes are completely tax-free, making them attractive to higher-rate taxpayers.
••• Can children have premium bonds?
Yes. Parents can buy them for children under 16. The child takes ownership at 16.
•• Conclusion and Recommendations
Checking your premium bonds should be quick, easy, and regular. Don’t sit on unclaimed prizes.
“Check monthly.” Set a phone reminder for the 6th and spend two minutes checking.
“Update your details today.” Log in to your NS&I account and confirm that they have current information.
“Set up direct bank payment.” The most reliable way to get your winnings.
“Check old bonds now.” You might have unclaimed prizes waiting.
The premium bond prize checker is free and fast. Take two minutes today to find out if you’ve won.