National Savings and Investments (NS&I) has issued a fresh call to action for the millions of Britons holding Premium Bonds, urging them to conduct vital financial checks as 2026 gets underway.
New Year Financial Housekeeping
The government-backed savings provider is encouraging all bondholders to ensure their contact and bank details are up to date. An NS&I spokesperson emphasised that the start of the year is an ideal time for this essential financial admin, which can be completed easily online. This includes registering for online services if you have not already done so.
Customers can manage their accounts and check for prizes using the official NS&I website or mobile app. For those logging in online, you will need your NS&I number and password. App users have the convenience of using biometrics like fingerprint or facial recognition for swift access.
Millions in Prizes Awaiting Claim
A key part of the new year check is to see if you have any winnings that have not yet been collected. Shockingly, figures from October 2025 revealed that 2.6 million prizes, worth almost £110 million, were still unclaimed.
To check, holders can use the online prize checker tool on the NS&I website. This tool displays prizes won in the most recent monthly draw, any from the previous six months, and any older, unclaimed winnings. You will need your holder's number, which is a 9 or 10 digit number, or an 8-digit number followed by a letter.
NS&I also highlights a useful feature for automatic reinvestment: you can set up your account so that any prizes you win are automatically used to buy more Bonds. These new Bonds become eligible for the very next month's draw, unlike manually purchased Bonds which must be held for a full calendar month before entering.
Premium Bonds Prize Fund Rate Changes
The appeal of Premium Bonds lies in their prize-linked structure, where every £1 bond has an equal chance in a monthly draw for prizes ranging from £25 to the coveted £1 million jackpot. The current odds of any single £1 bond winning a prize are 22,000 to one.
However, the overall prize fund rate has seen multiple reductions throughout 2025. It started the year at 4%, having fallen from 4.15% in January. Further cuts followed in April and August, bringing the rate down to 3.8% and then to its current level of 3.6%.
While the rate has decreased, the opportunity to win tax-free prizes and the security of government backing continue to make Premium Bonds a popular savings choice for millions across the UK.
