Two fortunate Premium Bonds holders from Liverpool and Central Bedfordshire have each landed a life-changing £1 million jackpot in the latest monthly prize draw, National Savings & Investments (NS&I) has confirmed. The taxpayer-backed savings provider announced the winners as part of a massive prize pool exceeding £408 million, distributed among more than 6.1 million individual awards this February.
Details of the Mega Winners
The first £1 million winning Bond number, 489TB013219, belongs to a saver from Central Bedfordshire. This individual purchased the Bond in February 2022 and holds the maximum allowable amount of £50,000 in Premium Bonds. The second jackpot-winning Bond, numbered 040QJ919368, is held by someone in Liverpool, who also has the full £50,000 holding and bought their winning Bond back in October 2004.
A Broader Look at the Prize Distribution
While the two £1 million winners grab the headlines, the February draw saw a wide array of prizes awarded. In addition to the top jackpots, 78 Bond holders received £100,000 each, and 154 individuals scooped £50,000 prizes. At the more modest end of the spectrum, a staggering 2,643,007 prizes of £25 were also distributed. This month's draw brings the total amount won by Premium Bonds holders since the first draw in 1957 to an impressive £40 billion, with over 815 million prizes awarded historically.
How the Draw Works and Key Features
Premium Bonds, backed by HM Treasury, offer savers a unique way to set money aside with the chance to win tax-free prizes, rather than earning interest. Individuals can hold up to £50,000 in these Bonds. The draws are conducted by ERNIE (Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment), which uses advanced technology to generate random numbers each month. Newly purchased Bonds must be held for one full calendar month before becoming eligible for the prize draw.
Andrew Westhead, NS&I Retail Director, commented: "Congratulations to our two jackpot winners from Central Bedfordshire and Liverpool, who each start February £1 million richer. ERNIE has spread the love ahead of Valentine’s Day and we hope this brings both winners and their loved ones plenty to celebrate." He added, "It’s not just about the jackpot winners though; this month we’ve paid out over 6.1 million prizes worth more than £408 million."
Checking for Wins and Unclaimed Prizes
Bond holders can check if they have won prizes from the day after the first working day of each month, which for February is Tuesday, February 3. This can be done via the Premium Bonds prize checker app or by visiting the NS&I website. Winners who have registered their contact details will receive notifications via email or text each month.
However, NS&I has issued a warning to customers: if individuals move or change their contact or bank details and fail to update NS&I, they risk missing out on their winnings. Currently, there are more than 2.7 million unclaimed prizes, with a total value nearing £114.8 million, waiting to be claimed by their rightful owners.
The jackpot prize was increased to £1 million starting from the April 1994 draw, and there are now two £1 million prizes available each month, offering even more opportunities for savers to hit the big time.
