Millions of Premium Bonds savers across the UK are being urged to take immediate action, as a staggering £71 million in prizes sits unclaimed and waiting to be collected. National Savings and Investments (NS&I) has issued a vital plea for holders to ensure their details are up to date.
The Scale of the Unclaimed Premium Bonds Fortune
The numbers are truly astonishing. Currently, a massive 1.7 million prizes have not yet found their rightful owners. These aren't just small wins; the unclaimed haul includes two life-changing £1 million jackpots that someone is unknowingly missing out on.
The oldest unclaimed prize dates all the way back to the June 1957 draw, highlighting how easily these windfalls can be forgotten over decades.
Why Are So Many Prizes Going Unclaimed?
The primary reason for this growing mountain of unclaimed cash is simple: outdated contact information. People move house, change their names, or switch banks and forget to inform NS&I.
When a prize is drawn, NS&I attempts to notify the winner. If your address is incorrect, that all-important notification letter will never reach you. The prize money is then held securely until you come forward to claim it, no matter how long that takes.
How To Check For Unclaimed Premium Bonds Prizes
Fortunately, checking to see if you have money waiting is incredibly straightforward. NS&I provides two simple tools:
- The Official Prize Checker: Use the online tool on the NS&I website or the official app. You'll need your Premium Bonds holder's number.
- The Lost Account Tracing Service: If you think you might have old bonds but lack the details, this free service can help track them down.
Take Action: Update Your Details Today
NS&I is strongly encouraging all holders to log into their accounts online or via the app to verify their personal information is current. This small, five-minute task could be the difference between missing out and claiming a potential fortune.
Even if you've held bonds for years and think you'd know about a win, it's always worth double-checking. You could have a lovely—and potentially huge—surprise waiting for you.
