17 Sep 2025
If you hold Premium Bonds, there's a good chance you've wondered whether you have money sitting uncollected. Millions of prizes go unclaimed every year, often because people simply forget to check. This guide walks you through exactly how to use the premium bonds prize checker, what details you need, and how to make sure you never miss a win again.
You can check Premium Bonds prizes instantly using three main routes, and none of them cost a penny. Whether you prefer a browser, your phone, or even a voice assistant, NS&I has made it straightforward to find out if you've won.
Here are the ways to start checking:
Online service (website): Visit the NS&I website and use the prize checker to view results for the latest draw and any past draws. This is the fastest route for most people.
Official prize checker app: Download the NS&I prize checker app on iOS or Android to check prizes on the go. You can also use Amazon Alexa to check Premium Bonds prizes using the prize checker skill.
Phone or post: If you're not registered digitally, you can call NS&I or write to them to request your prize history.
To use any of these methods, you need either your premium bonds holder's number or your NS&I number. You can check results for the latest monthly prize draw (for example, the July 2026 draw once published) as well as previous months, making it easy to spot any unclaimed prizes you may have missed.
Prizes range from £25 up to a jackpot of £1 million, and every prize is tax-free for UK residents. Draws are held monthly, so there's always a next draw to look forward to.
One thing worth knowing: checking for prizes does not affect your chances of winning in future draws. Your bonds remain entered regardless of how often you check.
Before you can check prizes, you need one of two reference numbers. They serve different purposes, and understanding the difference saves time.
Premium Bonds holder's number
Your holder's number is specific to your Premium Bonds holdings. It's usually a 9 or 10-digit number, or 8 digits followed by a letter. You can use it on the website and in the app to check your results.
Where to find it:
Your NS&I online account dashboard
A physical Bond record or certificate
Any previous premium bonds prize letters sent to your address
NS&I number
Your ns i number is a broader customer reference covering all NS&I products, including Premium Bonds, direct saver accounts, and Direct ISAs. It is an 11-digit number starting with 11, 21, 31, or 41. You receive it when you register for online or phone service, and it appears on most communications from NS&I.
What to do if you can't find either number:
Contact NS&I by phone to request a replacement Bond record
Write to NS&I at their Sunderland address with your personal info (full name, current and previous addresses) to request your details
Use the NS&I Tracing Service if you believe you have old or forgotten bonds-more on this below
Both numbers let you access the prize checker, so use whichever you have to hand.
The online premium bonds prize checker is generally the fastest way to see if you've won. It works in any browser on a computer, tablet, or phone, and it's available around the clock.
Here's how to use it:
Visit the NS&I website and navigate to the Premium Bonds prize checker section.
Log in using your NS&I number, password, and any security features (such as two-factor authentication). If you're not a registered user, you can still access the checker using your holder's number directly.
Locate the Premium Bonds area on your account homepage and select the option to check prizes.
The NS&I Prize Checker tool updates on the day after the first working day of each month, so that's when you'll see the next results appear. Once updated, you can view:
The current month's prize draw results
Your prize history for the last six draws
Any older unclaimed prizes linked to your number
If you manage bonds for children, you can add their holder's number to your profile and check their prizes from the same account. This means you can review your whole family's holdings without logging in and out.
Online checks are free, secure, and cover all eligible prize draws going back to when your bonds were first purchased. There's no need to worry about missing an old win-the system keeps a long record.
NS&I offers an official prize checker app for iOS and Android devices, making it simple to check Premium Bonds prizes wherever you are.
How to download:
Search for "NS&I" in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store
Make sure you download the official NS&I app to avoid unofficial alternatives that may collect data you didn't consent to share
You can use either your holder's number or NS&I number in the app. The app checks Premium Bonds prizes from £25 to £1 million, covering the full range of prize values.
Key features:
Prize history: View your results for the last six draws and any unclaimed prizes
Countdown timer: See a countdown to the next prize draw so you know exactly when to check for next results
Multiple holders: Add bonds for your whole family-your own holdings plus children's bonds-so you can check prizes for everyone in one place and never miss a family's bonds win
Bug fixes and updates: The app is regularly updated with bug fixes and great features to keep things running smoothly
Security:
Set a pin for added security when opening the app
Biometric login (fingerprint or face recognition) is also supported
Data is encrypted, keeping your details safe
You can change your data consent settings within the app at any time
When to use the app vs. the website:
The app is ideal for quick monthly checks, checking while travelling, or managing multiple holder numbers. The website is better if you want a full-screen view, need to access your account for non-Premium Bonds products, or prefer working from a desktop. Either way, the information is the same.
Many people hold Premium Bonds they've completely forgotten about. Some date back decades-parents or grandparents may have bought them as gifts, and the paperwork has long since disappeared.
Here's what matters: all valid Premium Bonds, regardless of age, continue to be entered into every monthly prize draw until they are cashed in. A bond bought in 1985 has the same chance in this month's draw as one bought last week.
The NS&I Tracing Service
The NS&I Tracing Service helps locate lost investments, including Premium Bonds and other NS&I savings you may have lost track of. It's free to use.
How to start a trace:
Download or request the tracing form from NS&I
Complete the form with your full name, any previous addresses, and any known holder's number or Bond numbers
Include approximate dates when you first held bonds if you can remember
Send the completed form back to NS&I
Once old bonds are located, you can ask to have them added to your online account or app profile. You may need to provide identity proof, but the process is straightforward.
Centralising all your holdings under one NS&I number makes future prize checking far easier. It also helps you avoid creating new unclaimed prizes, because all notifications go to one set of updated contact details.
NS&I automatically notifies winners by post, and by text or email if you're registered. But letters go astray, people move house, and email addresses change. The result is a whole host of unclaimed prizes sitting in the system.
The good news: there is no time limit on claiming Premium Bonds prizes. NS&I holds unclaimed prizes indefinitely until the owner gets in touch. You won't miss out permanently just because you didn't notice a letter.
How to find unclaimed prizes:
Log into the NS&I website and use the premium bonds prize checker to view your full prize history
Open the prize checker app and check for any unclaimed prizes linked to your holder's number
Any outstanding prizes will be clearly flagged in your results
Claiming if you're registered online:
Once you see a win, payment typically goes to your nominated bank account automatically. If your preferences are set to reinvest, the money goes straight into additional bonds.
Claiming if you're not registered:
Write to NS&I (address: NS&I, Sunderland SR43 2SB) including:
Your full name
Current and any previous addresses
Your holder's number or NS&I number
Your signature
NS&I will send details of any unclaimed prizes and arrange payment.
Preventing future unclaimed prizes:
Keep your address, phone number, and bank details updated with NS&I
You can update details online, by phone, or by post
Set up email or text notifications so you receive a notice the moment you win prizes
Premium Bonds are a savings product issued by National Savings and Investments, a UK government-backed organisation. Instead of earning interest, each eligible £1 bond is entered into monthly prize draws with prizes up to £1 million.
Here are the key numbers as of mid-2026:
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Prize fund rate (from July 2026) | 3.80% (variable) |
| Odds per £1 Bond per draw | 22,000 to 1 |
| Minimum investment | £25 |
| Maximum investment per person | £50,000 |
| Prize range | £25 to £1,000,000 |
| Tax status | Tax-free in the UK |
Every eligible £1 bond has the same chance of winning in each month's draw, regardless of when it was bought. Once a bond has been held for a full calendar month, it is entered into every subsequent draw automatically.
Prizes from Premium Bonds are tax-free in the UK, which means you don't pay income tax or capital gains tax on anything you win.
How do Premium Bonds compare to other NS&I products?
Products like the direct saver and Direct ISA pay a set interest rate on your savings. The return is predictable and guaranteed. Premium Bonds, by contrast, offer the chance to win prizes but no guaranteed return. Most holders will go long stretches without winning, while a lucky few land large prizes.
This means Premium Bonds can be fun and rewarding, but they may not suit savers who need guaranteed returns or protection from inflation. If you need your money to grow at a known rate, consider whether a mix of savings products is a better fit for your goals.
Many NS&I customers hold more than just Premium Bonds. You might also have a direct saver account, a Direct ISA, or a Junior ISA set up for children.
A single NS&I number lets you view all your savings and investments on one homepage when you log in online. From your dashboard, you can see:
The current value of each account
Recent transactions and interest earned
Your Premium Bonds prize history
You can switch between checking Premium Bonds prizes and viewing your interest-bearing account balances without logging out. Everything is accessible from the same list of products on your account page.
Online services also let you move money between NS&I accounts or transfer funds to and from a nominated bank account, subject to each product's rules (for example, the £50,000 cap on Premium Bonds).
It's worth taking a few minutes to review your whole NS&I portfolio regularly-not just your Premium Bonds prize results. Check that your savings goals still align with how your money is spread across products. If the prize fund rate changes or your circumstances shift, you might choose to rebalance between guaranteed-return accounts and Premium Bonds.
Whether you hold £25 or the full £50,000, checking your Premium Bonds takes less than a minute. Log in online, download the app, or pick up the phone. You might have money waiting that you don't even know about. Take five minutes today, start checking, and make sure every prize finds its way to you.
