What is the best way to check my premium bond numbers online?
On our website and in our prize checker app, you can use your holder’s number to check the status of your prize. Your holder’s number can be found on your Bond record or by logging onto your account. Your holder’s number is made up of 10 or 9 digits, or 8 digits and a letter.
Are Premium Bonds from the past still valid?
Is it still possible to use my old Premium Bonds? Yes. Your Bonds are still valid and will be included into our monthly prize draws as long as you haven’t cashed them in.
What is the best way to sell my old Premium Bonds?
Logging into your account online, which is available 24 hours a day, is the simplest way to sell or cash in your NS&I Premium Bonds.
If you applied for the bonds online, you’ll already be registered, so all you’ll need is your information. These will include your NS&I numbers as well as the password you’ve created.
On the right-hand side of the screen, once you’ve logged into your account, you should notice an option to ‘cash in’ your Premium Bonds. On the screenshot below, we’ve circled it.
Following that, you’ll be asked if you want to cash in your oldest bonds first or not, and then whether you want to postpone your payment until the next prize draw.
You’d have to wait until the beginning of the next month to get your money back if you chose that choice. If you choose to obtain it right away, NS&I claims the money will be in your designated bank account in three working days.
If you bought your bonds online, your bank account information should already be in the system, so you won’t have to do anything further.
How to cash in NS&I Premium Bonds by phone
If you prefer not to use the internet, you can easily cash in your NS&I Premium Bonds by calling the NS&I phone number.
You are already registered if you applied for the bonds over the phone. Simply dial 08085 007 007 to reach us.
Filling out the Premium Bonds Cash In form
You can withdraw your money by filling out the Premium Bonds Cash In form if you didn’t apply for your Premium Bonds online or by phone.
Simply pick how many bonds you want to cash in by ticking the applicable box in section three of the form.
Simply specify the beginning of the range of numbers in section four if you wish to cash in a specific set of Bond numbers.
If you leave section four blank or check ‘No,’ NS&I will cash in your oldest bonds first.
How will I be paid for my Premium Bonds?
The sixth section of the form is where you specify how your Premium Bonds will be paid out.
You can get cash by direct deposit into your bank account or by sending a warrant, which is similar to a check, in the mail.
According to NS&I, processing your request generally takes eight working days from the time it is received (unless you opted to defer the payment until after the next prize draw).
If you haven’t received your payments by then, contact NS&I ideally by phone at 08085 007 007, as tweeting and emailing can be risky. Here’s where you can learn more about contacting NS&I.
Don’t know what to do with your savings once you’ve cashed your bonds? Check out our full list of places you can get the best deal on your money.
Best time to sell your Premium Bonds
If you don’t have to sell your bonds right away, consider when the best time is to get rid of some or all of your holdings.
This manner, your holdings will have one more chance to win big in the monthly draw before being withdrawn.
Is there any value in premium savings bonds?
- Have a large sum of money to set aside (the more bonds you have, the bigger your chance of winning a prize)
- Interest on savings is taxed (and have already used up your annual cash ISA allowance)
- The concept of a prize draw appeals to me (you could win big, but you also may not win anything)
It all boils down to your personality. Do you get a nice feeling from the element of surprise? What if you didn’t win anything? How would you feel?
What if my child receives Premium Bonds?
Buying NS&I Premium Bonds for a youngster is a fantastic idea because it’s a gift that keeps on giving (possibly).
Premium Bonds can be purchased on behalf of a kid by anybody over the age of 16, thus aunts, uncles, and even family acquaintances can participate.
Furthermore, NS&I’s decision in 2019 to reduce the minimum investment amount from £100 to £25 makes them a considerably more practical, or inexpensive, gift.
Instead, how about purchasing bonds for yourself? The following are the simplest methods for purchasing Premium Bonds.
How to buy Premium Bonds for your child
Parents and legal guardians can apply online, over the phone, or by mail to purchase Premium Bonds as a gift for their children.
Whether you’re buying for the first time or adding to your collection of Premium Bonds, you’ll need to be registered with NS&I.
As previously stated, you must invest at least £25 in Premium Bonds, with each £1 producing one unique bond number.
Every number has an equal chance of winning a prize, so buying more increases your chances of winning.
Until your child turns 16, you will receive confirmation of transactions, money for bonds cashed in, and rewards won.
Do you want to know whether you’ve won anything? The most recent results can be seen in this article.
Buying Premium Bonds for someone else’s child
If you want to spoil your grandchild, niece, nephew, or even a family friend’s child, you can apply online or by mail for an electronic or paper gift card to give to the child.
Your investment will be acknowledged, but only the chosen parent or guardian will be able to manage and cash in the bonds.
Before purchasing Premium Bonds for someone else’s child, there are a few things to consider.
Of course, you’ll want to make sure the parent or guardian is okay with you sending over their information and that they’re happy to look after the bonds.
These facts include the child’s and parent’s or guardian’s dates of birth and addresses, as well as the child’s Premium Bonds holder’s number (if they have one).
Everyone on the application will have their identity and address checked by NS&I, therefore there’s a risk that documentation will be required.
To avoid any unpleasant shocks, inform the parent or guardian that NS&I may contact them to request documentation to establish their identity.
Premium Bonds are detailed in detail, including how to purchase them, how to cash them in, when winners are revealed, and more.
How long does the process take?
If you’re buying the bonds as a present for someone special, you’ll need to prepare ahead and apply ahead of time.
NS&I hopes to open new accounts in seven to ten working days, but because everyone’s name and address on the application form must be validated, it will most likely take longer.
What happens if the child wins?
If the child outperforms the odds and wins a prize, the parent or guardian will have to decide what to do with it.
There’s no need to be concerned about tax implications. While a child cannot earn more than £100 in interest per year from savings, this does not apply to Premium Bonds winnings because they are rewards.
Finally, make sure the child’s information is up to date: there are millions of pounds in unclaimed awards held by bondholders under the age of 16.
Is it possible to cash in Premium Bonds at the post office?
After July, savers will no longer be able to purchase premium bonds in Post Office offices, according to National Savings & Investments.
Since 1956, the bonds have been sold over the counter, allowing savers to deposit money in a government-backed account in exchange for a chance to win up to £1 million every month rather than receiving interest.
The present contract with the Post Office, however, will not be renewed when it expires on July 31, 2015, due to shifting consumer demand and cost-cutting efforts, according to NS&I.
After that date, bonds can only be purchased directly from the government’s savings provider, via its website, phone, or mail, or by a regular standing order.
One out of every five premium bond sales takes place in a Post Office branch. Over the counter transactions accounted for 750,000 in 2014-15, while direct transactions accounted for 3.2 million. In the same time period, £3.9 billion in bonds were sold in post offices, accounting for a third of all sales by value.
Customers who have recently purchased premium bonds from a post office would be written to and notified of the cessation of over-the-counter sales, according to NS&I’s chief executive, Jane Platt.
She stated, ” “As our partnership with the Post Office comes to an end on July 31st, I’d want to express my gratitude for their support and service to our customers over the years, and I wish them continued success.
“The majority of our clients already purchase premium bonds through direct channels, so NS&I’s move to 100 percent direct sales is a natural next step. Given that these clients already manage and repay their premium bonds directly with us, it should be simple and natural for them.”
Customers have been unable to cash in bonds or make administrative adjustments at the post office since 2013, and have had to deal directly with NS&I for everything but the initial purchase, since 2013.
Despite revisions to premium bonds that cut the smallest reward paid out in half to £25, the savings lottery has remained popular with investors, with over 20 million individuals owning them. Recently the maximum sum that could be held in bonds was increased by £10,000 to £50,000 per person.
The conclusion of the NS&I contract, according to the National Federation of Subpostmasters, demonstrated the Post Office’s issues and the necessity to modernize.
It stated in a statement: “This is very upsetting news, especially for our elderly and more vulnerable clients who rely on subpostmasters for face-to-face assistance with these types of transactions.
“It’s a shame for Post Offices as well, but it’s not surprising. NS&I has made their position clear in recent years, and it is consistent with the government’s larger reluctance to support the Post Office in delivering front-line public services.”
What is the procedure for receiving my Premium Bonds in my bank account?
- Premium Bonds holders who are still receiving paper warrants must take measures to ensure that their awards are paid automatically.
- Customers can also choose to have their prize money re-invested into more Premium Bonds, increasing their chances of winning in future drawings.
- Almost three-quarters of Premium Bonds awards (74%) have already been remitted to consumers’ bank accounts or automatically reinvested. Payment by BACS is more cost-effective and ecologically friendly than sending warrants through the mail.
- There are currently over 1.8 million Premium Bonds awards worth over £67 million that have gone unclaimed. Rewards won by new Premium Bonds customers will be paid by BACS, which will reduce the number of prizes that go unclaimed.
Starting with the December 2020 prize draw, NS&I will begin to transfer clients to having Premium Bonds rewards paid directly into their bank accounts, which will be a faster, easier, and more secure method of receiving prizes. By March 2021, the issuing of paper warrants (similar to a check) for the payment of prizes won in monthly Premium Bonds prize draws will be totally phased out.
Customers with Premium Bonds can continue to have any rewards reinvested in further Premium Bonds, up to a maximum holding of £50,000. Customers will be notified of any prize wins through email or text message, as desired.
Premium Bond holders have had the option of having their rewards paid directly into a UK bank account in their name since 2011. Almost three-quarters (74%) of the 3,856,040 rewards were transferred directly into clients’ bank accounts or reinvested into more Premium Bonds in the September 2020 prize draw.
“Premium Bonds awards are paid directly into clients’ bank accounts, which is faster, easier, and more secure. It also means we’ll be able to reduce the amount of Premium Bonds rewards that go unclaimed because we don’t know the winner’s current address. Customers can also have any prize winnings reinvested into new Premium Bonds up to the £50,000 limit in order to boost their chances of winning in future drawings.
“Although there is an understandable attachment to receiving rewards by mail, nearly half a million customers have converted from receiving paper warrants to having their awards paid immediately into their bank accounts or automatically reinvested since March. This adjustment will allow NS&I to manage Premium Bonds prize distribution more cost-effectively and with a lesser environmental impact, which will benefit our consumers.”
Premium Bonds customers must ensure that NS&I has their up-to-date UK bank account data, as well as an email address or UK mobile phone number, so that they can be notified of any prize winnings. Customers are encouraged to do so as soon as possible, as the issuing of paper prize warrants will be phased down starting in December 2020 and will be completely phased out in March 2021. Customers will never be called by NS&I and asked for their bank account information.
Because NS&I is discontinuing the use of prize warrants, some Premium Bonds customers will stop getting them in December 2020, and all customers will stop receiving them in March 2021. Instead, these customers will receive a prize claim letter with instructions on how to arrange for payment of their prize. The prize warrants for the February 2021 Premium Bonds prize draw will be the last ones issued by NS&I.
Customers who do not have access to the internet should phone NS&I at 08085 007 007 to provide their bank account information or to register to manage their savings, including Premium Bonds, with NS&I.
- NS&I is one of the largest savings institutions in the UK, with 25 million customers and a variety of savings and investing options. Because NS&I is backed by HM Treasury, all products provide 100 percent capital security.
- Over 21 million consumers have invested over £88 billion in Premium Bonds.
- The yearly Premium Bonds prize fund rate is 1.40 percent, with a 24,500 to 1 chance of winning any prize. The prize fund rate and the chances of winning are both variable and can vary at any time.
- The NS&I media team has photos of ERNIE 5, prior ERNIEs, and Premium Bonds, including the Premium Bonds app, in high-resolution jpeg format.
- Customers could be notified of any Premium Bonds prize wins by text message, according to NS&I’s announcement in February 2020.
- In February 2020, NS&I announced that parents or guardians of children under the age of 16 who had Premium Bonds purchased for them would be able to have any rewards earned directly deposited into their bank account.