Unclaimed Premium Bonds: how to check for a forgotten prize
Premium Bonds prizes aren't paid out automatically — NS&I has to hear from you first. If you've ever had Bonds bought for you, especially as a child, there's a real chance a prize has been sitting unclaimed for years.
Who's eligible
This is worth checking if any of the following apply:
- You've ever held Premium Bonds yourself, even a small holding.
- A parent, grandparent or other relative ever bought Premium Bonds for you — a very common christening or birthday gift.
- You've moved house, changed your name, or changed your bank details since the Bonds were bought, and never updated NS&I.
Prizes are drawn monthly and range from £25 up to £1 million. Nationally, millions of prizes — including some worth thousands of pounds — are sitting unclaimed, often simply because NS&I lost touch with the Bondholder.
How to check — for free
Use the official Premium Bonds Prize Checker on NS&I's website, or the NS&I app. You'll need your holder's number — an 8 to 10 digit reference (sometimes with a letter), found on your original Bond record, a prize warrant, or by logging into your NS&I account. The checker shows prizes from the latest draw, the previous six draws, and any older unclaimed prizes still waiting for you.
If you don't have your holder's number, you can also call NS&I for free, or write to them with your name, address and any old details you remember.
How to claim — for free
Unclaimed prizes don't expire — NS&I holds onto them until you get in touch. Once you've registered to manage your Bonds online or by phone and added your bank details, future prizes are usually paid straight into your bank account automatically. Older unclaimed prizes are typically paid out as a warrant (similar to a cheque) sent to your registered address, once you've confirmed your identity.
How long it takes
Checking is instant once you have your holder's number. Claiming an old unclaimed prize can take a little longer while NS&I confirms your identity and updates your details, but there's no fee at any stage.
NS&I's own prize checker is free, as is its app and phone line. You never need to pay a third party, or hand over your bank details to anyone other than NS&I directly, to check for or claim a Premium Bonds prize.
Frequently asked questions
- Do unclaimed Premium Bonds prizes expire?
- No — NS&I holds unclaimed prizes indefinitely and pays them out whenever you get in touch, regardless of how long ago they were won.
- What if I've lost my holder's number?
- You can still check by calling NS&I, writing to them, or logging into an online account if you have one — they can help you find it.
- Can my parents still check Bonds they bought for me as a child?
- Once you turn 16, the Bonds and any prizes belong to you and are usually managed in your own name — your parents may need to help you register if the original paperwork was in their care.
- Is the prize paid straight into my bank account?
- If you're registered to manage your Bonds online or by phone with your bank details added, yes. Otherwise, prizes are usually sent as a warrant to your registered address.
Information checked against nsandi.com guidance. Rules can change — always check the official page linked above for the latest details.