Ahead of the upcoming December draw, National Savings and Investments (NS&I) has encouraged Premium Bonds holders to keep on top of their game. The organisation, backed by the Treasury, pointed out that with a staggering 6,025,741 prizes worth £463,982,050 up for grabs in the November 2024 prize draw, it’s crucial for investors to stay informed about their winnings.
Dax Harkins, NS&I chief executive, said: “With millions of prizes drawn monthly, Premium Bonds remain a popular way to save while continuing to offer the thrill of potential tax-free wins. Remember, the best way to check if you’ve won this month is by using our app, website, or Alexa.”
November doesn’t just signal another prize draw but also marks an iconic moment in British savings history—it’s the 68th anniversary of Premium Bonds since their launch on November 1, 1956. As reported by Birmingham Live, the innovative financial product was created to democratize saving, making it possible for everyone to participate.
Premium Bonds prize winners are notified when a prize is won, but sometimes people move or change their contact details without letting NSandI know. This can lead to unclaimed prizes if the Bond holder has opted to receive prizes by cheque rather than paid directly into a bank account.
People can check for unclaimed Premium Bonds prizes easily by using NSandI’s online prize checker or the prize checker app using their holder’s number. There are currently 2,473,761 unclaimed prizes worth £89,696,075 waiting to be claimed by holders of Premium Bonds.
November saw two winners in Warwickshire and Cornwall snap up NSandI’s maximum £1million prizes. In just these two areas, there are currently 17,129 unclaimed prizes worth £600,975 in Warwarkshire, while 20,530 prizes with a total value of £724,075 are waiting to be claimed in Cornwall.