Buying Premium Bonds by post does not automatically register you to manage an existing NS&I account, make withdrawals or change bank details. Each request has its own official form and postal address, so using the wrong one can delay or prevent processing.
Match your task to one official form before writing anything. NS&I separates applications because buying a savings product, proving who you are and moving money need different checks.
Separate buying from account management
Use a purchase route only when your aim is to buy or add Premium Bonds. Premium Bonds normally start from £25, and the maximum holding is £50,000 per person, subject to NS&I’s current rules. Eligible Bonds enter the prize draws, but that does not create instant access to every account-management service.
| What you need to do | Use the official route for | Usually needed | Postal route? |
|---|
| Buy new Premium Bonds | A new purchase | Applicant details and payment method | Only if the current form allows it |
| Add to existing Bonds | An additional investment | Holder’s number if requested | Check the current instructions |
| Withdraw money | A withdrawal request | Account details and bank checks | May require a separate process |
| Update details | A change-of-details request | Current and previous details | Often, subject to the form |
Choose the channel according to the task rather than relying on post by default. Online account management may be the quickest option for viewing eligible holdings, checking personal details or making a request where NS&I offers that function. Telephone contact is useful when you need to confirm which form applies, cannot find an account reference or have a question about a form before posting it.
Post is most suitable when the current instructions expressly require a signed paper form or supporting evidence. For example, a Premium Bonds additional investment, a withdrawal request and a change-of-details request can have different requirements, so confirm the route before sending personal information.
Prepare a complete postal pack
Complete the form in one sitting and create a copy before sealing the envelope. Allow between 10 and 20 minutes if you have your latest NS&I paperwork beside you. Rushing is how dates, signatures and holder numbers get missed.
Fill every requested field
Use your current legal name, current address and reachable contact details wherever the form asks for them. Leave a field blank only where the form marks it as optional. If a previous surname or address is requested, give it exactly as it appeared when the account was opened.
Include only requested evidence
Your envelope check, in order
1. Match
Form matches your exact request.
2. Copy
Use the identifier named on that form.
3. Sign
Date and sign every required box.
4. Verify
Use the address printed on the current form.
To start a postal request, go to NS&I’s official website and download the current NS&I postal application form for the exact product or service you need. Read the form’s notes before completing it, because a form for Premium Bonds by post is not necessarily an NS&I account-management form. Prepare your full name, date of birth, current address and contact details, plus your Premium Bonds holder’s number or other account details where requested.
Check whether the postal pack asks for identity checks, supporting documents, a payment method or a handwritten signature. Do not send original documents, copies of identification or bank details unless the official NS&I form specifically asks for them.
Post it safely and follow it up
Post the signed form only after checking the address printed on its latest page. A Post Office branch in England can give proof of posting, which shows that you handed over an envelope. It does not show that NS&I has accepted or processed the request.
Use the current NS&I address
Use only the address shown on the latest version of the form, as postal addresses can vary between services and may change over time.
Chase only with the right details
When following up, use the details from the form you sent so that NS&I can identify the request accurately.
After posting your form, keep a dated copy of the completed pages and any proof of posting, together with the product name and reference number used. Processing times can vary according to the service, whether NS&I needs to carry out identity checks and whether information is missing, so use the current guidance for that form rather than assuming a fixed deadline. If you have not received a confirmation or outcome after the period stated in the form’s instructions, contact NS&I through the contact details on its official website.
Explain the type of request, the date posted and the account or holder reference, but do not send a duplicate postal pack unless NS&I asks you to do so.
Avoid the postal route in special cases
Stop and seek NS&I’s specific instructions if someone else’s legal rights are involved. The normal route may not apply to an account held for a child, a holder who has died, a person acting under a power of attorney, or an account that cannot be located. In these cases, use NS&I’s dedicated instructions rather than sending a standard form.
Keep ISA requests separate
Do not combine an ISA request with a Premium Bonds request unless NS&I’s current instructions specifically tell you to do so.
Frequently asked questions
Use these answers to confirm the route before you post. Each answer assumes you are using a current NS&I form, not a saved copy from an earlier year.
Can I register an NS&I account by post?
You can use post where NS&I’s current form offers a postal route for your exact service. Buying Premium Bonds by post does not by itself register you to manage an existing account or make withdrawals.
Can I withdraw Premium Bonds by post?
You may need a separate NS&I withdrawal route to cash in Premium Bonds by post. The request can require your holder’s number, a signature and checks for the nominated bank account.
Can I change my NS&I bank details by post?
A bank-detail change needs the specific NS&I process that asks for nominated bank account details. Do not put new bank details on a purchase form or send them to an address taken from an old letter.
What if I cannot find my NS&I number?
Ask NS&I for its current lost-account or account-recovery instructions before completing another form. Identity verification may be needed, and guessing a holder’s number can delay the search.
Keep the request narrow and traceable
Send one clear request that matches one current NS&I form. That is the safest way to make a request without mixing up separate processes.
- The essentials: a Premium Bonds purchase form buys Bonds, but does not automatically grant account-management access.
- The essentials: copy the account or holder identifier requested by that specific form, not a similar number from another product.
- The essentials: post only to the address shown on the current official form and retain proof of posting.
- The essentials: use NS&I’s dedicated instructions for children, estates, attorneys, urgent needs and missing accounts.
⚠️ Do not send a second form for the same request unless NS&I tells you to. Duplicate applications can make a straightforward postal case harder to identify.
Related sources
These articles can help you explore the topic in more depth:
