For Premium Bonds prizes: checking, claiming and receiving winnings, check results online or through NS&I using your holder’s number or NS&I number, then confirm that your payment details can receive the money. Unclaimed prizes do not expire, but a missing bank transfer and an expired cheque require different action. Use NS&I’s official contact details only; do not share security codes with unexpected callers.
Prize: won, unpaid or unclaimed?
Identify your exact prize situation before contacting NS&I so that you can take the right action immediately.
| Your situation | What to do now | What to check first |
|---|
| Newly won prize | Check the official prize checker. | Your chosen prize-payment option. |
| Unclaimed older prize | Search and submit a claim. | Old names and addresses. |
| Bank transfer pending | Review nominated bank details. | Whether that account remains open. |
| Cheque not received | Ask NS&I to trace its status. | Your postal address. |
| Cheque expired | Ask NS&I about replacement payment. | The cheque date and reference. |
Treat an old prize as a claim
Unclaimed Premium Bonds prizes can be claimed without a time limit. For a claim by post, give your full name, current and previous addresses, date of birth, holder’s number and any Bond details available.
Treat a recent prize as a payment issue
A recent win may already have been paid or may be moving through the selected payment route, so it is not automatically an unclaimed prize. Check whether you chose payment into a bank account, reinvestment into more Bonds, or another option shown in your NS&I record.
Use this order: confirm the prize with your holder’s number, check the payment option, check your address or bank account, then contact NS&I through its official route if the stated payment window has passed.
Premium Bonds draw results are published every month, so first establish whether you are looking at a new result or an older unclaimed prize. Check the official Premium Bonds prize checker once the latest results are available, then note the prize amount, draw month and payment option shown in your record. If payment is due to your nominated bank account, allow the timeframe stated by NS&I and any additional bank-processing time.
Once that period has passed, check that the account is still open and that your personal details are current. If everything matches but no money has arrived, contact NS&I through details taken from its official website and ask it to investigate the Premium Bonds bank transfer.
Check results with a holder’s number
Use your holder’s number in the official prize checker to see whether your Premium Bonds have won.
Find the number the checker needs
Enter the holder’s number shown on your Premium Bonds records, not just the NS&I number shown on account correspondence. Look in your online account, prior prize letters, Bond records or statements before starting the checker.
Check this month and older draws
Check both the latest monthly draw and older unclaimed prizes if you have moved home or have not checked for several years. Results are published monthly, and the checker can show whether a prize belongs to the latest draw or an earlier one.
Your prize route in four checks
1. Check
Holder’s number in NS&I checker
2. Match
New prize, old prize, transfer or cheque
3. Review
Bank account and address details
4. Contact
Only through official NS&I details
Wait for the stated payment window
Allow the payment period shown by NS&I for your selected prize option before asking it to trace a new win. Bank processing may add between one and three working days after NS&I sends funds.
Use the route that matches the task you need to complete. A holder’s number identifies your Premium Bonds holding and is the number normally used for the Premium Bonds prize checker, including checks for older draw results. An NS&I number is generally used to access an online NS&I account and manage products or personal details; it is not a substitute where the checker specifically asks for a holder’s number. The official prize-checker app can provide a convenient way to check results on a phone, provided you download it from an official app store listing.
Alexa-enabled checking should only be used if NS&I currently offers that service, and never as a reason to disclose passwords, security codes or bank details.
Claim a prize or fix a missing payment
Claim an old prize at any time, but chase a failed payment only after checking the details NS&I holds.
Fix a delayed bank transfer
Check whether your nominated bank account is open and matches the details held by NS&I before reporting a delayed transfer. If you changed banks, moved house, or switched a joint account to a sole account, check the recorded details first.
Separate missing from expired cheques
A cheque that never arrived needs tracing, while an expired cheque needs replacement arrangements. Give NS&I the cheque date, amount, reference if known, current address and holder’s number when asking for help.
NS&I may make direct arrangements for major prize winners, and £1 million jackpot winners can receive a visit from Agent Million. End unexpected contact, then use the official site or independently sourced NS&I contact details.
This guidance does not decide where to place new savings if you do not own Premium Bonds or are not expecting a prize. In that case, compare the expected return of Premium Bonds with a Cash ISA and a savings account first. It also does not replace direct contact with NS&I where there is an identity mismatch, bereavement claim, disputed ownership or incorrect holder details.
Review your Premium Bonds payment options before the next draw rather than waiting until you win. Depending on the choices available in your NS&I record, you may be able to have prizes paid to a nominated bank account, choose Premium Bonds reinvestment, or receive payment by another method offered by NS&I. Reinvestment can suit someone who wants qualifying prizes used to buy more Bonds, while a bank payment may be more useful if you want access to the cash.
Update the nominated bank account promptly if you change banks or close an account, and confirm any change has been saved. This reduces the risk of a delayed Premium Bonds payment caused by outdated payment instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim old Premium Bonds prizes?
Yes, unclaimed Premium Bonds prizes have no expiry date and can be claimed whenever they are found. For a postal claim, include your full name, current and previous addresses, date of birth, holder’s number and any Bond details.
Can I check with my NS&I number?
An NS&I number may open your online account, but the prize checker normally needs your holder’s number. If the checker rejects the number, check its label before deciding that you have not won.
How long should a bank payment take?
A prize payment follows the timeframe NS&I gives for your selected payment option, then banks may take one to three working days. Check the nominated account first if that period has passed.
What if my Premium Bonds cheque has expired?
Do not pay in an expired Premium Bonds cheque because your bank may reject it. Contact NS&I through official details and ask how to arrange a replacement payment.
What matters most:- Use a holder’s number, not an NS&I number alone, to check prize results.
- Old unclaimed prizes remain claimable, even after many years and address changes.
- Check bank and address details before chasing a new payment.
- Handle a missing cheque and an expired cheque as separate problems.
- Verify every prize message through NS&I’s official site or independently sourced contact details.
Learn more
Here are some additional resources on this subject:
