A bond number is not your NS&I number. Your bond number identifies a particular Premium Bond. Your NS&I number identifies you for NS&I online services.
Choose the right NS&I reference
Use the reference requested by the service, because each NS&I number identifies something different. An NS&I number identifies you as a customer. An account number identifies one savings product. A Premium Bonds holder’s number identifies the owner of a holding. A bond number identifies individual £1 bonds in the prize draw.
Compare the four common references
| Reference | What it identifies | Best use | Where to look |
|---|
| NS&I number | You as an NS&I customer | Online account access and account management | NS&I letters, statements or online account |
| Account number | One savings product | Product-specific forms and queries | Account statement or certificate |
| Holder’s number | A Premium Bonds holder | Checking a Premium Bonds holding or prizes | Premium Bonds records and prize information |
| Bond number | One or more £1 Premium Bonds | Prize eligibility and old bond records | Bond certificate or historical paperwork |
Pick the route that fits your aim
Use your NS&I number for online access. Use a holder’s number for Premium Bonds checks. Use the Tracing Service only for genuinely missing investments.
Read the label on every letter, statement, or certificate. Do this before entering any number online.
The wrong number can send you down the wrong route.
Recover your NS&I number online
Request a reminder through NS&I’s official website or app. Open it directly, not from an unexpected message. Have your name, date of birth, and current address ready. Keep previous addresses, product details, and correspondence nearby.
Request a reminder through NS&I
Enter only the details requested on NS&I’s own reminder screen. Follow its instructions if your details do not match. A reminder finds an existing customer record. It is not an application for a new Premium Bonds or ISA account.
Find the correct NS&I route
Letters or statements
Find the label beside each number. Then use the matching service.
Details match online
Use the official NS&I number reminder. You can also use the password-reset route.
Little or no evidence
Use NS&I’s tracing route. It is for a possibly lost investment.
Stop if identity checks fail
A failed check may mean NS&I holds an old name, postcode, or record. It does not always mean your account does not exist. Do not create another online account. Use the failed-verification or contact route shown by NS&I.
For routine NS&I account access, first sign in through NS&I online services. Do this if you know your NS&I number and password. Use an NS&I password reset if you know your number but forgot the password. Use an NS&I number reminder if the customer number is missing.
Registration is for customers without online access. It does not replace an existing record after a failed reminder.
Keep a savings product reference nearby. An account number or recent statement can also help. These details can identify the product and show which route applies.
Trace old Premium Bonds only when needed
Use the NS&I Tracing Service when you think an old investment exists but cannot identify it. It is not the normal fix for a forgotten password. It is also unnecessary when paperwork still has useful references.
Use tracing for missing holdings
Give NS&I all names and addresses you know. Do this when letters, statements, and account recovery cannot identify the investment. Older records may need more proof. This is common with a former name, estate, or inheritance claim.
Check prizes with the right number
Use a Premium Bonds holder’s number when the prize-check service asks for it. Do not enter an NS&I customer number or individual bond number. Check financial messages through NS&I’s official website. You can also use its published contact details.
Tracing helps find a missing investment, not reset online access.
Keep your NS&I details private
Share account information only through a channel you opened yourself. Never give an NS&I number with a password or one-time security code. Never give card details or nominated bank account details after unexpected contact.
Do not use links, reply buttons, or phone numbers from an unexpected email, text, or call. Sign in directly instead. Find NS&I contact details on its official website.
Use a short paper check first
Check whether old paperwork says “NS&I”, “account”, “holder’s”, or “bond”. Do this before using a number online. If it names a deceased holder, use NS&I’s official estate route. Use its name-change route if the paperwork shows a changed name.
A caller can know your name without being NS&I.
This guidance does not replace NS&I’s official process for another person’s account. The same applies to an estate, name change, possible identity theft, or failed identity checks. It also cannot tell you whether Premium Bonds or a Cash ISA suits you better. Compare your goal, timescale, access needs, risk, and tax treatment first.
FAQs
How do I get my NS&I number online?
Request an NS&I number reminder through the official NS&I website or app. Use the reminder when the customer number itself is missing.
Is my NS&I number the same as my account number?
No. Your NS&I number identifies you. An account number identifies one savings product.
Can I check old Premium Bonds for free?
Yes. Use official NS&I checks and avoid paid third-party tracing offers. Use a holder’s number when the prize-check service requests it.
What is a Premium Bonds holder’s number?
It identifies the person who owns a Premium Bonds holding. It is different from an individual £1 bond number.
What should I do if NS&I cannot verify me online?
Follow NS&I’s alternative verification or contact instructions. Do not create a second online account after a failed check.
Should I register a new NS&I account if I forgot my number?
No. Recover or confirm the existing customer record first. Register only if you have not set up online access.
Can NS&I call and ask for my security code?
Do not disclose a password or one-time code during an unexpected call. Sign in through the official site if you need to check your account.
When should I use the NS&I tracing service?
Use it when a possible old or lost NS&I investment cannot be identified. Do not use it just because you forgot a password.
Take the safest next step
What matters most:- Use the exact reference requested, because NS&I numbers, account numbers, holder’s numbers, and bond numbers do different jobs.
- Request a reminder through NS&I’s official site or app when your NS&I number is missing.
- Use the Tracing Service only when available records cannot identify the investment itself.
- Never combine an NS&I number with a password, temporary code, or bank details after an unexpected message.
Related sources
These articles can help you explore the topic in more depth:
