Match your papers to the right NS&I route
Sort your evidence first, then use the official service that matches it.
Start with the reference you hold
A holder’s number identifies a person’s Premium Bonds record, while a bond number identifies a particular bond. Check an NS&I online account first; use a holder’s number in the official Prize Checker or app, and use the NS&I Tracing Service if you only have names, old addresses or incomplete papers.
The Prize Checker can check prizes linked to a known record. It cannot act as a free “checker by name” when the holder’s number and usable bond details are unknown.
Compare the official routes
Use NS&I tracing for lost NS&I investments and My Lost Account separately for bank or building-society accounts.
| What you have | Official route | What it can do | Your next action |
|---|
| Online sign-in | NS&I online account | Shows visible holdings and account details | Check the account before tracing |
| Holder’s number | Prize Checker or app | Checks eligible prizes | Follow NS&I instructions for any prize shown |
| Name, old address, papers | NS&I Tracing Service | Searches for a lost NS&I holding | Give every former name and address |
| Bank or building society account only | My Lost Account | Searches participating banks and societies | Use separately, not instead of NS&I tracing |
Choose your route in under a minute
Have online access?
Check your account
Have a holder’s number?
Check prizes
Have papers only?
Trace the holding
Holder has died?
Use the estate route
Do not move to a prize check until NS&I has confirmed the correct holder record.
If you have a holder's number, start with the Premium Bonds Prize Checker or your NS&I online account. A bond number or old Premium Bond papers can still be useful, but they may not give you enough information to check every prize online. Where you need confirmation of the bonds registered to a holder, ask NS&I whether it can provide a Premium Bonds holder record or Bond record after completing its identity checks. If you only have certificates, partial references or a former address, use the NS&I Tracing Service to trace lost Premium Bonds.
If you cannot complete an online request, use only the postal contact details published by NS&I, rather than sending documents to an address supplied by an unsolicited caller or email.
Build a name and address trail for NS&I
Give NS&I the fullest history you can, so it can distinguish your record from someone with a similar name.
Gather the details before you apply
Provide your full name, date of birth, current address, every former name and old addresses from when the investment may have been opened. Include copies of certificates, letters, passbooks and references, but keep original documents unless NS&I specifically requests them.
Know why a name-only search stops
NS&I may need identity evidence before discussing a holding or releasing money, so former names and previous addresses are vital links to older records. Start on NS&I’s official website and use only its official tracing or contact options.
Trace your holding or manage an estate
Use the personal route for your own savings and the estate route for someone who has died.
Trace a holding in your own name
Submit the official tracing request with your identity trail and copies of relevant papers. NS&I must first confirm the holding; only then can it confirm a holder’s number, check prizes or arrange any payment.
Update changed details properly
A changed name or address requires NS&I’s official update process and the evidence it requests. A Prize Checker cannot correct personal details, restore access or redirect payments.
Follow the estate route after death
An executor or authorised administrator normally handles a deceased holder’s investments. NS&I may require a death certificate plus probate or letters of administration before providing information or releasing funds.
Treat each stage as a separate result rather than expecting an immediate payment. A tracing request may first produce a request for identity documents or confirmation that a lost NS&I investment has been found. If NS&I confirms a Premium Bonds record, it may then provide the details needed to check prizes or explain how to obtain a Bond record. The Premium Bonds Prize Checker can identify unclaimed Premium Bond prizes linked to an eligible record, but an NS&I prize claim may still require verification before payment is released.
Processing times vary with the age of the record, the quality of the address history and whether probate, name-change or identity evidence is needed, so follow the timescale in NS&I's reply rather than relying on a fixed estimate.
Avoid checks that delay or expose your claim
Use NS&I only, and keep each task separate.
Keep old bonds in perspective
An old certificate is useful evidence but does not prove bonds remain active: they may have been redeemed. NS&I must verify both the holding and any unpaid-prize status.
Protect your identity and payment details
Ignore messages offering prize releases for a fee or requesting bank details by email. Verify any contact through NS&I’s official website, and keep photographs of the papers while recording their location and all former names and addresses.
This is not the main route if the investment already appears in your NS&I online account or papers confirm it was cashed in. Suspected fraud or identity theft needs urgent reporting to NS&I and, where appropriate, Action Fraud. A deceased-holder case must follow NS&I’s estate process and may need probate documents.
Premium Bonds from the 1950s, 1960s or 1970s are not invalid simply because the certificate looks old. Their value depends on whether the bonds were still held, were redeemed previously, or were transferred as part of an estate; only NS&I can confirm that position from its records. Keep copies of certificates and note every former name and address before submitting a trace. Once access has been restored, register and maintain your NS&I online account where available, update contact details promptly, and arrange for future prizes to be paid into a verified bank account if NS&I offers that option.
These steps reduce the risk that later prize notifications or account information are sent to an outdated address.
Your questions answered
Can I check Premium Bonds by name?
No. Use the Prize Checker with the correct holder details, or ask NS&I to trace a lost holding using former names and addresses.
Can I check old Premium Bond numbers online free?
Yes, use NS&I’s official services without paying a tracing firm. The correct route depends on the details you hold.
Are 50-year-old Premium Bonds still valid?
Age alone does not invalidate them. NS&I must confirm whether they remain held or were redeemed.
How do I check Premium Bonds from 1970?
Use known holder or bond details through NS&I, or submit a tracing request with 1970s addresses, former names and certificate copies.
How long does an NS&I tracing search take?
It can take from a few days to several weeks, especially for older records or identity checks.
Can I claim a deceased parent’s Premium Bonds?
An executor or authorised administrator normally deals with the claim, using the estate process and requested documents.
Act safely once NS&I replies
Keep the reply, follow the requested identity checks and only then decide what to do with confirmed money. If NS&I confirms a prize, check that payment and bank details are current; if it finds no holding, retain its response with the old papers.
The essentials:- Use a holder’s number for prize checks, not a name-only search.
- Use NS&I tracing when references are missing or paperwork is incomplete.
- Include former names and old addresses to give NS&I the best chance of matching a record.
- Treat old certificates as evidence, not proof that bonds remain active or prizes are due.
- Use the estate process when the original holder has died.
Learn more
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