You can get back to Premium Bonds even if you have lost certificates, bond numbers and NS&I login details by giving NS&I any details it can match, such as your name, date of birth and previous addresses.
Gather details NS&I can match to your bonds
Collect old details and paperwork before contacting NS&I, as historic names and addresses may be the key to finding the holding.
Write the following in a secure note, including approximate information where necessary.
- Your current name and every former name, including a maiden name.
- Your current address and old United Kingdom addresses, with postcodes where known.
- Your date of birth and the rough year you bought or received the bonds.
- The approximate amount invested, any holder's number, bond numbers and certificate details.
- Copies or photographs of certificates, purchase letters or old NS&I statements.
Choose the route that fits your evidence
Use the route that matches the evidence you still have, as online access requires details that prove the holding is yours.
| What you still have | Best route | Give NS&I | Next step |
|---|
| Certificate or bond numbers | Official NS&I contact route | Numbers, name and address | Confirm holding and recover access |
| Only name and old addresses | NS&I Tracing Service | All names, addresses and dates | NS&I searches its records |
| A family member's papers | Specialist NS&I process | Authority documents and identity | NS&I checks who may act |
Trace lost bonds when papers have gone
Use the official NS&I tracing route if certificates, holder numbers or login details are missing.
Give a full history, not a guess
Tell NS&I every name, address, date and estimated amount you can remember. Old bonds may be held under a former surname or postcode, and a purchase-date range is better than leaving the date blank.
Wait for verification before changing plans
NS&I may request identity evidence before confirming a holding, and tracing does not automatically restore online access or allow you to withdraw money.
Trace first, check second, cash in last.
1. Gather names and addresses→2. Ask NS&I to trace→3. Confirm prizes→4. Keep or withdraw
Choose the contact channel according to what you need to do. Online is usually best when you already have enough details to regain Premium Bonds account access or manage a confirmed holding; it is not a substitute for a search when you have no holder’s number or account reference. Phone can help you understand the right process and what NS&I identity evidence may be needed, but avoid sharing information through a number supplied in an unexpected message.
Post may be appropriate where NS&I asks for forms or certified evidence, especially for complex cases. For lost Premium Bonds, start with the official NS&I tracing route and keep a copy of every detail you submit.
Recover access, check prizes and withdraw
After NS&I confirms the bonds, you can check prizes and decide whether to keep the investment or cash it in.
Check for prizes after confirmation
Use the official prize checker only once NS&I has confirmed your holder's number or bond numbers. Update your address and bank details before withdrawing, as unpaid prizes and capital may be handled separately.
Decide whether to keep or cash in
Premium Bonds are tax-free savings backed by the UK Government, but returns depend on prize draws rather than guaranteed interest. Consider your need for the money and compare alternatives only after confirming the holding and payment details.
Once NS&I has confirmed the holding, carry out a Premium Bonds prize check as well as checking the balance. Unclaimed Premium Bonds prizes can arise when a holder has moved home, changed their name or has not kept their payment details up to date. Ask NS&I how to verify any unpaid prizes linked to the recovered holding and make sure your contact and bank details are current before arranging a Premium Bonds withdrawal.
Keep the holder’s number and any confirmation safely, because they can be needed when reviewing the prize history or making future changes to the account.
Avoid the errors that block recovery
Use NS&I’s official channels rather than relying on a prize checker, old contact details or third-party websites.
Finding a certificate does not prove you can withdraw the money, particularly for gifted bonds, trusts, children or deceased holders. NS&I may require probate, parental responsibility evidence or a registered power of attorney.
Find current phone, online and postal options on the NS&I website, then submit a tracing enquiry with your names, addresses, dates and paperwork.
This process does not replace estate administration where the holder has died, nor the separate process for a child or a person who lacks capacity. It also does not apply if you can already access your NS&I account and only want to compare keeping Premium Bonds with moving money to a Cash ISA.
Use the evidence available to identify the correct ownership route before asking NS&I to trace old bonds. If you have a lost bond certificate, record every visible number but do not assume that the certificate alone authorises a withdrawal. If all documents are missing, provide a former name and address, date of birth, likely purchase period and estimated value so NS&I can search old NS&I records. For a child’s holding, the registered parent or guardian may need to show parental responsibility; for a deceased holder, the person dealing with the estate may need probate or other authority.
Old Premium Bonds remain valid in NS&I’s records, even where paper evidence has disappeared.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get my Premium Bonds back?
Gather former names, old addresses, certificates and any bond or holder numbers, then contact NS&I through its official tracing route.
Can I check Premium Bonds bought 50 years ago?
Yes. NS&I can trace old Premium Bonds using historic details, including former addresses and an approximate purchase period.
Are 50-year-old Premium Bonds still valid?
Yes, old Premium Bonds do not expire because of their age and may continue entering monthly prize draws if eligible.
Can I find Premium Bonds using only my name?
No public checker reliably searches by name alone; use the NS&I Tracing Service with former names, dates of birth and past addresses.
Can I withdraw Premium Bonds online after tracing?
You may be able to withdraw online after NS&I confirms the holding and restores access, but check prizes and update payment details first.
Are Premium Bonds prizes taxed?
Premium Bonds prizes are tax-free in the United Kingdom.
Start with your oldest address
Write down your oldest known address, every name you have used and any certificate numbers before starting an official NS&I tracing enquiry.
