Premium Bonds have no public prize search by name. If you have moved home, lost paperwork or found old Premium Bonds, you can usually check through NS&I using a holder’s number or NS&I number.
Check prizes and choose your next move
Check the official NS&I Prize Checker or app first, using the identifier requested on screen.
Choose the route that fits your Premium Bonds prize
New result this month
Check prize option and wait for payment.
Old Bonds or old address
Check first, then ask NS&I to trace records.
Payment missing or cheque lost
Confirm dates, then contact NS&I.
Holder has died
Use NS&I’s bereavement process.
Separate a new prize from an old one
Current prizes usually follow your existing payment instructions, while old prizes may require NS&I to match former names or addresses.
Check the payment route before chasing it
Before reporting a missing payment, check whether the prize was set for direct payment, reinvestment, or cheque.
Check the latest draw, recent draws and older unclaimed prizes separately. The NS&I Prize Checker is useful for checking whether you have won in the current draw and in the previous six draws, so it is the quickest starting point when you regularly check Premium Bonds prizes. That does not necessarily answer every question about money that was won years ago and never received. For that situation, use NS&I’s route for unclaimed prizes with your Premium Bonds holder’s number where possible.
If an old prize notice was sent to a former address, keep the prize month, amount and any holding details available when you contact NS&I. Checking both routes helps distinguish a recent result that is still being paid from a historical prize that needs tracing.
Find the right NS&I number
Look on NS&I letters, prize notices, Bond records, or your online account for the identifier required by the service.
| Identifier | Usual format | Where to find it | Best use |
|---|
| Holder’s number | Usually 9 or 10 digits, or 8 digits plus a letter | Bond records, prize notices, older NS&I letters | Checking a Premium Bonds holding and prizes |
| NS&I number | Usually 11 digits | Online account, account letters, NS&I documents | Signing in and managing eligible NS&I services |
| Bond number | Number for a specific Bond | Certificate or old purchase record | Evidence of an old holding, not normally the main Prize Checker log-in |
Find a holder’s number on old records
A holder’s number identifies a Premium Bonds holding and is normally the best number for checking prizes.
Use an NS&I number for account access
Use your usually 11-digit NS&I number where the official account screen specifically asks for it.
Claim and manage prizes without delay
Most new Premium Bonds prizes need no separate claim because NS&I pays or reinvests them under the instructions on your holding.
Follow the results-to-payment timeline
Allow the normal payment window: direct payment or reinvestment commonly follows within about 2 to 5 working days, while cheques can take 5 to 10 working days.
Update your address, bank details, and prize instructions directly with NS&I before the next draw.
Prepare the record details before asking NS&I to trace an old holding or prize. A successful enquiry about old Premium Bonds normally depends on NS&I being able to match the holding to the right person, rather than simply finding a Bond number. Have the holder’s full name, date of birth, Premium Bonds holder’s number or NS&I number, every known previous address and any old certificate, purchase record or Premium Bonds prize notice ready. Give only the information requested through an official NS&I channel.
If the holder has died, do not try to use their online details or redirect a payment; the executor or authorised representative should follow the Premium Bonds bereavement process. This allows NS&I to establish authority, trace the holding and explain the appropriate next step for a claim or prize enquiry.
Choose payment instructions that still suit your holding before the next draw. Payment options can include Premium Bonds direct payment to a nominated bank account or Premium Bonds reinvestment, subject to NS&I’s rules and the maximum amount that can be held in Premium Bonds. Reinvestment can be convenient for a holding below the limit, while direct payment may be preferable if you want prize money available in your bank account. Review the option shown in your NS&I online account and make an address change, bank-detail update or payment-instruction change only through NS&I’s official website, app or independently sourced contact details.
Changes may not apply to a prize that has already been processed, so check the status of an expected payment before assuming the instruction failed.
Protect old bonds and avoid scams
Old Premium Bonds may still have valid holdings or unclaimed prizes, but NS&I may need historic addresses and identity details to trace them.
Reject prize checker lookalikes
Use only NS&I’s official website or official app store links, and never pay a third party to release a prize.
Use the bereavement route when needed
Where the holder has died, executors or authorised representatives must use NS&I’s separate bereavement process.
This guide does not help you decide whether to buy Premium Bonds for the first time or calculate returns against a Cash ISA. It also does not replace NS&I’s separate process for a deceased holder’s estate, powers of representation, or disputes about who owns the Bonds.
Common questions
How do I check old premium bonds for prizes?
You can check old Premium Bonds through NS&I’s official Prize Checker using a holder’s number or NS&I number. If you lack both, contact NS&I with your full name, date of birth, and former addresses. Old prizes do not automatically expire.
Can I check premium bonds by name?
No, NS&I does not provide a public Premium Bonds prize search by name. A genuine check needs a holder’s number or NS&I number, plus identity checks where records are old. Avoid websites that offer name-only searches.
Are 50-year-old premium bonds still valid?
Yes, Premium Bonds from 1959 onwards can still be valid if they were not cashed in or closed. Check them through NS&I rather than assuming their age prevents a prize. NS&I may ask for historic address details.
When should a premium bonds prize be paid?
Direct payment or reinvestment commonly follows within about 2 to 5 working days after results, subject to NS&I’s current timetable. A cheque can take roughly 5 to 10 working days by post. Contact NS&I after checking your recorded option and address.
What do I do if my premium bonds cheque is lost?
Ask NS&I to trace the cheque and tell you whether it can be replaced. Do not amend, photocopy, or attempt to cash a damaged cheque. Have the prize month, amount, and previous address ready.
Do premium bonds prizes count towards my ISA
No, a Premium Bonds prize does not use your annual ISA subscription limit unless you choose to pay the cash into an ISA. Premium Bonds prizes are tax-free. ISA contribution rules are set by HMRC and can change between tax years.
What matters most:- Check prizes only through NS&I with the identifier requested by its service.
- Old Bonds and unclaimed prizes may still be valid, even when paperwork is decades old.
- Check payment instructions and allow the normal window before reporting a missing prize.
- Update bank and address details directly with NS&I, never through an unsolicited link.
Further reading
If you want to learn more about this topic, these sources may interest you:
