Unclaimed Premium Bonds Prizes: £115 Million Waiting to Be Claimed
Nearly 2.7 million Premium Bonds prizes worth approximately £115 million are sitting unclaimed right now. Ten winners of £100,000 prizes have never come forward, and some unclaimed prizes date back to the very first draw in 1957. Could one of them be yours?
The Scale of Unclaimed Prizes
NS&I has successfully paid out over 99% of all Premium Bonds prizes since 1957 — the unclaimed amount represents just 0.28% of the £40 billion awarded by ERNIE over nearly seven decades. But that 0.28% still adds up to a staggering amount of money sitting idle in NS&I's coffers.
The number of unclaimed prizes has been gradually accumulating over the years. A prize is officially classified as "unclaimed" after 18 months, but NS&I holds them indefinitely. There is no time limit whatsoever on claiming — you could claim a prize from 1957 today.
Why Do Prizes Go Unclaimed?
The reasons are surprisingly mundane. The vast majority of unclaimed prizes aren't forgotten fortunes — they're the result of administrative oversights:
- Moving house: Around one in ten prize payments are still made by cheque, sent to the address NS&I has on file. If you've moved without updating your details, those cheques go to your old address.
- Bonds bought for children: Grandparents or parents who bought bonds for children decades ago may not have told them. The children (now adults) have no idea they hold bonds at all.
- Inherited bonds: When a bondholder passes away, family members may not know about the bonds. The bonds remain in the draw until someone notifies NS&I.
- Not checking regularly: Many holders simply forget to check, especially if they have small holdings that rarely win.
- Old bank details: Even BACS payments can fail if bank accounts have been closed or sort codes have changed.
💡 The Single Best Thing You Can Do
Set up automatic BACS payments for your prizes and keep your bank details current with NS&I. This alone eliminates the most common reasons prizes go unclaimed. You can do this by logging into your NS&I online account or calling them.
Unclaimed Prizes by Region
London and the South East account for a disproportionate share of unclaimed prizes, likely reflecting higher population density, more frequent house moves, and historically higher Premium Bond uptake in these areas.
| Region | Unclaimed Prizes | Value |
|---|---|---|
| London | 467,733 | £19,674,900 |
| Overseas / Unknown | 382,700 | £17,884,850 |
| South East | 407,393 | £16,905,750 |
| East of England | 242,220 | £9,999,150 |
| North West | 206,000 | ~£8,500,000 |
| West Midlands | 175,000 | ~£7,200,000 |
| South West | 170,000 | ~£7,000,000 |
| Yorkshire & Humber | 165,000 | ~£6,800,000 |
| East Midlands | 142,000 | ~£5,800,000 |
| Scotland | 120,000 | ~£5,000,000 |
| North East | 80,000 | ~£3,300,000 |
| Wales | 75,000 | ~£3,100,000 |
| Northern Ireland | 35,000 | ~£1,400,000 |
Note: Approximate figures are based on NS&I published data. The "Overseas / Unknown" category includes bondholders who are abroad or whose region is unrecorded.
How to Check for Unclaimed Prizes
Checking is quick and free. You have several options:
1. Use Our Prize Checker
Our live Prize Checker queries NS&I's systems directly and can check both recent draws and unclaimed prizes. It works even during high-traffic periods when the official NS&I site may struggle.
2. NS&I's Official Tools
- Online: Visit nsandi.com and use the prize checker with your holder's number. It shows current draw results and any unclaimed prizes.
- NS&I App: Available for iOS and Android. Check results and unclaimed prizes on the go.
- Alexa: Ask "Alexa, have my Premium Bonds won?" using the NS&I skill.
3. Write to NS&I
If you've lost your holder's number or can't access the online tools, write to NS&I with your name, address, and any details you have. They can look up your account and send a full prize history. This is particularly useful for discovering bonds you didn't know about — for example, bonds bought for you as a child.
NS&I Contact Details
Address: NS&I, Sunderland SR43 2SB
Phone: 08085 007 007 (free from UK landlines and mobiles)
Website: nsandi.com
How to Claim an Unclaimed Prize
If you discover you have unclaimed prizes, the process depends on whether you're registered with NS&I online:
- Registered users: Log in to your NS&I account. Unclaimed prizes will be visible in your prize history. You can claim them by phone or the online system.
- Not registered: Register for NS&I's online service, or call them to arrange payment. You can also write to them.
- Prizes for deceased holders: The executor or administrator of the estate can claim unclaimed prizes by writing to NS&I with a copy of the death certificate and grant of probate.
Unclaimed prizes are paid by warrant (cheque) sent to your registered address. Unfortunately, NS&I can't pay unclaimed prizes directly to your bank account — only future prizes can be set up for BACS payment.
Prevent Future Prizes Going Unclaimed
✅ Steps to Take Now
- Register for NS&I online access if you haven't already
- Set prizes to be paid automatically by BACS with email notification
- Update your address and contact details whenever you move
- Set a monthly calendar reminder to check prizes (or bookmark our Prize Checker)
- Tell family members about any bonds you hold, and bonds bought for children
- Include Premium Bonds in your will and financial records for executors
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find out if a deceased relative had Premium Bonds?
Yes. Executors or administrators can write to NS&I with the deceased's name, date of birth, last known address, and a copy of the death certificate. NS&I will search their records and respond with any holdings and unclaimed prizes. You can also use the unclaimed assets register at mylostaccount.org.uk.
I've lost my holder's number — can I still check?
Yes. Call NS&I on 08085 007 007 or write to them with your name, date of birth, and current and previous addresses. They can trace your account and provide your holder's number.
Do unclaimed bonds still enter the monthly draw?
Yes — your bonds continue to be entered into every monthly draw regardless of whether previous prizes have been claimed. Unclaimed prizes accumulate separately.
Is there a government scheme for finding lost savings?
Yes. The My Lost Account service (mylostaccount.org.uk) is a free service run by UK Finance, the Building Societies Association, and NS&I. It helps trace lost accounts across all UK savings providers, including Premium Bonds.
Check Now — It Takes 30 Seconds
Don't leave money sitting unclaimed. Check your bonds now for any prizes you might have missed.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Regional unclaimed prize figures are based on the most recently published NS&I data and may have changed since publication. Some regional figures are approximate where exact data is unavailable. Not affiliated with NS&I. Information accurate as of February 2026.