Premium Bonds Prize Checker: How to Check If You Have Won

When the draw happens and when results appear

ERNIE, the Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment, draws the Premium Bonds prizes on the first working day of every month. High value prizes of £1,000 and above are typically confirmed on the day of the draw, and all prizes down to £25 are usually available to check by the following day. If you have the NS&I app, it can send you a notification when you win, so you do not have to remember to check. Bonds must be held for one full calendar month before they are eligible, so a bond bought in September first enters the November draw.

How to check if you have won

Checking is free and takes seconds through the official NS&I prize checker, available on the NS&I website, in the NS&I app, or by asking Alexa. You need your Premium Bonds holder's number or NS&I number, which is on your Bond record or in your online account. The checker shows wins from the current month and any unclaimed prizes going back to the first draw. Use only the official NS&I checker: fraudsters run fake prize checker sites and messages to harvest details, and NS&I will never ask for a payment to release a prize.

The odds and the prizes

Every £1 bond has a 21,000 to 1 chance of winning a prize in each monthly draw, a figure set by NS&I from the July 2026 draw. Prizes are tax-free and range from £25 up to £1 million, with two £1 million jackpots drawn every month. The minimum holding is £25 and the maximum is £50,000. The more bonds you hold, the more chances you have, but the odds on each individual £1 bond are identical regardless of when or where it was bought.

Unclaimed prizes and whether they are worth it

Premium Bonds prizes never expire, so it is worth checking any old holdings, including bonds bought for you as a child, as NS&I holds a large pot of unclaimed prizes. On value, the prize fund rate is an average across all bonds, not a return you are likely to receive: most holders win little or nothing in a given year, while a few win large prizes. Premium Bonds are risk-free, with 100 per cent of your money backed by HM Treasury, but a standard savings account may pay more reliable interest. Whether they suit you depends on your goals rather than the headline rate.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Premium Bonds draw

ERNIE draws the prizes on the first working day of each month. High value prizes are usually confirmed the same day, with all prizes available to check by the next day.

How do I check if I have won Premium Bonds

Use the free official NS&I prize checker, on the website, in the NS&I app or via Alexa, with your holder's number. It shows current wins and unclaimed prizes going back to 1957.

What are the odds of winning Premium Bonds

Every £1 bond has odds of 21,000 to 1 in each monthly draw, set by NS&I from the July 2026 draw. Prizes range from £25 to £1 million.

Do Premium Bonds prizes expire

No. Prizes never expire and can be claimed at any time, going back to the first draw in 1957, so it is worth checking old holdings for unclaimed prizes.

Are Premium Bonds worth it

They are risk-free, with 100 per cent backed by HM Treasury, but the prize fund rate is an average and most holders win little in a year. A standard savings account may pay more reliable interest, so it depends on your goals.