Please or to access all these features

Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

PREMIUM BONDS JULY/AUG 2026

969 replies

Blondeshavemorefun · 30/06/2026 21:48

PB have been about since 1957 so 80yrs next year

Each bond is £1. You have to buy in minimum of £25 so means 25 chances to win every purchase - years ago you could buy £1 at a time.

From July’s draw the expected prize rate will go from 3.3 per cent to 3.8 per cent while the odds of any £1 bond winning will shorten from 23,000 to one to 22,000 to one.

In August 2023, we had the highest 4.65%

The total prize pot will go from just under £376.2 million to £436.8 million — up £60.6 million.

So providing you have more than £100 you have better odds winning something from pb than winning the lottery 😄

And obviously far better than the lottery - you don’t lose your stake !!!!!!

https://www.saga.co.uk/money-news/premium-bonds

Bonds have to be in for a clear month before going into the draw

If you want to cash bonds in then usually takes 3 days to go into your account

Winnings can be reinvested if holdings are under £50k

This means they will go into the next months draw without losing a month

Or sent to named bank account if winnings take over FH /want winnings in bank account
More info here

www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/savings/types-of-savings/premium-bonds

The best time to buy premium bonds is on the last day of the month, as this means they are only held by NSI for one month and one day, without being entered into the prize draw.

PB to me is the fun and thrill each month of what if I win big and a millionaire - to then hoping win thousands to a day or two later being grateful if win £25😂

I have nowhere near the maximum and probably never will unless I win £50k + on pb

But only takes one £1 to win that million !!! Or in fact any prize

I love seeing the low holdings win high amounts

We've seen over the years £100 holding win a million (March 25) also a £100 holding win £100k and £50 win £25k and even £1 won £10k

Maximum is £50k per person so some do have all for family- mum dad and 2 kids so £200k etx

Those on the thread are varying from few hundred /few thousand - to 20/30k to full holdings of £50k

Everyone is welcome to join in whether small or full holdings

Obviously some people have better 'luck' than others and some worse - Ie full holdings and not winning anything a month or two or even longer

PB odds calculator below

https://pbprizes.com/calculator/

shows the interest rate of the winnings - obv anything over 3.80 % is good as if in an account you wouid be taxed so be more like 3%

The consistent winners are the 1.16 million people who have the maximum £50,000.

They hold almost half of all premium bonds and, at current odds of 1/22000 can expect a monthly stream of tax-free prizes:
two a month and three almost every other month, 28 or 29 a year totaling £1900 (3.8%) interest on £50k

So the median average will always be lower than the mean average.

This means that, with average luck, most people will win less than the prize rate each year, regardless of how many bonds they hold

To work out your own personal % rate
Winnings divided by amount have x 100

But many on here do have £50k and then consider moving it to an account that pays 4% if their bonds aren't doing very well as would then def get extra money
But remember savings /interest get taxed
PB and their winnings don't

So anything over 3% in winnings is considered good and 3.8% excellent

People dither whether to pull out from pb and put in high interest account if not winning anything so that they will def earn x amount of interest

But then lose the what if won a million or £100k

If you have PB but not sure if you have ever won esp if moved about a lot

you can write to NS&I

Include these details in the letter:
Current name
Current address
Premium Bond holder number& date of birth

All previous addresses where you might have registered bonds

Your signature

You can send your letter to:

NS&I
Sunderland
SR43 2SB.

There are 2 apps afaik
Cream - prize checker and if won previous month will show a pic - which we all get excited over 😂😂😂

Blue - the app its self works but the showing early often doesn't work for me but those who reinvest their winnings say it shows if won the day before app shows 🙀🙀🙀

Seems the higher the winnings the earlier it shows and can be from 6pm the night before the app shows

And to confuse things I have a White app that is a bookmark - which shows info/list 😄😄😄

Now this has been debated on MANY times but seems to be correct

When do we find out if going to get a visit from AM 😂

The two winners of the £1million prizes will be contacted by Agent Million (AM) 😂😂 the day before the first working day of the corresponding month.

There may however be exceptions to this, such as when the first working day of the month is a bank holiday, for example.

So
AM - Day before first working day - Millionaire knock /call

LIST - First day of working month showing all winners million to £1k winners - which I always put up for those who can't find it

APP - Day after first working day , including weekends - cream app showing all winnings

You can also check to see if have won via this link with your holders number

www.nsandi.com/prize-checker

Hopefully I've covered everything
Good luck one and all 😄

Prize Checker

Ready to see if you have won a prize? Enter your holder's number to check if you’ve won in this month’s Premium Bonds draw. Good luck!

https://www.nsandi.com/prize-checker

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
Muchtoomuchtodo · 30/08/2026 10:05

I just looked on the beige app to see if I can check my total holdings (can never get into the blue one!)

it’s told me that I’ve not won in August. Then I remembered it’s Septembers draw that we’re waiting for. Where has this year gone?!

anyone got any tips how to get into the blue app?

MyPlumHelper · 30/08/2026 10:05

Nice but there's no way to know if it's actually true.

westisbest1982 · 30/08/2026 10:11

Muchtoomuchtodo · 30/08/2026 10:05

I just looked on the beige app to see if I can check my total holdings (can never get into the blue one!)

it’s told me that I’ve not won in August. Then I remembered it’s Septembers draw that we’re waiting for. Where has this year gone?!

anyone got any tips how to get into the blue app?

Edited

If you click on the forgotten password link you can create a new PIN number for that app.

Blondeshavemorefun · 30/08/2026 11:12

I had to ring pb to get back into my blue app as kept saying my password and number code was wrong so all got reset

OP posts:
Muchtoomuchtodo · 30/08/2026 11:47

I’m in! It took 3 password resets and several codes being text to me but I’m now set up with a PIN and Face ID.

I do have a very random , if small amount of bonds, so I will be easy to spot on the list! Good idea @HewasH2O, thanks!

HewasH2O · 30/08/2026 12:53

No problem. I had checked my quirky holding in the HV list when it was published, forgetting that I had won something like £50 or £100 the previous month. It was until about 8pm when I started to look at the blue app (don't know why I bother, as it never updates until we'll past midnight for me) that I realised that I had checked the wrong total holding.

I don't think I would have trusted the cream app alone at midnight if I hadn't had those extra 3 or 4 hours to check my bond numbers, get my DH to check my bond numbers, ask my daughter to check my bond numbers etc. Even then, some random posters (not regulars) a few threads back accused me of faking a win 😃

Blondeshavemorefun · 30/08/2026 12:56

Muchtoomuchtodo · 30/08/2026 11:47

I’m in! It took 3 password resets and several codes being text to me but I’m now set up with a PIN and Face ID.

I do have a very random , if small amount of bonds, so I will be easy to spot on the list! Good idea @HewasH2O, thanks!

Same as small and random

OP posts:
Zippidydoodah · 30/08/2026 13:59

Hi all, and thank you for sharing your story @Bondedforlife ❤️ How lovely.

We are struggling through a quagmire of shite at the moment so a win would be incredible. Is it midnight tonight when you can check the high value prizes, or tomorrow?

westisbest1982 · 30/08/2026 16:16

Definitely tomorrow night @Zippidydoodah

It’s been a long time since I was so invested in a PBs draw (because the September prize rate is 4.35% which it hasn’t been for TWO YEARS!). Wishing everyone a lot of luck!

wigletswiglet · 30/08/2026 18:03

I've got just under 2k in PB and about 7k in a cash isa at 4.4%. I'm planning on adding monthly savings into PB as I've maxed out my cash isa allowance and can't top it up until April. Should I move the 7k currently in my cash ISA into my premium bonds given the rate going up to 4.35%?

Zippidydoodah · 30/08/2026 19:03

Thank you @westisbest1982 and good luck all!!

Blondeshavemorefun · 30/08/2026 20:24

Well I’m out all day at a wedding tomorrow so just as well that William 😉 won’t be visiting me

but God I hope midnight is a good list

OP posts:
WorthySloth · 30/08/2026 21:27

I’m working all day tomorrow. Wonder if agent million will pop by after 9pm for me?

TofuTuesday · 30/08/2026 21:36

I’m out with my nephews all day hoping they leave a message

1985goingbackagain · 30/08/2026 22:42

wigletswiglet · 30/08/2026 18:03

I've got just under 2k in PB and about 7k in a cash isa at 4.4%. I'm planning on adding monthly savings into PB as I've maxed out my cash isa allowance and can't top it up until April. Should I move the 7k currently in my cash ISA into my premium bonds given the rate going up to 4.35%?

There is still no guarantee that you will win anything, even if the “average” rate goes up so I don’t think it’s a reason to move money that’s in your cash ISA. But it entirely depends on whether you want more chances to win something (albeit that may end up being nothing at all) or if you want some guaranteed interest.

LasVegass · 30/08/2026 23:53

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/savings/premium-bonds-calculator/ @wigletswiglet theres a calculator here showing how much you “could” win on PBs vs ISA. It looks pretty depressing overall. I think we’re all just hoping for the big one.

confusedlots · 31/08/2026 06:09

wigletswiglet · 30/08/2026 18:03

I've got just under 2k in PB and about 7k in a cash isa at 4.4%. I'm planning on adding monthly savings into PB as I've maxed out my cash isa allowance and can't top it up until April. Should I move the 7k currently in my cash ISA into my premium bonds given the rate going up to 4.35%?

I would move the money in your cash ISA to a
S&S ISA if you’re planning on not touching it for at least 5 years. You will get a much better return (but it’s not for short term investing as you may experience a dip just when you want to withdraw money).

I use PB for my emergency fund as I know I can access it within a couple of days if I need to. I quite often win £25 or £50 which I just leave re-invested until it builds up a bit and then I withdraw the winnings and move over to my S&S ISA or pension. I got my biggest win ever last month of £500 which I was as delighted at! I’m hoping this is the start of a lucky streak!

MaybeThisTimeILlbeLucky · 31/08/2026 08:36

wigletswiglet · 30/08/2026 18:03

I've got just under 2k in PB and about 7k in a cash isa at 4.4%. I'm planning on adding monthly savings into PB as I've maxed out my cash isa allowance and can't top it up until April. Should I move the 7k currently in my cash ISA into my premium bonds given the rate going up to 4.35%?

How easy access do you need it ? Have you got anything in stocks and shares ?

If not I'd look into that instead.

westisbest1982 · 31/08/2026 08:58

Today’s the last day to buy bonds that are eligible for October.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 31/08/2026 10:05

I have a standing order set up to buy bonds each month and always set it to pay in the day after pay day and before the end of the month. The bank doesn't process the payment over a weekend so annoyingly the bank holiday means it wont be in in time for the Oct draw.

wigletswiglet · 31/08/2026 10:22

MaybeThisTimeILlbeLucky · 31/08/2026 08:36

How easy access do you need it ? Have you got anything in stocks and shares ?

If not I'd look into that instead.

I've got about 40k in a global tracker S&S so that's my long-term savings, the cash ISA is for emergency savings and the PB is currently holding what will eventually be moved into the cash ISA once the ISA allowance resets in April

wigletswiglet · 31/08/2026 11:03

confusedlots · 31/08/2026 06:09

I would move the money in your cash ISA to a
S&S ISA if you’re planning on not touching it for at least 5 years. You will get a much better return (but it’s not for short term investing as you may experience a dip just when you want to withdraw money).

I use PB for my emergency fund as I know I can access it within a couple of days if I need to. I quite often win £25 or £50 which I just leave re-invested until it builds up a bit and then I withdraw the winnings and move over to my S&S ISA or pension. I got my biggest win ever last month of £500 which I was as delighted at! I’m hoping this is the start of a lucky streak!

Is it worth moving the money from Premium bonds into a GIA instead? I know the premium bonds rates are not guaranteed but I'm wondering if I put it into an investment that pays out dividends, I'll at least have something every month to show for my savings that's higher than bonds or an everyday saver?

Sherunswithwolves · 31/08/2026 11:21

Congratulations @Bondedforlife on your win. I hope you've enjoyed the ten year anniversary 😄 It's been lovely to read your account of it.

Good luck everyone for tonight.

NoEligibilityRequirementsApply · 31/08/2026 12:54

I really enjoyed reading @Bondedforlife ’s account Thankyou!

I posted up thread about our 80% drop in income and I’ve now put our last 5k into pbs hoping for the best. I was just talking with DH about this use of our emergency fund. And he looked blank for a second then went into his study. He’s just come back with the news that he has an emergency ISA he’d forgotten all about set up just after we were married 20 years ago and it has £20 k in it. I’m in shock. He’s an accountant too so not sure how he forgot about it!! ( but it’s very true to form for him). So I am just thrilled. Fingers crossed for a good result tomorrow as well, in case good news comes in multiples!!

KitsyWitsy · 31/08/2026 13:23

I am excited for tonight! Frustrated though as last month I was in the US and got the list at 6pm my time. Longer to wait today. :(

Swipe left for the next trending thread