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
HewasH2O · 31/08/2026 14:44

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!!

It's not that unusual. Chartered accountant here. We bought a new car today and only remembered on Saturday that there was an ISA floating around with DH's name on it.

HewasH2O · 31/08/2026 14:45

Now maybe that's why I haven't seen AM. We were out for a couple of hours.

NoEligibilityRequirementsApply · 31/08/2026 14:52

HewasH2O · 31/08/2026 14:44

It's not that unusual. Chartered accountant here. We bought a new car today and only remembered on Saturday that there was an ISA floating around with DH's name on it.

Anyone who knows DH knows it is not unlike him. He’s now going through all our old files just in case there is anything else he’d forgotten!

Feelinglucky2025 · 31/08/2026 14:52

We took the little ones out for a couple of hours this morning but have been back about 2 hours and no sign here of AM. Not that I would ever expect to see them but it would be nice 🤣.

Gazelda · 31/08/2026 17:15

How lovely for you @NoEligibilityRequirementsApply

Blueradiators · 31/08/2026 18:03

I have unfortunately been home all day and not had a visit, so unless AM poodles over this evening and joins us for dinner, I'll have to contend with one of the lesser prizes of £100,000 please

Bolanboogie · 31/08/2026 23:52

Can you check high value wins on the prize checker app at midnight tonight?

Bolanboogie · 31/08/2026 23:53

Can you check high value wins tonight from midnight on prize checker app ?

Blondeshavemorefun · 01/09/2026 00:02

Sept

good luck everyone

im off to bed. Too tired to check

https://www.nsandi.com/files/asset/xlsx/prize-september-2026.xlsx

OP posts:
CatRash · 01/09/2026 00:06

Nothing for me on high value winners 😔

Yellow app is now showing 'excited bout carrots lady' rather than boy with an ice cream though...although that might be meaningless!

PremiumBondJovi · 01/09/2026 00:31

Thanks @Blondeshavemorefun. I hope you enjoyed the wedding.

Much too tired here too, apart from checking the two millionaires in case we missed William's visit today. Alas no, we did not. Norwich and London, both FH or nearly.

Huge congratulations to @Bondedforlife - thank you for sharing your story.

Keeping the Irrational Hope and Irrational Excitement fires burning a little longer here for something significant and very, very much needed. 🙏🤞

The very best of luck to one and all of us, PBers and especially the BondJovis 🍀🐈‍⬛

Here I am again, this time singing about a wealthy man we all know called ERNIE. Feel free to join in.

WidowBonds · 01/09/2026 00:42

Nothing on the list for me. It seems my city in general is having a bad month as we had hardly anything on the list compared to usual.

WidowBonds · 01/09/2026 00:43

Bolanboogie · 31/08/2026 23:53

Can you check high value wins tonight from midnight on prize checker app ?

Not on the app, but there is a spreadsheet listing all large wins and you can search that.

Netaporter · 01/09/2026 00:54

Unsurprisingly, Nothing for me on the list, but how lovely for the person with £120 worth of bonds bought 20years ago in 06 who has won £100k. I’d imagine that was a gift for a birth/birthday? Similarly there is someone who has also won £50k holding an equally modest sum.

Let’s see what the app says tomorrow 🤞

FabulousFreshias · 01/09/2026 00:56

CatRash · 01/09/2026 00:06

Nothing for me on high value winners 😔

Yellow app is now showing 'excited bout carrots lady' rather than boy with an ice cream though...although that might be meaningless!

That’s interesting, mine just shows the “1 day until next results” page. The list won’t load on my iPad so I’ll dream until Weds that maybe I won something !

lordbaddingham · 01/09/2026 01:58

Nowt again. BTW exactly how big is Kirklees as it seems to have loads of winners!

DuckBushCityLimit · 01/09/2026 05:47

I'M ON THE LIST!!

I guess I've kind of spoiled the excitement of the prize checker app for myself, but OMG. £10,000!

FiveShelties · 01/09/2026 05:56

Wow @DuckBushCityLimit what a fantastic surprise 🍾😁

ExplodingSmittens · 01/09/2026 06:21

DuckBushCityLimit · 01/09/2026 05:47

I'M ON THE LIST!!

I guess I've kind of spoiled the excitement of the prize checker app for myself, but OMG. £10,000!

That is so amazing! Well done Flowers

Stars26 · 01/09/2026 06:34

Congrats @DuckBushCityLimit on your win. A great amount!

lordbaddingham · 01/09/2026 06:40

Oh my! Amazing!

LasVegass · 01/09/2026 06:48

@DuckBushCityLimit congratulations!

wheresmyshoe · 01/09/2026 07:00

Wonderful news @DuckBushCityLimit well done!

westisbest1982 · 01/09/2026 07:06

Congratulations @DuckBushCityLimit Any plans for that lovely prize?

CatRash · 01/09/2026 07:11

Amazing! Well done @DuckBushCityLimit !!