Two winners of £1 million were announced in May 2026’s Premium Bonds prize draw, despite a recent scandal affecting bereaved families. The first winner is from Suffolk, holding bond number 567VN857011, purchased in January 2024. The second winner is from the Highlands and Islands with bond number 643SE292364, bought in September 2025.
The total amount won across the country in May’s draw reached £1,819,000. In total, there were 5,947,523 prizes drawn worth a collective £376,180,825. The odds of winning any prize stood at 23,000 to 1 for each £1 saved.
Premium Bonds do not accrue interest but enter savers into a monthly cash lottery. The maximum holding for an individual in Premium Bonds is £50,000. Over the years, over 99% of prizes have been paid to winners since draws began in 1957.
However, NS&I has recently faced a scandal affecting bereaved families’ access to Premium Bonds. This situation has resulted in delays for around 37,500 individuals seeking access to their funds.
Quotes from NS&I representatives:
- Andrew Westhead stated: “The quickest way to check if you have won a prize is to use our Premium Bonds prize checker app or check online from the second working day of each month.”
- Dan Coatsworth remarked: “Trust is incredibly important in financial services, and savers might not look so fondly at NS&I following operational failures in the business.”
- He also added: “NS&I effectively competes with the banks as a savings brand and is extremely popular with individuals up and down the country.”
Both jackpot winners will receive visits from Agent Million—an anonymous NS&I employee who travels the country to inform winners of their newfound wealth. Meanwhile, millions of unclaimed Premium Bonds prizes continue to exist.
