February has brought good fortune to two lucky Premium Bonds holders, each walking away with a staggering £1 million during the latest draw. The winners have been announced by National Savings and Investments (NS&I), which manages the widely popular Premium Bonds scheme described as a "fun way to save" with tax-free cash prizes.
This month’s draw profiles the winners as follows: one winner resides in Kirklees, holding the winning bond number 150EN423722, purchased back in January 2009 as part of a £5,000 investment. The other millionaire hails from Sheffield, with number 513EP525664, acquired through a £10,000 purchase made just last September.
With 81 bond holders winning £100,000, 163 receiving £50,000, and 328 walking away with £25,000, the total prize pot for February has been reported at £426,485,250. A total of 5,815,708 cash prizes were awarded, creating excitement for thousands across the UK.
NS&I's retail director Andrew Westhead celebrated the wins, stating: "We're delighted to announce February's Premium Bonds draw has brought million-pound wins to Kirklees and Sheffield. The Sheffield win marks the city's fourth Premium Bonds millionaire and is exactly two years since the last jackpot win there in February 2023.” He added, “Yorkshire and the Humber may be on a jackpot winning streak, but thanks to ERNIE, more than £430 million in prizes have gone to bond holders up and down the country this month."
The Premium Bonds scheme generates winners every month through the use of ERNIE, the electronic random number indicator. Each £1 bond purchase allows holders to be entered for thousands of cash prizes. While odds of winning remain at 22,000 to 1 for each bond, the probability of winning at least the smallest prize of £25 is 1 in 880. “Buying more Bonds can increase your chances of winning,” emphasizes Westhead.
Many bond holders are thrilled to know their winnings can also be instantly checked online or through the NS&I app. Bond owners can enter their unique bond number to see if they’ve won, and NS&I suggests other methods, such as asking Alexa for quick results.
If you’re one of the lucky winners, there’s no rush to claim your prize—prizes can be collected anytime, dating back to the very first draw held back in 1957. For greater convenience, many Premium Bond holders opt for their winnings to be deposited directly to their bank accounts or reinvested automatically.
The opportunity for big wins significantly thrives but at the same time, there is also the reality of unclaimed prizes. Currently, NS&I reports there are approximately 2.5 million prizes, valued at about £93,830,100, still awaiting collection, encompassing eight prizes worth £100,000 each and more than 200 at £5,000 or more.
For those eager to get involved or expand their bond collection, the NS&I allows investors to buy Premium Bonds online, over the phone, or through traditional means like the postal service. Each new investor will need at least £25 to start.
With the mix of excitement of winning and the convenience of modern technology, Premium Bonds continue to attract attention and participation. The February 2025 draw undeniably created both millionaires and numerous other winners, reaffirming the game's popularity across the UK.
Those eager to check their numbers or purchase new bonds can easily head to the NS&I website, where additional resources are also available to optimize their winning chances.
So, did you win big this month on Premium Bonds? The announcement of winners showcases the thrill of the draw, and with many more draws to come, luck could strike again at any moment!