National Savings and Investments (NS&I) has officially announced the winners of the March 2025 Premium Bond draw, creating two new millionaires and generating excitement among the 24 million bond holders across the UK. With the overall prize fund set to decline next month, this announcement arrives with urgency.
This month, two fortunate individuals were each awarded £1 million. The first winner hails from Cumbria, with their winning bond number being 408VD714629. This bond was purchased for £35,000 back in August 2020, and the winner maintains this overall holding of £35,000. The second £1 million prize has gone to another lucky winner from Cleveland, who holds bond number 540HZ735699. Remarkably, this winning bond was worth only £100, purchased in May 2023, demonstrating the incredible nature of the Premium Bonds scheme, where even modest investments can yield life-changing returns.
Beyond the top prizes, NS&I awarded numerous other significant amounts as part of the March draw. A total of 71 individuals earned £100,000 each, and 141 recipients took home £50,000. The complete breakdown of March's rewards is as follows:
- £1 million – 2 winners
- £100,000 – 71 winners
- £50,000 – 141 winners
- £25,000 – 284 winners
- £10,000 – 590 winners
- £5,000 – 1,177 winners
- £1,000 – 12,573 winners
- £500 – 37,719 winners
- £100 – 1,280,509 winners
- £50 – 1,280,509 winners
- £25 – 2,376,161 winners
These winners are notified by NS&I if they have registered their contact details. Unfortunately, many holders fail to update their information, leading to unclaimed prizes. Currently, there are over 2.5 million unclaimed Premium Bond prizes, totaling nearly £93.8 million available for collection. To check for potential winnings, bond holders can use NS&I’s convenient online prize checker or the dedicated mobile app, which requires either the holder's number or the NS&I number.
With the impending reduction of the prize fund rate set for April 2025, it’s important for holders to claim any outstanding prizes quickly. The prize fund rate will drop from the current 4% to 3.8%, which will alter the distribution of future prizes awarded. While the odds of winning will remain at 22,000 to one, the number of available high-value prizes is set to decrease: for example, the number of estimated £100,000 prizes will decline from 82 to 78, £50,000 prizes will drop from 164 to 157, and the £25,000 prizes will go from 328 to approximately 313.
To check if you have won, visit the NS&I website and access the prize checker feature. Ensuring you have your Premium Bonds holder’s information handy is key for verifying any winnings. Premium Bonds are often regarded as the UK’s top savings product, and as such, they attract over 24 million savers who have pooled together more than £122 billion.
Despite the recent announcements, the appeal of Premium Bonds continues as they provide tax-free returns; it’s no surprise they remain popular among savers seeking both security and excitement. With each month’s draw generating anticipation among investors, the recent winners from Cumbria and Cleveland serve as reminders of the potential benefits.
Those with Premium Bonds are urged to stay vigilant, keep their contact information current, and regularly check for new results to avoid missing out on what could be life-changing prizes. The bond holders who are lucky enough to win are not just securing financial rewards; they are gaining peace of mind knowing their savings are working for them.
Whether you are already invested or considering taking the plunge, Premium Bonds offer not just financial return possibilities but the chance at excitement each month as new winners are announced. Check your bonds today and see if you could join the ranks of this month’s new millionaires!