Finding your Premium Bonds holder’s number is an important step in managing your bonds and checking for prizes. Your holder’s number is a unique reference number that National Savings and Investments (NS&I) use to identify you as the bond holder. With your holder’s number, you can check online or by phone to see if you have won a prize, register for online management, and more. Here is a step-by-step guide to locating your holder’s number for Premium Bonds.
Check Your Bond Records
The first place to look for your Premium Bonds holder’s number is on your bond records and correspondence from NS&I. When you first purchase Premium Bonds, your holder’s number will be printed on the bond certificate(s) you receive. The 12-digit number will be clearly labeled as the holder’s number or customer reference number.
If you have received any letters, statements, or prize notifications from NS&I about your Premium Bonds, your holder’s number should also be printed on these. Even if you have misplaced your original bond certificates, referencing recent correspondence from NS&I is a good way to find your holder’s number. Just look for a 12-digit reference number identified as the holder’s number or customer reference.
Check Your Bank Records
If you set up a Direct Debit to purchase Premium Bonds, you may also be able to locate your holder’s number by checking your bank records. When you pay for Premium Bonds via Direct Debit, the payment will show up on your bank statement with your holder’s number as the payment reference.
So dig out any old bank statements from around the time you first purchased your Premium Bonds. Look for a line payment to “NS&I” (or National Savings and Investments). The payment reference alongside this should be your 12-digit Premium Bonds holder’s number. This can provide confirmation of your holder’s number if you cannot find bond records.
Phone National Savings and Investments
If you cannot locate your holder’s number through your records, the next step is to contact NS&I directly. You can speak to a customer service representative by calling 08085 007 007 or +44 1253 832 010 if you are phoning from abroad.
When you get through to an agent, explain that you are a Premium Bonds holder but cannot find your holder’s number. They will then walk through some security questions to confirm your identity. This usually involves verifying personal details such as:
- Your full name and address
- Your date of birth
- Rough date you first purchased Premium Bonds
- Approximate total amount held in Premium Bonds
As long as you can answer the questions accurately, the agent will then be able to provide your correct holder’s number. They will also update your contact details if anything has changed.
Retrieve Your Holder’s Number Online
If you prefer to locate your holder’s number online, there are two options provided by NS&I:
Security Details Finder
The quickest way to retrieve your holder’s number online is via NS&I’s Security Details Finder tool. This is available on the NS&I website:
- Go to nsandi.com
- Select “Log in or register”
- Click on “Find your holder’s number and security details”
- Enter your personal details on the form provided
- Select “Find my holder’s number”
As long as the details you enter match NS&I’s records, your 12-digit Premium Bonds holder’s number will then be displayed on screen. This is the quickest way to find your holder’s number online if you have access to the internet.
Register for Online Management
You can also retrieve your holder’s number by registering to manage your Premium Bonds online. Follow these steps:
- Go to nsandi.com and select “Register”
- Start entering your personal details on the form provided
- Leave the “Premium Bonds holder’s number” box blank
- Agree to the terms and conditions and click “Register”
- Your holder’s number will then be displayed on the confirmation screen
This retrieves your holder’s number by matching your details against NS&I’s customer database. As long as the personal information you enter is accurate, your correct holder’s number will be displayed at the end.
Use the NS&I App
If you use the NS&I app on your smartphone or tablet, you may also be able to find your Premium Bonds holder’s number through the app. Follow these steps:
- Download the NS&I app from your device’s app store
- Open the app and select “Register”
- Enter your name, date of birth, National Insurance number and email address
- Leave the holder’s number field blank
- Accept the terms and conditions
- Your holder’s number will then appear on the confirmation screen
As with online registration, the app is able to retrieve your correct holder’s number by matching your details to NS&I’s records. This provides another way to find your holder’s number digitally.
Visit a Post Office
If you need urgent access to your Premium Bonds holder’s number and cannot find it through any of the options above, you can also visit a Post Office for assistance. Take photo ID and any bond records you have to a Post Office that deals with NS&I transactions.
A postmaster will then contact NS&I on your behalf and go through security questions to retrieve your holder’s number. Once your identity has been confirmed, the Post Office agent will provide you with your correct Premium Bonds holder’s number straight away.
This will involve queueing and taking documentation to the Post Office. However, it does give you a way to urgently obtain your holder’s number for Premium Bonds in person if you are unable to find it yourself.
Conclusion
Finding your Premium Bonds holder’s number is important for managing your bonds and checking for prizes. In summary, here are the main ways to locate your holder’s number if you cannot find your original bond records:
- Check bank statements from when you first purchased bonds
- Phone NS&I directly for assistance
- Use NS&I’s online tools to retrieve your holder’s number
- Try the NS&I app if you have it installed
- Visit a Post Office in person for urgent access
As long as you can provide accurate personal details, NS&I can match this to their records and provide your correct 12-digit holder’s number. This then allows you to manage your Premium Bonds holdings and check for any prizes you may have won.
Premium Bonds are an extremely popular savings and investment vehicle in the UK. Here is some background information on how Premium Bonds work and why locating your holder’s number is necessary:
What are Premium Bonds?
Premium Bonds are a savings product issued by National Savings and Investments (NS&I) on behalf of HM Treasury. They were first introduced in the UK in 1956 as an investment vehicle designed to encourage people to save.
With Premium Bonds, instead of earning interest on your savings, you are entered into a monthly prize draw. The minimum investment is £25 and the maximum allowable holding per person is £50,000. The prizes range from £25 to £1 million tax-free.
The idea is that the thrill of potentially winning a prize encourages people to save, while still having the chance to win tax-free cash prizes each month. The bonds themselves do not pay interest – the Government-backed NS&I effectively uses the interest to fund the monthly Premium Bonds prize draws.
How do Premium Bonds work?
For every £1 you invest in Premium Bonds, you are allocated a unique bond number. This bond number is entered into NS&I’s monthly prize draws.
Draws take place on the first day of every month, with around 3 million tax-free prizes issued. Prizes range from £25 up to the £1 million jackpot.
The more Premium Bonds you hold, the more bond numbers you have, and the greater your chance of winning. The odds of any £1 bond number winning a prize in a given month are 24,500 to 1.
Winners are selected randomly by ERNIE – NS&I’s Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment. As the draws are completely random, there is no way to predict winners. You simply have to check after each draw to see if you have won.
Why is the holder’s number important?
Your Premium Bonds holder’s number is vital for managing your Premium Bonds account and checking for prizes. This unique customer reference number identifies you as the bond holder.
With your holder’s number, you can:
- Register to manage your account online
- Check if you have won a prize each month
- Change personal details like your address
- Add or remove bonds from your holding
- Cash in bonds or have prizes paid directly into your bank account
Your holder’s number gives you secure access to your bonds. It should be kept confidential for account security purposes. NS&I will need to verify your holder’s number when you contact them or register for online services.
Premium Bonds in the UK
Premium Bonds have become hugely popular in Britain over the decades since their launch. Here are some key facts about their growth and importance:
- There are over £107 billion invested in Premium Bonds as of 2022
- More than 21 million people in the UK own Premium Bonds
- The average Premium Bonds holding is around £5,000
- Around 1.4 million prizes are issued in every monthly draw
- The total prize fund value each month is over £94 million
As Premium Bonds do not pay interest, the interest accrued is used to finance the prize fund. Higher long-term interest rates allow NS&I to offer more substantial tax-free prizes.
Premium Bonds can be an attractive savings option for many people because:
- Winnings are completely tax-free under UK law
- You can get access to your money whenever you need it
- Prizes are exempt from Inheritance Tax
- You can gift Premium Bonds to under 16s tax efficiently
- There is no risk to your capital which is Government-backed
The tax-free prizes and savings safety make Premium Bonds appealing. The holder’s number provides secure access to manage your bonds.
Managing your Premium Bonds
Once you have your Premium Bonds holder’s number, you can choose to manage your bonds:
- Online via the nsandi.com website
- Through the NS&I Mobile App
- Over the phone
- By post
Online management via the website or app allows you to:
- Check for prizes won in the latest monthly draw
- View your bond holdings and transaction history
- Change your personal details and manage cashing in bonds
- Buy more Premium Bonds securely by bank transfer
You can also phone the NS&I customer service team on 08085 007 007 to discuss your Premium Bonds. Phone waits can be long given the scheme’s popularity.
Alternatively, you can manage your account offline via post. Just write to NS&I including your holder’s number and requests. Postal processing can be slower than online management.
Tips for managing your bonds
Here are some useful tips for effectively managing your Premium Bonds using your holder’s number:
- Log in to online services regularly to check draws
- Update your email and address if you move house
- Maximize bonds held up to the £50k limit per person
- Reinvest any winnings to increase your bond numbers
- Check prize history to understand your winning frequency
- Withdraw money promptly if you need access to your savings
Actively managing your Premium Bonds enables you to get the most out of them. Your holder’s number provides the key to convenient online account management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about finding your Premium Bonds holder’s number:
Why do I need to find my holder’s number?
Your holder’s number is required to manage your Premium Bonds account, check for prizes, withdraw money, and more. It verifies your identity as the bond holder. Without your holder’s number, you cannot access details about your bond holdings securely.
I’ve lost my holder’s number – how do I find it?
Contact NS&I by phone, online, or at a Post Office if you have lost your holder’s number. Verify your identity by answering security questions and they can retrieve your correct holder’s number for you.
Can I register for online access without my holder’s number?
Yes, you can start registering on nsandi.com without your holder’s number. Once you submit the form, your correct holder’s number will be displayed if your details match NS&I’s records.
How long does it take to retrieve my holder’s number?
Online and through the app you will get access instantly. By phone allow 15 minutes. At a Post Office expect to queue for up to 30 minutes before getting help from the postmaster.
Do I need to remember my holder’s number forever?
No – once you have registered for online management, you can access your account using your username and password. But you will need your holder’s number again if you need to re-register in future.
Can I change or update my holder’s number?
No, the holder’s number cannot be updated or changed. It is a unique, permanent reference number attached to your bond holdings for life.
What happens if someone else knows my holder’s number?
Treat your holder’s number confidentially like a bank card PIN code. If someone has access to it, they could withdraw your bonds or prize money. Contact NS&I immediately if you suspect someone else has learned your holder’s number.
Where is my holder’s number printed on documents?
Your holder’s number will be clearly labelled on bond certificates, letters from NS&I, bank statements for buying bonds, and prize warrants. Look for a 12-digit “holder’s number” or “customer reference”.
In Summary
Locating your Premium Bonds holder’s number allows you to securely manage your bonds and savings:
- Check old records, statements and certificates to find your holder’s number
- Use NS&I’s online tools or phone them to retrieve unknown holder’s numbers
- Manage your bonds conveniently online with your holder’s number
- Keep your holder’s number confidential for account security
- Your holder’s number provides the key to checking prizes and withdrawals
Premium Bonds are a popular tax-free savings option in the UK. Taking steps to find your holder’s number gives you access to your bonds and means you never miss a tax-free prize draw.
