Two Premium Bonds holders have become overnight millionaires following the announcement of National Savings and Investments’ (NS&I) July prize draw. The two top prizes of £1 million went to savers residing in Reading and Warwickshire, headlining a massive monthly payout that distributed more than 6.2 million tax-free prizes worth over £433 million across the country.
The first jackpot winner, from Reading, secured the life-changing sum with bond number 250TP871786. The winning investment was purchased in July 2015, and the holder possesses a total Premium Bonds holding of £49,931, just shy of the maximum £50,000 limit. The second millionaire, based in Warwickshire, won with bond number 217AV429216. This winning bond was bought in January 2014, with the investor holding a total of £14,000 in the scheme.
Beyond the jackpot winners, the July draw saw significant financial windfalls distributed across various regions of the UK. In Norfolk alone, hundreds of savers collectively won nearly £1.3 million. The county recorded 424 major prize winners, taking home a substantial average payout of £3,014 each. Among the high-tier winners in Norfolk, eight individuals secured prizes of £50,000, whilst nine residents walked away with £25,000 each. Furthermore, 14 people in the county received £10,000, and 30 individuals scooped £5,000, alongside hundreds of others who claimed £1,000 prizes.
In total, NS&I issued 6,226,179 prizes in July, drawing from a pool of more than 136 billion eligible £1 bonds. Unlike conventional savings accounts that pay fixed interest or regular dividends, Premium Bonds enter savers into a monthly lottery where prizes range from £25 to £1 million. Since the launch of the Premium Bond draws in June 1957, the government-backed savings body has paid out approximately £42 billion in prizes.
Savers eager to find out if they are among this month’s winners can check their status from 2 July. Andrew Westhead, the retail director at NS&I, stated that the most efficient method for customers to verify their bonds is through the official online prize checker, the smartphone application, or by using voice-controlled Alexa devices. While NS&I notes that more than 99 per cent of all historical prizes have been successfully distributed, millions of pounds in unclaimed winnings remain from past draws. Because Premium Bonds do not expire, savers are encouraged to check for any historic windfalls they might have missed.
