Two fortunate individuals have struck gold in the March National Savings and Investments (NS&I) premium bonds draw, each winning a life-changing £1 million. This month’s results highlight the potential for significant wins, even with modest investments.
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The first lucky winner, residing in Cleveland, North Yorkshire, holds a bond with the number 540HZ735699. Remarkably, this individual invested just £100 less than two years ago, making this the second-smallest holding ever to scoop the jackpot. This win also marks Cleveland as the home of three premium bond jackpot winners.
The second millionaire hails from Cumbria, holding bond number 408VD714629. This winner has a more substantial investment of £35,000, with the winning bond purchased in August 2020. Cumbria has now produced 11 premium bonds jackpot millionaires.
Andrew Westhead, NS&I retail director, commented on the wins: “Spring is definitely in the air for our two jackpot winners from Cleveland and Cumbria this month. The Cleveland winner’s story is particularly exciting, with just £100 invested in premium bonds in 2023. It just shows that every £1 bond has an equal chance of winning the £1m jackpot.”
He further highlighted the historical significance of the win: “This is the second smallest holding ever to win the £1m jackpot. The smallest holding ever to win was £17 back in July 2004 with the winning bond purchased in 1959.” Westhead also emphasized the broader impact of the draw: “It’s not just about the £1m jackpots though. Thanks to ERNIE we’ve drawn 5.9 million prizes worth over £430m this month.”
How Premium Bonds Work and Unclaimed Prizes
Unlike traditional investments that offer interest or dividends, premium bonds offer the chance to win tax-free prizes ranging from £25 to £1 million in a monthly draw. Every £1 bond has an equal chance of winning, regardless of the purchase date or location.
Even if you weren’t a winner this month, it’s crucial to check for unclaimed prizes. These prizes do not expire and can be claimed from as far back as the inaugural draw in 1957. Bond holders can minimize the risk of missing out on prizes by managing their bonds online at nsandi.com/register or opting for direct bank payments via BACS with email notifications.
Currently, there are 11,672 unclaimed prizes worth £428,225 in Cleveland, including a £10,000 prize from August 2015 and five £1,000 prizes dating back to September 1984. In Cumbria, 15,232 unclaimed prizes totaling £535,075 await their owners, with the oldest unclaimed prize dating back to January 1969.
March 2025 Prize Draw Statistics and Resources
Across the UK, a staggering 2,530,260 unclaimed premium bonds prizes worth £95,312,325 are waiting to be discovered. The March prize draw will distribute 5.89 million prizes worth a total of £432 million, with 129,857,148,700 bond numbers eligible for the draw.
Winners can verify their luck using the premium bond prize checker on the NS&I website or via the dedicated app. The current odds of a £1 bond winning any prize are 22,000 to one, with a prize fund rate of 4%. This rate will be adjusted to 3.8% starting from the April 2025 draw, though the winning odds will remain unchanged. You can check your bonds and manage your account through the official NS&I website and app. Download the Yahoo Finance app for Apple and Android for more financial news and insights.
