Premium Bonds: Good things come to those who wait
'Good things come to those who wait' might be a well known phrase, but how often does it actually come true?
New research from NS&I shows maybe it is actually worth paying attention to this old adage when it comes to your Premium Bonds.
While there is a common misconception that new Bonds are more likely to win prizes than old Bonds, 2016 has proved this wrong.
This year 88 wins of £1,000 or over have been won by Bonds that were purchased between 1957 and 1987.
Although each Bond bought has an equal chance of winning, there is some truth to the belief that new Bonds have more chance of winning.
89% of eligible Bonds have been bought since the year 2000 which is often why newer Bonds seems to win more easily.
Top five oldest winning Premium Bond prizes in 2016
Date of purchase | Prize Value | Winning Bond number | Total value of holding | Area | Date of win |
June 1958 | £5,000 | 1PS165413 | £53 | Humberside | June 2016 |
July 1959 | £1,000 | LT688284 | £34 | Hertfordshire | August 2016 |
August 1961 | £1,000 | 2AS271777 | £8 | Wales | April 2016 |
March 1963 | £1,000 | 1HN846643 | £31 | Sefton | May 2016 |
July 1964 | £1,000 | 4AL262383 | £113 | Inner London | May 2016 |
The Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment (ERNIE) generates Bond numbers completely at random, no matter the length of the number.
According to NS&I the first ever Premium Bond was bought by Sir Cuthbert Ackroyd who was the current Lord Mayor of London in 1956, £5 million worth of Premium Bonds had been sold by the end of that day.
If you're worried about missing out on a unclaimed Premium Bonds prize then get rid of the stress by registering to have any prizes paid directly into your bank account.
And don't worry, it won't just sit there until you check your finances, you'll also get an email notifying you of your win!
You can also head to the NS&I website to check whether you've won on your Bonds here.