My word is my Bond… now for £1m, says JEFF PRESTRIDGE

Today is the first time that NS&I has applied the new higher price rate of three percent to Premium Bonds. It means more prizes (nearly five million) and a larger prize pool (nearly £300m – £81m more than last month).

Reader Noel Earley is pleased that NS&I boss Ian Ackerley took my advice from last month and increased the prize percentage.

Last week he told me, “As an avid reader of your column, I would like to congratulate you on your message to Mr. Ackerley to raise interest rates on Premium Bonds.

He duly obliged in a few days, so I hope there’s a big Premium Bond prize for you and me on January 1st.’

Fingers crossed, Noel. I’ll let you know as soon as I’m made aware of the £1 million prize – provided I haven’t overdone the New Year’s Eve festivities! Let me know if you’ve come up with any trumps.

Two other points about Premium Bonds. Firstly, some readers feel it is time for Mr Ackerley to increase the maximum individual participation from £50,000.

Finally, in the run-up to Christmas, I made three Premium Bond gifts, two to newborn grandchildren Archie and Arthur.

Unfortunately, while the gift card for Arthur arrived in time for Christmas, the other two have yet to materialize.

Too bad – although in Archie’s case he is a little too young (three months today) to handle Premium Bonds. Even personal financial education can start a little too early.

A day at the races – but don’t expect to bank your profits after another 619 branch closures in 2022

Many thanks to Robert Vaughan who worked as a property manager for NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland in the 1990s and early 2000s.

As part of his role, Robert had to take pictures of the bank’s branches – as well as rival branches (nothing shameful there, he was on an interbank liaison committee!).

He contacted me just before Christmas after learning from this column how fellow reader Robert Montgomery had built up a collection of bank branch photos over the years.

They’re finished! All the major banks have fled the racecourse town of Ascot

He wondered if his namesake might be interested in his own collection of photos of bank branches, past and present.

Robert M has said he would like to receive the photos to add to his archive.

A perfect marriage, as Robert V’s collection focuses on the East Midlands and East Anglia – while Robert M’s is mainly London and the suburbs, Merseyside, Chester and North Wales. What a library Robert Montgomery is amassing.

It will no doubt delight historians for years to come as they look at the photographs and exclaim, ‘A bank branch? What the hell is that?’

For the record, 619 branches were closed last year, meaning that more than half of the country’s banks opened in 2015 will be closed by the end of August.

An embarrassing turn of events.

A final thought on bank branch closures. How come Ascot in Berkshire, one of the richest cities in the country, just lost its last main bank (Barclays)? It disappoints faith.

I often drive through this town with its thriving high street (usually to do a 10km run at nearby Dorney Lake) and of course the beautiful racecourse. It is always bustling with activity. If Ascot is not considered worthy of a bank branch (Handelsbanken does have an office in a nearby business park, admittedly), which city is? Bankers, please explain.

Who is my Santa Claus for 2022?

Reader Stephen Phillips is my Santa of 2022

Reader Stephen Phillips is my Santa of 2022. After my offer of a free Santa outfit to a deserving reader, he replied in a way I just couldn’t ignore.

Stephen, above, of Edgware in Middlesex, used the costume I supplied to go to local hospitals and lift the spirits of young and old – many receiving palliative care. Something he does every year.

A hospital organization, urged by patients and their families, has already asked Santa Stephen to return in December. How amazing. Happy New Year to you, Stephen. Maybe next year I can come as Santa’s helper.