Premium Bonds holders more likely to win big as NS&I ups prize rate AGAIN

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Holders of NS&I Premium Bonds are more likely to win big as the prize percentage has risen to a 14 YEAR high… and Income Bond and Direct Isa clients are also benefiting

  • Britain’s largest savings firm has increased premium bond payouts to the highest level in 14 years
  • The number of prizes worth £50 to £100,000 will increase from next month’s draw
  • NS&I has also increased rates on Direct ISAs, Direct Savers and Income Bonds

Customers with National Savings and Investments (NS&I) Premium Bonds now stand a better chance of winning as the company increases its prize pool from 3 to 3.15 percent.

The increase takes the Premium Bond price percentage to its highest level in 14 years and marks the second increase in a month to NS&I’s flagship savings deal.

NS&I increased the rate from 2.2 to 3 percent on January 1, and the new rate of 3.15 percent will apply to draws from February.

NS&I customers can now get a higher interest rate on various products

The ‘price rate’ is in fact the interest rate of the Premium Bonds. Because Premium Bonds pay out every month after a lottery, there is no guaranteed interest – unlike other savings products.

Instead, NS&I uses a price rate to let customers know, on average, how much money they can get back from their Premium Bonds in a year. Prices start from £25 and go up to £1 million.

>> Is it a good time to buy Premium Bonds?

What are the chances of winning Premium Bonds?

Even with the latest update, the odds of any £1 bond winning a prize remain fixed at 24,000 to 1.

This is because while the number of prizes worth £50 will increase to £100,000 from next month’s draw, the number of £25 prizes will drop.

Premium Bonds record

The highest Premium Bonds percentage ever was 7.75 percent between November 1984 and July 1987 with a winning odds of 11,000 to 1.

The idea is to entice more people to take out Premium Bonds, according to Sarah Coles, senior personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.

She said: ‘By increasing the number of £50 and £100 prizes it ensures that smaller wins still feel important, and by increasing the number of life-changing prizes it offers a huge draw when money is tight.

“The higher prize money is accompanied by a rearrangement of the prizes. The number of £25 prizes will actually fall by just over 9 per cent to 2.376 million, while the number of £50 and £100 prizes have risen by just over 10 per cent to 1.28 million.

“The number of prizes at every level between £500 and £100,000 has also increased by about 5 per cent.”

Premium Bonds are the UK’s largest savings product, with over 21 million people saving over £119 billion in them.

>> Earn more interest on your savings WITHOUT switching: We reveal the best rates offered at seven major banks

Premium Bonds: How Do They Work?

Premium Bonds customers buy bonds for £1 each, but are now required to purchase a minimum of £25 at a time.

Each month, each bond participates in a lottery.

Each bond can win multiple times – or never.

Customers can redeem their bonds whenever they want, but they may have to wait a few days to get the money.

All prices are tax free.

Direct Saver, Income Bonds and Direct ISA rates are rising

Premium Bonds are not the only product to receive a sweetener from NS&I.

The Treasury-backed savings provider is also raising rates on its Direct Saver and Income Bonds easy access deals, from 2.3 percent to 2.6 percent.

Meanwhile, the interest on NS&I’s tax-exempt Direct Isa will rise from 1.75 percent to 2.15 percent, while the company’s Junior Isa will rise from 2.7 percent to 3.4 percent.

NS&I chief executive Ian Ackerley said: “Today’s changes will give savers of all ages across the country a welcome boost, with more premium bond prices and some of the highest interest rates we’ve seen in over a decade.

‘In a rapidly changing savings market, we do everything we can to ensure that our products remain competitive and that our customers receive a good return on their savings.

“Today’s changes ensure we continue to balance the needs of savers, taxpayers and the wider financial services industry.”