Two lucky savers became millionaires overnight in May 2026’s Premium Bonds prize draw, despite a recent scandal affecting bereaved families. The National Savings and Investments (NS&I) announced the winners on May 1, 2026.
The first £1 million winner is from Suffolk. Their bond number is 567VN857011, which was purchased in January 2024. The second winner hails from the Highlands and Islands with bond number 643SE292364, purchased in September 2025.
The total amount won across the country in May’s draw reached £1,819,000. A total of 5,947,523 prizes were drawn, worth a collective £376,180,825. The odds of winning any prize stood at 23,000 to 1 for each £1 saved in Premium Bonds.
Premium Bonds do not accrue interest but are entered into a monthly cash lottery. The maximum holding for an individual in Premium Bonds is £50,000. Winners can check their results from the second working day of each month.
Over 99% of prizes have been paid to winners since draws began in 1957. However, there are millions of unclaimed Premium Bonds prizes. NS&I recently faced a scandal that affected bereaved families’ access to their Premium Bonds, resulting in delays for around 37,500 individuals.
Andrew Westhead from NS&I stated, “The quickest way to check if you have won a prize is to use our Premium Bonds prize checker app, check online, or even ask Alexa from the second working day of each month onwards.”
Dan Coatsworth emphasized that trust is crucial in financial services. He noted that savers might not look favorably at NS&I following operational failures within the business.
Both jackpot winners will have received a knock on the door by Agent Million — an anonymous NS&I employee who travels the country to inform jackpot winners of their newfound wealth.
