NS&I Awards Two £1 Million Premium Bonds Jackpots

National Savings and Investments (NS&I) distributed over 6.5 million tax-free prizes totaling nearly £500 million in its October 2026 Premium Bonds draw. The draw involved more than 137 billion eligible £1 bonds, resulting in two savers winning the top prize of £1 million each.

National Savings and Investments reported that the jackpot winners had vastly different investment histories. A winner from East Sussex, who holds the maximum investment of £50,000, purchased the winning bond in May 2018. In contrast, a winner from Somerset holds £16,000 in bonds and purchased their winning bond in July 2026, winning the jackpot in only their second month of eligibility.

Other significant awards included 96 prizes of £100,000, 191 prizes of £50,000, and 382 prizes of £25,000. In Norfolk, 509 residents won a combined total of more than £1.1 million, with an average prize of £2,344. This average represents a decrease from September's average of £4,857, which had been skewed by a single million-pound win.

Retail Director Andrew Westhead stated that the timing of the wins shows that a big prize can arrive at any time. He advised savers to use the prize checker app, check online, or use Alexa from the second working day of each month to verify wins.