Premium Bonds holder asks if Bonds from 1960s are still valid for monthly prize draw | Personal Finance | Finance newsbhunt

NS&I has responded to a person who asked if their Premium Bonds purchased in the 1960s would still be valid for the monthly prize draw.

Twitter user Heather Turner @9hevs1966) asked the provider: “I have £4 of Premium Bonds from the 1960s.

“I currently have no other PBs. Will they still be included in your monthly draws?”

NS&I responded to confirm they would still be entered into each monthly prize draw “as long as they have not been withdrawn”.

One winner in the September draw, from Australia, won £50,000 for a winning Bond they purchased 35 years ago in January 1968.

People may want to check for any unclaimed winnings as each £1 Bond has an equal chance of winning in the monthly prize draw.

Many large cash prizes are on offer in each draw including two jackpot prizes for £1million. The prize fund rate for the monthly prize draw recently increased again from the September draw, increasing from four percent to 4.65 percent.

NS&I chief executive, Dax Harkins, said previously: “Premium Bonds are one of the nation’s favourite savings products, so increasing the prize fund rate to its best level since 1999 and improving the odds means that more people will have the chance to win prizes each month.”

An individual can increase their chance of winning by purchasing more Bonds and a person can hold up to 350,000 in Bonds.

Also in the September draw, a winner from West Yorkshire took home £100,000 for a winning Bond that was part of just £50 in Bonds they purchased back in December 2005.

In contrast, one person from Warwickshire won £100,000 for a Bond they purchased earlier this year in January. They previously had just £300 in Bonds.

There are several ways for a person to check if they have any unclaimed prizes. They can find out using the prize checker tool, the app or an Alexa-enabled device.

Winners often choose to use their winnings to buy more Bonds and so increase their chances of winning again.

But customers should note as the winners are chosen completely at random, a person can go many months or even years without winning a prize.

For the latest personal finance news, follow us on Twitter at @ExpressMoney_.