NS&I February Premium Bonds Winners Revealed – Did You Win £1 Million?

Why It Matters

The payouts underscore the scale and appeal of Premium Bonds as a tax‑free savings vehicle, while the large pool of unclaimed prizes signals missed opportunities for many investors.

Key Takeaways

• Two £1 million winners in February 2026.
• Winners each held £50,000 in bonds.
• £408 million in prizes awarded across 6.1 million wins.
• Over £114 million in prizes remain unclaimed.
• Premium Bonds prize rate has recently declined.

Pulse Analysis

Premium Bonds remain a uniquely British savings product, offering tax‑free prizes instead of traditional interest. Each month, the National Savings & Investments (NS&I) conducts a draw powered by the electronic random number generator ERNIE, with millions of bonds in play. The recent February jackpot, awarding two £1 million prizes, illustrates the high‑profile allure of the scheme and reinforces its role as a low‑risk, government‑backed option for retail investors seeking occasional windfalls rather than steady returns.

Beyond the headline winners, the February draw distributed more than £408 million across 6.1 million prizes, ranging from £25 to £1 million. While the sheer volume of payouts showcases NS&I’s commitment to rewarding savers, the odds of hitting the top prize remain slim, and the overall prize rate has slipped in recent months. This decline, coupled with over £114 million in unclaimed prizes, suggests that many bondholders either overlook smaller winnings or fail to claim them, effectively reducing the scheme’s perceived value.

For investors evaluating where to park cash, Premium Bonds must be weighed against higher‑yielding alternatives such as high‑interest savings accounts, fixed‑rate bonds, or diversified investment portfolios. The tax‑free nature of the prizes can be attractive, yet the opportunity cost of lower returns can be significant over time. Savers should regularly check the NS&I portal or app for unclaimed prizes and consider whether the occasional chance of a large win aligns with their broader financial goals, especially as the market offers increasingly competitive yields.

NS&I February Premium Bonds winners revealed – did you win £1 million?

By Marc Shoffman · published last week (News)

There may still be a couple of weeks until Valentine’s Day but two Premium Bonds holders are already feeling the love after each winning a £1 million jackpot prize.

The lucky bond holders, from central Bedfordshire and Liverpool, have been contacted by NS&I’s Agent Million to tell them they have banked the top prize this month.

The first jackpot winner, from central Bedfordshire, won with the bond number 489TB013219. They purchased the winning Bond in February 2022 and hold £50,000 in Premium Bonds. They are the second jackpot winner from central Bedfordshire.

The second Premium Bonds £1 million jackpot Bond number is 040QJ919368. It is held by someone in Liverpool. They also hold £50,000 in Premium Bonds and purchased their winning Bond in October 2004. They are the fourth to win the £1 million jackpot in Liverpool.

“Congratulations to our two jackpot winners from central Bedfordshire and Liverpool, who each start February £1 million richer. ERNIE has spread the love ahead of Valentine’s Day and we hope this brings both winners and their loved ones plenty to celebrate.”

— Andrew Westhead, NS&I Retail Director

---

How many people won in the February 2026 Premium Bonds prize draw?

In February 2026, more than 6.1 million tax‑free Premium Bonds prizes worth over £408 million were up for grabs. This brings the total won by Premium Bonds holders since the first draw in 1957 to £40 billion.

Premium Bonds prizes range from £25 up to the jackpot £1 million.

• 78 people won £100,000 each this month

• 154 received £50,000

• 311 will get £25,000

• 777 are due £10,000

| Value of prize | Number of prizes |

|----------------|------------------|

| £1,000,000 | 2 |

| £100,000 | 78 |

| £50,000 | 154 |

| £25,000 | 311 |

| £10,000 | 777 |

| £5,000 | 1,553 |

| £1,000 | 16,322 |

| £500 | 48,966 |

| £100 | 1,735,948 |

| £50 | 1,735,948 |

| £25 | 2,643,007 |

| Total value of prizes | £408,082,375 |

| Total number of prizes | 6,183,066 |

---

How to check if you’re owed a prize

The Premium Bonds £1 million prize draw winners are announced on the first working day of each month. You will be contacted if you have won the top prize.

Bond holders can check if they have won anything between £25 and £100,000 by using the Premium Bonds prize‑checker app or visiting the NS&I website the day after the first working day of each month. For this month’s draw, that was Tuesday 3 February.

To check for Premium Bonds prizes on the NS&I website, bond holders will need their Premium Bonds holder’s number. Those using the Premium Bonds app can use their holder’s number or their NS&I number.

It is worth checking as currently there are 2,713,707 unclaimed prizes worth £114,769,950 waiting to be claimed.

• In central Bedfordshire there are around 10,400 unclaimed prizes worth £433,225 dating back to February 1968. The largest unclaimed prize in the area is £10,000, won in the January 2024 draw by a holder with a £100 holding.

• In Liverpool there is a £5,000 prize from May 2023 yet to be claimed; this is currently the highest unclaimed prize in the area.

• There are also 13 unclaimed £1,000 prizes dating back to November 1987.

The prospect of winning a top cash prize each month is exciting, but the prize rate has dropped in recent months and your money could perform better elsewhere.

We look at the alternatives to Premium Bonds in a separate piece.

---