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How to cash in Premium Bonds
Want to cash in your NS&I Premium Bonds? Our simple guide explains how to do this online, by phone or through the post.
Premium Bonds are a great option for a different way of saving – winning prizes rather than gaining interest. At least that’s what we’ve been taught to believe, right? In a pre- tax-free savings and pre-FSCS world, with low savings interest rates, they might have made a lot more sense. But now it’s harder to see their merits.
But the good news is that just like with regular savings, you can take your money out of Premium Bonds at any time. Here’s how you do it.
Cash in Premium Bonds online or by phone
The easiest way to cash in Premium Bonds is to call or use the online form. For both of these options you’ll already need to be registered with the NS&I online and phone service, and have your NS&I holder’s number and password to hand. Then, either call 08085 007 007 or go to the NS&I site and login to your online account. Once the process is completed, the value of the Premium Bonds you’ve cashed in will be transferred into the bank account that you nominated when you registered.
Cash in Premium Bonds by post
If you’re not registered for the NS&I online and phone service (so don’t have login details and a password) or if you want to cash in specific premium bond numbers, then you’ll have to print out and fill in the “cash in Premium Bonds” form on the NS&I website. You then post it to NS&I, Sunderland, SR43 2SB.
When filling in the form you’ll need your NS&I number. You’ll have to select the amount of Premium Bonds you would like to cash in (all of them or some of them – and in that case, how much). If you’re only cashing in some of your Premium Bonds, then you’ll need to enter the specific serial numbers of those bonds. If you don’t mind which ones you cash in, you can tick “no” to that question and NS&I will cash in your oldest Premium Bonds first.
Choose how to receive the cash from your Premium Bonds (if applying by post)
Section 6 of the above form gives you two options of how to cash in your Premium Bonds:
- To a nominated bank account. Here, you’ll need to fill in the details of the current account that you would like to have the value of the bonds paid directly into.
- By warrant. This option means that you will be sent the funds by cheque in the post. (NS&I had previously indicated that it would be phasing out cheque payments by March 2021, but it since has reversed this decision, so you can still opt to receive your payment by cheque.)
NS&I usually takes around 8 days to process a “cash in” form, so it will take at least 8 days plus postage delivery time before a cheque reaches you. If you have sent in the form but haven’t received anything from NS&I in the post after that time, contact them by calling 08085 007 007. You can also use the live web chat service: Monday to Friday from 7am to 10pm, and weekends from 8am to 8pm. Or tweet NS&I at @nsandihelp.
What to do after you’ve cashed in your Premium Bonds
That is totally up to you. But there are many reasons why people choose to cash in their Premium Bonds, such as releasing the money to make a big purchase or to invest in something else. Perhaps you’re aiming to get on the property ladder or you just fancy going on a great holiday!
We go through some of the most popular options below and highlight the Finder guides that might help, whatever it is you decide to do with the money you’ve cashed out of your Premium Bonds.
- Get a mortgage. Decided to take money out of your Premium Bonds to help with a house deposit? Check out our mortgages guide.
- Open a fixed rate savings account. Not had much luck winning anything in the Premium Bonds prize draw? You might decide to move your savings into a fixed rate bond instead, where you can get a guaranteed interest rate. You can also discover other types of savings accounts here.
- Invest in the stock market. If you like watching the stock markets, you may be hoping to generate some returns on your money by buying company shares or investing in a stocks and shares ISA. Read our investment section to find out more. Remember your capital is at risk if you invest.
- Add to your pension. If you’re thinking about saving more for your retirement you may opt to top up your pension fund. It’s a complicated area, so visit our pensions section to discover more.
- Spend it. Got your eye on a dream holiday? If your cashed out Premium Bonds are earmarked for that trip of a lifetime, read our travel money guide to make sure you’re getting the best deal on your spending while you’re abroad.
You can also check out our guide to learning more about the alternative options to Premium Bonds or the best places to save money.
Frequently asked questions
Who is most likely to be researching how to cash in premium bonds?
Finder data suggests that men aged 65+ are most likely to be researching this topic.
| Response | Male (%) | Female (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 65+ | 18.82% | 14.93% |
| 55-64 | 10.63% | 9.61% |
| 45-54 | 8.99% | 7.79% |
| 35-44 | 5.73% | 5.78% |
| 25-34 | 5.41% | 4.79% |
| 18-24 | 3.84% | 3.70% |
Source: Finder sample of 8,169 visitors using demographics data from Google Analytics
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Hi my Mum recently passed away and have left a lot od Premium Bonds what can I do with them
Hi Paul,
Thanks for contacting Finder.
The page we are on provides you with the steps on how you could cash the premium bonds. Please complete the steps provided on our page or visit the NS&I website for further assistance.
Hope this helps!
Kind regards,
Bella
My late dad’s bonds are nearly 40 years old and some of them are for £2. They have never been claimed. Would they be of any value? Thanks!
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for getting in touch with Finder. I hope all is well with you. 😃
Since your dad’s bonds have been sleeping for nearly 40 years, it is possible that it has earned a significant value. To find out, you may want to get in touch with NS&I. You can find their phone number above.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
Can Premium Bonds be cashed into my partner’s bank account?
Hi Paul,
Thanks for your enquiry.
Upon checking, your Premium Bonds can only be paid to your own bank account. Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Ellie
There is mention of faster payment when drawing out bonds, as opposed to 8 days. What is the cost of this faster withdrawal?
Hi Paul,
Thanks for contacting Finder.
It depends on which NS&I account you have, how much you want to withdraw and how you give NS&I your withdrawal instruction. Generally Premium Bond withdrawals (under £50,000) will be back in your bank account within three working days. Please reach out to NS&I to know more about this.
I hope this helps.
Kind Regards,
Faye
My son has premium bonds bought for him when he was a child. He is autistic and has therefore no bank account in his name, and we live in Israel. How can I cash them in for him? I am his legal guardian
Hi Susan,
Thanks for your inquiry.
I’m sorry to hear about your son’s condition. To cash in your son’s premium bond, you just need to fill out the form on the NS&I website and request for a warrant (like a cheque). Please note that the repayment will take longer due to you being abroad.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Bella
I hope this helps.