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A nationwide search was launched today to track down the winners of more than 550,000 unclaimed premium bond prizes worth more than £30m.
This is the largest amount ever left unclaimed and includes a single prize worth £100,000, two worth £25,000 and 10 worth £10,000. National Savings and Investments (NS&I) is keen for the cash to go to the holders of the winning bonds.
Typically, prizes remain unclaimed because people fail to pass on new addresses when they move house, forget that bonds had been bought for them when they were a child, or executors of wills are unaware the bonds are held when someone dies.
More than one in three people who have lost touch with their savings have moved home and failed to tell all their financial providers their new address, while half say they find it difficult to remember all of the accounts they have opened over the years.
NS&I gives away more than 1m tax-free premium bond prizes each month. Its premium bond manager, Sally Swait, said: "Following the expense of Christmas, tracing unclaimed premium bond prizes may prove to be a welcome source of extra money for some. We urge anyone who believes they could have unclaimed prizes to check with us. The easiest way is to use our website and there is no time limit on claiming the prizes."
Anyone who wants to check for an unclaimed prize can do so online via the NS&I website or by phoning 0845 964 5000.
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