Frequently asked questions

It’s a popular myth that holding Premium Bonds in a sequence can improve your chances of winning, but this simply isn’t true. The machine we use to generate the numbers for each prize draw—ERNIE—generates numbers completely at random, which are then matched to our database of eligible Bonds to determine the winners. Since no Bonds are actually entered into ERNIE, it doesn’t ‘know’ anything about the Bonds themselves, such as whether the Bond number is part of a sequence of numbers or not. The only thing that can increase your chances of winning is holding more Premium Bonds – but holding them in sequence won’t make any difference.

Index-linked Savings Certificates are still a popular investment with a unique combination of index-linking plus a small amount of additional interest – all tax-free. This means they will guarantee your clients inflation beating returns.

Please find information on how to access clients’ holdings with NS&I on the obtaining client information page.

Obtaining client information

If a Bond renews automatically for another fixed term, your client can cancel within 30 days of receiving confirmation of their renewed Bond. Clients can do this online or by phone if they are registered for this service. If not, they will need to write to us explaining that they want to cancel and quoting their name, address and account number for the renewed Bond.

We’ll then repay the money to the client’s nominated bank account, normally within 5 working days of receiving their cancellation request.

Not all NS&I products can be held in a SIPP, for those that can, your client will have to apply via the Trust Application form (paper form only currently). Before recommending NS&I investments we suggest you check that the SIPP or SSAS provider will accept them.

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