**Welsh Premium Bonds Winners Celebrate Windfall from May Draw**
Dozens of Premium Bonds savers in Wales have cause to celebrate following the May 2025 prize draw, with a total of 125 individuals securing significant winnings. This month’s draw delivered a collective sum exceeding £1.8 million to these fortunate bondholders, marking another memorable occasion for participants in this enduring savings scheme.
Among the standout winners, two individuals each walked away with a life-altering £100,000, topping the list of Welsh prize recipients. They were closely followed by 12 lucky savers who won £50,000 each, whilst another 16 claimed £25,000. The good fortune continued for 37 participants who netted prizes of £10,000, and a further 58 who received £5,000 apiece. On average, Wales-based winners took home nearly £14,880, a sum not to be underestimated in these challenging economic times.
These impressive Welsh winnings represent a local highlight of the UK-wide May Premium Bonds prize fund, which topped a remarkable £413 million. Alongside Wales’s multitude of winners, the entire nation witnessed more than 5.9 million prizes distributed to bondholders. The headline jackpots of £1 million each found new owners in Derbyshire and Suffolk this month, propelling the bond scheme’s allure for those hoping to strike it rich.
NS&I (National Savings and Investments), which manages the Premium Bonds, revealed that May had been one of the most rewarding draws in recent memory. Andrew Westhead, retail director for NS&I, expressed his delight at the outcome. “We’re thrilled to congratulate our two newest millionaires from Derbyshire and Suffolk this month, each receiving a life-changing £1 million jackpot,” he said. He further commented: “May has been incredibly rewarding for Premium Bonds holders across the country, with over 5.9 million prizes worth more than £413 million paid out, including 79 winners who are now £100,000 better off.”
Bondholders eager to discover whether they are among this month’s winners are encouraged to use the straightforward prize-checking tools available. NS&I offers an easy-to-navigate online prize checker as well as a dedicated app, both requiring either a Premium Bonds holder’s number or an NS&I number. Additionally, NS&I communicates wins to customers via email or text, helping to ensure no one misses out on their prize.
Interestingly, unclaimed prizes remain a notable feature of the Premium Bonds scheme, with some sums left unnoticed for years. At present, more than 2.5 million prizes – collectively valued at over £97 million – are waiting to be claimed nationwide. Savers are thus encouraged to check periodically, as one of these dormant prizes might have their name on it.
For those unfamiliar, Premium Bonds operate differently from traditional savings accounts. Each £1 bond acts as an entry into the monthly prize draw, offering a chance to win tax-free rewards ranging from £25 up to a staggering £1 million. While the bonds do not pay interest, they provide excitement and the possibility of substantial tax-free returns, all underwritten by HM Treasury for security.
The prize fund is distributed across three main bands, labelled higher, medium and lower. The high band covers the largest sums, including all prizes from £1 million down to £5,000. Medium band rewards range from £1,000 to £500, and the lower band accommodates more commonly-won amounts from £100 to £25. This tiered structure ensures a broad spectrum of winners, from those enjoying a healthy supplement to their savings to the rare jackpot winners.
Despite the excitement, recent data has shed light on the odds of success: a recent freedom of information request revealed that nearly two-thirds of Premium Bond holders have yet to receive a prize. While this underscores the element of chance involved, the sizeable number of monthly winners continues to fuel widespread enthusiasm for the scheme.
As the Premium Bonds prize fund continues to distribute millions in untaxed rewards, savers in Wales and across the UK can look forward to each draw with anticipation, helped by the knowledge that life-changing luck could be just a bond away.