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Media centre /
Press releasePREMIUM BONDS: TWO £1 MILLION JACKPOTS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER 01 August 2005
1 million other tax-free prizes worth over £72m also awarded This month, for the first time ever, National Savings and Investments (NS&I) has given away not one but two £1 million Premium Bond jackpots. Currently 23 million people have more than £27 billion invested in Premium Bonds and it is this success which has allowed NS&I to introduce the extra £1 million prize. The two winners of August’s double £1 million tax-free jackpot are both married women in their 50s. The first winner is from Hampshire and is ERNIE’s 137th millionaire. The second winner is from Bristol and is ERNIE’s 138th millionaire.
The winner from Hampshire – whose identity is kept a closely-guarded secret – said: “I can’t believe it. I only just bought this Bond because I’d seen the advertising on the new double jackpot and now I’m one of the winners! I’ve always had some money in Premium Bonds because I know my money is safe and there is a chance of winning a lot of money, but I never actually thought I’d be one of the millionaires. “I really don’t know what I’ll do with it yet, but it certainly means my husband and I don’t have to worry about retirement now.” A bit fun The winner from Bristol – who has also chosen to remain anonymous – said: “I bought my Premium Bonds because they make sense being tax-free and secure but also because they add a bit of fun and excitement to saving – I wasn’t quite prepared for this much excitement though. “I will definitely put a big chunk back into savings but my husband and I will also want to spoil ourselves a bit with it.” Millionaire makers The winners were told last night in person by NS&I’s Agent Millions – M1 and M2 – the mystery people who pay a personal visit to the jackpot winners to give them the good news. This is M2’s first month as a ‘millionaire maker’. The introduction of a second £1 million tax-free jackpot is the first major change since April 1994 when the first £1 million jackpot prize was introduced. Regional facts This is Hampshire’s fifth £1 million Premium Bond jackpot winner since the top prize was introduced in 1994. In Hampshire, over 520,000 people own Premium Bonds worth more than £750 million. There are approximately 10,000 unclaimed prizes in the county, worth over £580,000. This is Bristol’s third £1 million Premium Bond jackpot winner since the top prize was introduced in 1994. In Bristol, over 315,000 people own Premium Bonds worth more than £380 million. There are approximately 3,500 unclaimed prizes in the area, worth over £190,000. August’s draw is the biggest ever, with ERNIE giving away over one million prizes worth over £72 million. Number and value of prizes awarded in August 2005 £1million 2 Prize value Number of prizes New Jackpot NS&I is able to introduce this ‘double jackpot’ following several years of significant growth in the amount of money invested in Premium Bonds – customers have invested more money over the past six years than in the previous 42 years put together. In April 1994 – when the single £1 million jackpot was introduced – the total amount invested was £4 billion. It now stands at more than £27 billion. And today, 23 million people own Premium Bonds. To create the additional jackpot prize, the Premium Bond prize fund rate has increased this month from 3.20% to 3.25% tax-free, equivalent to 5.42% for a higher rate taxpayer and 4.06% for a basic rate taxpayer. The odds of winning are 24,000 to 1 and, with average luck, an investor with £30,000 in Premium Bonds can expect to win 15 tax-free prizes a year – more than one a month. Premium Bond Facts Premium Bonds can be bought online at www.nsandi.com, by telephone on 0500 007 007, by post and over the counter at Post Office branches. Like all NS&I products, Premium Bonds offer investors 100% security, backed by HM Treasury, as well as the sense of fun that comes from winning tax free prizes. Since the first Premium Bonds prize draw in 1957, 125 million tax-free prizes worth almost £8 billion have been given away. Prizes range from £50 to £1 million. There is currently over £23 million in unclaimed prizes. There is no time limit on claiming prizes. Premium Bond investors can check to see if they have won by logging on to www.nsandi.com and using the Premium Bond prize checker. ENDS Notes to Editors 1. Pictures of ERNIE (including the new ERNIE 4 machine), Agent Million and buying Premium Bonds online are available in high-resolution jpeg format from the NS&I media team. 2. Further information on National Savings and Investments (NS&I), including press releases and product information, is available on the website at www.nsandi.com. You can also contact the NS&I media team. 3. NS&I has a number of spokespeople available for interviews and our experienced radio team is available via our ISDN line: 020 7602 4522.
Media team The numbers below are for media use only. Customers wishing to contact NS&I can find details here.
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