National Savings and Investments
 


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Press release

ERNIE VISITS THE LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND WITH £1 MILLION FOR MYSTERY WINNER

03 November 2004

Winning number

90MV241438

Date of purchase

January 2004 

Winner’s location

London Borough of Richmond

One lucky resident from the London Borough of Richmond is £1 million richer today after ERNIE, the Premium Bond number generator, churned through billions of Premium Bond numbers, picking this month’s jackpot winning number. 

The winner – a male pensioner – whose identity is being kept a secret, was told last night in person by Agent Million, the mystery person who pays a personal visit to the winner to give them the good news.

This is Richmond’s second £1 million Premium Bond jackpot winner since the top prize was introduced in 1994, and November’s winner becomes the 128th Premium Bond millionaire overall.  This month’s winning jackpot number was purchased in January 2004, and the winner holds £20,000 in Premium Bonds.

The current prize fund rate is 3.20%, 4.00% p.a. gross for a basic rate tax payer and 5.33% p.a. gross for a higher rate tax payer, while the odds of winning are 24,000 to 1 and, with average luck, an investor with 30,000 Premium Bonds can expect to win 15 tax-free prizes a year – more than one a month.

The popularity of Premium Bonds has grown dramatically over the past five years as the amount invested has doubled to over £25 billion. November’s draw is the biggest ever, with ERNIE awarding over one million prizes worth £66 million.

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.

The number and value of prizes awarded in November 2004 are:

£1million

1

£100,000

5

£50,000

9

£25,000

18

£10,000

47

£5,000

93

£1,000

1,333

£500

3,999

£100

163,888

£50

872,508

Prize value

Number of Prizes

£66,681,700

1, 041,901

Since the first draw in 1957, ERNIE has given away over 115 million prizes worth over £7.3 billion.  Prizes range from £50 to £1million

There is currently £23.6 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. The lucky jackpot winner becomes ERNIE’s 128th Premium Bond millionaire.
  2. November’s jackpot winner holds a total of £20,000 Premium Bonds.
  3. 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.
  4. NS&I has a number of spokespeople available for interviews and our experienced radio team is available via our ISDN line: 020 7602 4522.

Mark Brooks

020 7348 9301

07771 660409

 mark.brooks@nsandi.com

Elen Thomas

020 7348 9654

07884 118686

elen.thomas@nsandi.com

Wendy Franklin

020 7348 9449

07778 966389

wendy.franklin@nsandi.com

Jonathan Akerman

020 7348 9433

07879 667216

jonathan.akerman@nsandi.com    

Media team
NS&I has a number of spokespeople available for interviews and our experienced radio team is available via our ISDN line: 020 7602 4522.

The numbers below are for media use only. Customers wishing to contact NS&I can find details here.

Gareth Headon 020 7348 9494
gareth.headon@nsandi.com
Gill Stephens 020 7348 9449
gill.stephens@nsandi.com
Iman Asante 020 7348 9301
iman.asante@nsandi.com
Monica Del-Villar 020 7348 9654
monica.del-villar@nsandi.com

ISDN for interviews

020 7602 4522

Out of hours

All numbers above diverted to staffed mobile phones
 

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