We asked our savers who they’d share the news of a Premium Bonds win with
Whether you save with Premium Bonds for the reassurance of tax-free returns, the excitement of the monthly prize draw or a combination of both, winning a prize is always welcome news. But is it something you'd quietly celebrate by yourself, or would you tell someone straight away?
We took the question to our savers* and found that for some people, it's more about enjoying the moment privately – although choosing not to share the news doesn't necessarily make it any less sweet.
"I treat the winnings just like interest from savings and don't see the need to tell anyone"
- Dennis, Hampshire
It depends on the size of the prize
Smaller wins
For those who said they'd share the news, it's less about making a big announcement and more about having a nice little moment with someone close.
When the prize is under £100, most people we asked (77%) said they'd tell their partner or spouse, and over half said they'd tell a family member. 31% said they'd tell friends and 1% said they'd share the news with an online community.
While the news of a smaller win generally isn't shared far and wide, for many of our savers, checking the prize draw each month becomes a shared ritual to look forward to.
"My wife and I eagerly await the draw each month so sharing with her is automatic"
- Peter, Shropshire
"I tend to share smaller winnings with close family because it's a 'feel-good' moment that adds a bit of excitement to the week"
- Suresh, Hampshire
Bigger wins
As the prize amounts get bigger, those who say they'd share the news become more selective about who they'd share it with. For prizes from £50,000 to £100,000, 75% said they'd still tell their partner or spouse, but many would choose to keep the good news within the family.
While the excitement surely ramps up with larger wins, discretion starts to play a bigger role. So perhaps its unsurprising winners who say they'd tell friends dips from 31% to 19%.
"The larger the prize, the smaller the news broadcast"
- Neil, Cheshire
Hitting the £1 million jackpot
You might imagine a life-changing win would be impossible to keep quiet – the kind of news you'd want to shout from the rooftops. In reality, it's often the opposite. Big wins can come with lots to consider, like how the news might affect friendships or family relationships.
Many of the savers we asked said they wouldn't share the news of a jackpot win widely. 76% would tell a partner or spouse and 67% would tell family, but only 20% said they'd tell friends.
In general, though, the instinct for most people is to pause and reflect before sharing such big news.
"I might tell a couple of very close friends but certainly wouldn't put it on social media"
- Sheila, York
Your win is your win
Ultimately, whether you choose to share the news or not, your win is yours to enjoy however you wish. Some people keep their winning news to themselves. Others prefer to tell someone straight away or sit somewhere in between. And for many savers, the real joy isn't so much in the telling, but in what their win allows them to do. Whether that's treating loved ones, buying something special or just enjoying tax-free returns, the prize itself is the most exciting thing.
*Based on 634 unique responses from NS&I customer community members who have Premium Bonds to a discussion in February 2026 about their feelings towards sharing the news of Premium Bonds wins.
