A loyal Premium Bonds saver has been reward with a big win in the December draw after waiting 65 years to take home a prize.
The longtime saver from Kent won £5,000 for a winning Bond which they purchased in February 1959, when they bought £5 in Bonds.
This was less than two years since the first Premium Bonds draw in 1957. Their winning Bond was number 2EZ318982 and they previously held a total of just £31 in Bonds.
There were a number of big prize winners in the December draw who previously had low holdings, including a person from Surrey who had just £5 in Bonds, purchased in June 2020, who also won a £5,000 prize.
Another longtime saver with an impressive win was a customer from Barnet, who had £370 in holdings and who won a £50,000 prize. They purchased their winning Bond over 45 years ago, in May 1977, the same month that Star Wars came out in cinemas.
One lucky Bond holder from Liverpool with just £535 invested also won a £50,000 prize. They purchased their winning Bond just over a year ago, in September 2023.
Several savers bagged a £25,000 prize despite their low amounts, including two savers from Nottingham and Hertfordshire who each had £100 in Bonds and a customer from Devon with £119 in Bonds.
A person from the West Midlands with just £30 in Bonds won £10,000, having purchased their winning Bond in October 1987, the same month as the Black Tuesday stock market crash.
Customers frustrated at their lack of wins sometimes ask provider NS&I if more recently purchased Bonds have a better chance of winning, but in reality each £1 Bond has the same odds of being paired with a prize, with winners chosen at random.
However, customers may also be wondering if the savings scheme is right for them as the prize fund rate for Premium Bonds dropped for the December draw and is set to do so again next month.
The prize fund rate dropped from 4.4 percent to 4.15 percent in December, and will fall to 4 percent from January.
The odds of a £1 Bond winning have fallen from 21,000 to one to 22,000 to one from this month, but this will remain the same in January.
Top prizes in each monthly draw will still include the two £1million jackpot prizes, with other big prizes for £100,000 and £50,000 on offer.
NS&I is also reducing the rates on its British Savings Bonds, with new issues going on sale from today (December 3).
The rate on 2-year Guaranteed Growth Bonds is now 3.6 percent down from 4.1 percent, while the 3-year Bonds now pay 3.5 percent down from 4 percent.
For Guaranteed Income Bonds, the 2-year Bonds now pay 3.6 percent down from 4.09 percent, while the 3-year Bonds are at 3.49 percent down from 4 percent.