Are Premium Bonds right for you? The groups who should consider them, and those who should avoid

With Brits holding more than £127 billion in Premium Bonds, we examine the appeal of these products to different types of savers.

The prize rate might be plummeting, but Premium Bonds remain the most popular home for savings by some distance. 

So what’s the lure?

For many, these products are a convenient way to avoid tax.

Others get a kick out of the possibility they could bag a £1 million prize.

In this article, we look at seven groups who could benefit from these products – and the savers who’d be better off putting their cash elsewhere.

6 things people get wrong about NS&I Premium Bonds

7 savers who could benefit from Premium Bonds

1. High earners

If you’re a Higher or Additional Rate taxpayer, you probably want to do all you can to minimise your liability to the taxman.

As prizes from Premium Bonds are tax-free, they are a great way to stash money away from HMRC, especially if you’re a high earner.

Basic Rate taxpayers currently have a £1,000 allowance on the amount they can earn in savings interest before paying tax.

However, this threshold is just £500 for Higher Rate taxpayers, while those in the Additional Rate band pay tax on all savings interest.

The products could be particularly attractive for older savers in this tax bracket, who would prefer to avoid the risk of investing later in life.

2. Thrill seekers

For many savers, the attraction of Premium Bonds lies in their lottery-style draws.

Every month, two winners receive £1 million each, with other prizes ranging from £25 to £100,000.

While we know we’ll probably never win big, the remote possibility can add an element of excitement to our finances.

However, NS&I has recently announced that the odds of winning will fall from their present rate of one in 21,000 to one in 22,000 in December.

According to figures in The Independent, there will still be an estimated two £1 million prizes in December.

The total overall prize fund will fall from £461,330,525 to £435,686,300.

Premium Bonds: here’s when the winning numbers are revealed each month

3, People who want access to their money

These products could also be ideal if you need to access cash quickly in an emergency.

As Premium Bonds are an easy-access product, you can cash in all (or part) of your savings without penalty.

You can do so online, over the phone or through the post.

According to NS&I, you’ll typically receive your funds within eight working days, although postal withdrawals may take up to two weeks.

4. Savers keen to avoid fees

Unlike most investment platforms, Premium Bonds are fee-free, meaning you won’t face exorbitant charges when opening an account or making a withdrawal.

In contrast, most financial advisers charge fees of between 1% and 2% on your investment pot, according to Unbiased.

The easiest way to buy Premium Bonds

5. People seeking hassle-free savings

With savings rates constantly changing in response to Bank of England decisions, getting the very best return on your cash requires quite a bit of effort.

If you want a market-leading deal, you must constantly watch best-buy tables and be prepared to move your money frequently.

For many of us, this isn’t feasible.

Premium Bonds can provide a hassle-free alternative. Once you’ve purchased a bond, you only need to sit back and wait to see if you win.

Even if you don’t monitor the monthly prize draws, NS&I will contact you if you bag some cash.

6. Savers already earning little interest

If you’re in an extremely low-interest rate environment, you’ll likely get a pretty abysmal return from a conventional savings account.

When the Bank of England lowered the Base Rate to just 0.1% in March 2020, the average return on savings plummeted to just 1.34%.

In this situation, it could be worth sacrificing a meagre interest rate for the chance of £1 million.

7. Grandparents and parents

Premium Bonds have been a traditional gift for kids and newborn babies for decades.

They provide a safe and secure way to save, while offering the excitement of monthly prize draws.

While parents, grandparents and great-grandparents had previously been the only groups allowed to buy Premium Bonds for children, NS&I has relaxed these rules.

 You can now buy bonds for any child, regardless of your relationship with them.

You can buy Premium Bonds for children on the NS&I gift page.

3 reasons to avoid Premium Bonds

Of course, Premium Bonds aren’t for everyone.

1. You need regular income

As draws are random, there’s a chance you could hold a bond for 50 years and never see a penny.

As such, these products may not be the best option if you want a guaranteed return on your cash.

2. You have a small pot

With the chances of winning directly tied to the number of bonds you hold, Premium Bonds may not be the best bet if you only have a small savings pot.

Say you only hold a small number of bonds, your chances of winning are pretty low.

For example, you're statistically far more likely to earn nothing at all on a £1,000 holding over the course of a year.  

3. You need protection against inflation

Finally, NS&I might not be suitable if you’re concerned about the corrosive effects of inflation, as there's a decent chance your money won't grow in value fast enough while it sits in Premium Bonds.

Have your say

Are you a fan of Premium Bonds? Do you enjoy the excitement of lottery-style draws or maybe you appreciate hassle-free savings?

Or perhaps you think Premium Bonds are for suckers, and you’d prefer to have a guaranteed return.

We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

The information included in this article does not constitute regulated financial advice. You should seek independent, professional financial advice before making any investment decision.