Hampshire residents hold more than 766,000 Premium Bond accounts worth nearly £6bn, making the region one of the biggest holders in the country.
New BBC figures reveal 71,641 unclaimed prizes across Hampshire worth over £2.6m, including one winner who has failed to collect a £25,000 prize from April 2023.
The oldest unclaimed prize in Hampshire dates back to August 1963 – a £25 win that has gained just £0.58 in interest over six decades.
Nationally, more than £100m in Premium Bond winnings remain uncollected.
Solicitor Patrice Lawrence, who has helped seven people trace accounts, described the situation as "shocking," particularly given the current cost-of-living crisis.
"It's shocking that a government-owned bank is sitting on over £100m in unclaimed prizes," she said.
Despite the unclaimed prizes, Premium Bonds remain hugely popular in Hampshire. During 2024-25, 136,623 residents purchased bonds worth over £1bn, while Hampshire residents won 3.1m prizes worth £239m.
Why are prizes going unclaimed? The problem is particularly significant among older residents who may be unaware that Premium Bonds were purchased on their behalf decades ago by family members. Nearly 400,000 accounts in Hampshire worth £25.6m have had no activity for over 20 years.
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Prize winners should receive notifications via text, email, or post if they've registered contact details. However, customers often relocate and forget to update their details with NS&I, or fail to register their holdings initially, leading to unclaimed prizes.
BBC Morning Live money expert Iona Bain said the issue often emerges when families sort through deceased relatives' paperwork.
"It's quite common for folks to discover Premium Bond certificates while organising affairs, not realising these could access a hidden nest egg," she explained.
She criticised NS&I's tracing process as too rigid, describing a "'computer says no' approach, even when people have most details needed."
How to check for unclaimed prizes:
· Use NS&I's online prize checker at nsandi.com
· Call the helpline on 08085 007 007
· Use the MyLostAccount service
· Write to NS&I Tracing Service, Sunderland SR43 2SB with personal details and investment information
NS&I says it has paid out over 99 per cent of prizes since 1957 and offers free tracing services.
Andrew Westhead, NS&I's retail director, said: "We want to reunite Premium Bonds holders with their winnings and encourage people to come forward even with limited information."
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