When do new Premium Bonds enter the draw?

For a normal purchase, new Premium Bonds must be held for one full calendar month before entering their first draw. Use the date NS&I accepted the purchase when checking eligibility.

The month after purchase is the waiting month

If NS&I accepts a normal purchase during October, November is the full waiting month and December is the first eligible draw. Buying near the end of October still leaves November as the waiting month. Buying at the start of November moves the first draw to January.

Automatically reinvested prizes are different

NS&I says prizes automatically reinvested into more Premium Bonds are eligible from the next draw. That exception applies to automatic prize reinvestment; a normal new purchase follows the waiting period.

Use eligible holdings in a comparison

Money you have just paid in may not yet be eligible. Including it too early would overstate expected winnings and make your luck score look lower. Enter the amount that was actually eligible for each month, particularly when the balance changes.

Use the purchase-date helper in the calculator for a calendar example, and check your account and NS&I’s current product rules to confirm your first eligible draw.