Four Premium Bonds alternatives open to new savers, with each provider's published odds, prize tables, access rules and protection.
Four Premium Bonds alternatives open to new savers, with each provider's published odds, prize tables, access rules and protection.
April 11, 2026Comments are off for this post.
Last updated: 10 September 2026
By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance
Over 22 million people in the UK hold Premium Bonds, which makes them the nation's most popular savings product. Yet most holders have never weighed up Chip Prize Saver vs Premium Bonds side by side, and the numbers reward a closer look. Around 62% of Premium Bonds holders have never won a single prize, according to AJ Bell. The prize fund rate sits at 4.35% from the September 2026 draw, with each £1 bond facing odds of 21,000 to 1. NS&I has moved both twice this year. The rate ran at 3.30% with odds of 23,000 to 1 from April, went to 3.80% and 22,000 to 1 in July, then landed where it is now when NS&I announced the change on 18 August 2026.
Meanwhile, Chip's Prize Savings Account offers an alternative: a prize-draw savings account with a £10,000 grand prize every month and no interest at all. Both are a gamble on the return, not on the capital. You can hold either for a year, win nothing, and watch inflation eat the value of the money. We are not saying Premium Bonds are bad. Indeed, they are backed by the Treasury and pay tax-free prizes, which is a real advantage. However, if you have not compared them to anything in years, this is worth ten minutes of your time.
This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.
Our Chip referral page carries the current new-customer bonus and the sign-up steps, kept up to date.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. It is not a recommendation to open, close, or switch any savings or investment product. Always do your own research or consider a qualified financial adviser before making financial decisions. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change. All product details were verified at the time of writing but may change, so always check the provider's website for current terms.
Read moreSeptember 3, 2025Comments are off for this post.
Last updated: 10 September 2026
By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.
This guide is for information only and does not constitute financial advice. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Every rate here was read off the bank’s own page tonight
Picking the best savings account UK savers can open comes down to one question: how soon do you need the money back? Get that right and the rate follows. So I checked every figure below directly on each provider’s own website on 6 September 2026, rather than lifting it from a comparison table.
The Bank of England base rate sits at 3.75%, held at the most recent decision. Easy access tops out near 5%, one and two year bonds sit just under 5%, and the best regular savers still pay 8%. Below you will find easy access, notice accounts, regular savers, fixed bonds, cash ISAs and NS&I, each with the deposit-taker named.
Zopa’s referral offer is live again, and the current terms and the exact steps sit on our referral page.
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