The first bond number drawn was 170MY806167 and belongs to a winner in Devon. The jackpot winner holds £36,000 in Premium Bonds and purchased the winning bond in July 2010. They become the 17th millionaire chosen by ERNIE from Devon.

The second bond number drawn was 276RS522196 and the winner comes from Cheshire. The winner holds £19,000 in Premium Bonds and purchased their winning bond in July 2016. The win makes them the 10th Premium Bonds millionaire from Cheshire.

There were more than 3.3 million other prizes paid out this month worth between £25 and £100,000.

For those unfamiliar with Premium Bonds, two £1m jackpots are paid out each month, then the rest of the prize fund is share allocated to the higher value band equally among the remaining prize values.

Six prizes of £100,000 are paid out, 10 at £50,000 and so on down to 100 at £5,000. ERNIE, the Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment, selects the Premium Bonds winners.

Premium Bonds are one of the nation’s most popular savings products and are the perfect way to start a savings habit, with the minimum investment starting at £25.

Premium Bonds customers can add to their Premium Bonds holding quickly and securely, both for themselves or their child, via bank transfer.

Jill Waters, NS&I retail director, said: “A massive congratulations to our new Premium Bonds jackpot winners from Devon and Cheshire. This really is a life-changing sum of money and we wish them all the best for the future.

“Aside from our two jackpot winners, this month, ERNIE will be paying out more than 3.3 million other tax-free prizes worth £97,337,100, surprising and delighting people up and down the country.

“You can start a savings habit by investing in Premium Bonds from just £25. You can do this via bank transfer or by setting up a regular standing order. A regular savings habit really is the best way to help your savings blossom this March.”

Customers can choose to have their prizes paid directly to their bank account or have their wins automatically reinvested into more Premium Bonds. By having prizes paid directly, it reduces the number of prizes that go unclaimed and means that customers can benefit from their wins more quickly.

Almost nine in 10 prizes are now paid directly to customers’ bank accounts or reinvested into more bonds and this is quicker, easier and more secure for customers than receiving them via cheque in the post.

Premium Bonds holders can check to see if they have won a prize in March’s prize draw, by using the nsandi.com prize checker, official prize checker app or their Alexa-enabled device from Wednesday 2 March 2022.

Customers will need their Premium Bonds holder’s number to use the website and their NS&I number or holder’s number to check via the prize checker app. At the same time, they can check for any unclaimed prizes owed to them.

Customers can choose to have their prizes paid directly to their bank account or have their wins automatically reinvested into more Premium Bonds.

By having prizes paid directly, it reduces the number of prizes that go unclaimed and means that customers can benefit from their wins more quickly. Almost nine in 10 prizes are now paid directly to customers’ bank accounts or reinvested into more bonds and this is quicker, easier and more secure for customers than receiving them via cheque in the post.

In the March 2022 prize draw, a total of 3,385,641 prizes worth £97,337,100 will be paid out. There were 116,804,536,571 bond numbers eligible for the draw. Since the first draw in June 1957, ERNIE has drawn 555 million prizes with a total value of £22.7bn.