Sales of Prize Bonds total €660.5m in 2021 as fund grows to €4.4 billion

18 May 2022

The Prize Bond Company DAC, which administers Prize Bonds on behalf of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) for retail investment customers, today published its 2021 Annual Report.  

Key highlights of the 2021 Annual Report include:  

• Continued strong gross sales of Prize Bonds worth €660.5 million.  
• Value of the Prize Bonds fund at end of 2021 reached €4.4 billion, an increase of 8.3% on 2020 and the highest in the scheme’s history (2020: €4.1 billion). 

The Prize Bond Company DAC has reported gross sales of Prize Bonds totalling €660.5 million in 2021, underscoring the product’s longstanding appeal as a unique and secure investment choice among retail customers, who each week have the chance to win a significant number of prizes while retaining the value of their investment.  

The value of Prize Bonds “cashed in” by customers during the year, increased by 15.8% to €327.7 million compared to the same period last year (2020: €283.1 million). Overall, the value of the fund, i.e. the total sum invested in Prize Bonds, increased by 8.3% to €4.4billion, a new record in the history of the Scheme first established in 1957.  

There were 228,015 prizes awarded in 2021, with a total value of €15.6m. Currently, more than 4,000 prizes are issued weekly and a €250,000 prize draw takes place four times a year, in March, June, September and December.  

Following website enhancements, to make new and repeat purchases easier for customers, some 18.1% of all Prize Bond sales in 2021 were generated online compared with 16.7% in 2020. The Post Office remains the primary point of sale, with over 54.6% of Prize Bonds purchased via the network in 2021.  

Debbie Byrne, Chairperson of the Prize Bond Company said: “I am pleased to report a strong performance for 2021, reflecting continued customer confidence in Prize Bonds as a unique retail investment product. The value of the Prize Bond fund grew to €4.4 billion last year, its highest ever, with gross sales of €660.5 million for the year. The chance to win prizes weekly remains a defining feature of the Prize Bonds product and part of its enduring popularity.  
We have worked closely with the NTMA to improve the customer experience. With the introduction of more self-serve online services, customers are now able to see their State Savings holdings, including Prize Bonds, online and to undertake more activity with us using their choice of channel.” 

At the end of 2021, unclaimed prizes, i.e. prizes not claimed after 6 months and which have accumulated since Prize Bonds was established in 1957 amounted to €3.2 million, which continues to represent a small portion of the value of prizes awarded since the launch of the scheme. Unclaimed prizes are held indefinitely until claimed by a bond holder and every prize winner is contacted at the address last registered with the Prize Bond Company. Full details of all prizes are included in a database listed on www.StateSavings.ie for customers to check.