NS&I failures pile on the agony for bereaved families chasing missing premium bonds

Errors and delays in tracing accounts at the trusted savings institution have compounded the stress of relatives losing loved ones

“It has been more than a year of hell,” says Kate Constable about the time it took to claim £46,000 in premium bonds belonging to her late mother.

The process was drawn out because National Savings and Investments (NS&I) rules mean anyone claiming a savings pot of more than £5,000 must obtain probate first.