NS&I chief executive leaves job after £470m missing Premium Bonds controversy

Business & FinancePersonal Finance
26 Mar 2026 • 9:45 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • NS&I's chief executive, Dax Harkins, has departed the organisation following a £470 million savings scandal.
  • Sir Jim Harra, former HMRC boss, has been appointed as the interim chief executive of NS&I to provide a 'fresh start'.
  • The scandal emerged after tens of thousands of customers launched legal action, claiming NS&I had lost track of up to £476 million of their life savings.
  • Pensions minister Torsten Bell confirmed that NS&I is launching a programme to reunite customers with their cash, assuring that all savings remain 100 per cent safe.
  • Sir Jim Harra will undertake a three-month review to investigate the tracing problem's background and determine lessons for NS&I's future operations.

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