History
National Savings and Investments was founded by the Palmerston Government in 1861 as the Post Office Savings Bank, the world's first postal savings system. The aim of the bank was to allow ordinary workers a facility "to provide for themselves against adversity and ill-health", and to provide the government with access to debt funding. As an example, savings certificates were issued in World wars I and II to help finance the war effort. On June 1, 1957, the premium bonds draws were inaugurated, using E.R.N.I.E - the Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment machine (now located in the Science Museum).
In 1969 the bank was transferred from the Post Office to the Treasury and its name was changed to the National Savings Bank. The name was changed again in 2002 to National Savings and Investments.
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