BTO John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund

BOSTON, Feb. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- John Hancock Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund (NYSE:BTO), a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Advisers, LLC, reported today that net investment income was $3,283,121 for the first quarter ended January 31, 2006. For the comparable period in 2005, net investment income was $2,603,779. As of January 31, 2006, the net asset value per share was $10.55 with total net assets of $890,516,233 and 84,400,000 shares outstanding. Comparable figures for January 31, 2005 reflect a net asset value per share of $11.05, total net assets of $932,998,966 and 84,400,000 shares outstanding. John Hancock Funds, the mutual fund business unit of John Hancock Financial Services, offers a broad array of investment products, including open-end and closed-end funds, privately managed accounts, 529 plans and retirement accounts to retail and institutional investors. As of December 31, 2005, investors entrusted John Hancock Funds with more than $43.8 billion. Additional information about John Hancock Funds can be found on the website: http://www.jhfunds.com/. About Manulife Financial and John Hancock John Hancock is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 19 countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia, and primarily through John Hancock in the United States, the Company offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were Cdn$372 billion (US$319 billion) as at December 31, 2005. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '0945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at http://www.manulife.com/. The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers a broad range of financial products and services, including universal life insurance, variable life, term life and whole life, as well as college savings products, fixed and variable annuities, long-term care insurance, mutual funds, 401(k) plans and various forms of business insurance. First Call Analyst: FCMN Contact: DATASOURCE: John Hancock Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund CONTACT: Kimberley Dietrich +1-617-663-4217 or Investors: +1-800-843-0090 both of John Hancock

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