BTO John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund

BOSTON, Aug. 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 $3,080,198 for the third quarter ended July 31, 2006. For the comparable period in 2005, net investment income was $3,147,138. As of July 31, 2006, the net asset value per share was $10.62 with total net assets of $896,323,751 and 84,400,000 shares outstanding. Comparable figures for July 31, 2005 reflect a net asset value per share of $10.94, total net assets of $923,054,633 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 June 30, 2006, investors entrusted John Hancock Funds with $47.5 billion in assets. Additional information about John Hancock Funds can be found on the website: http://www.jhfunds.com/. About Manulife Financial Manulife Financial is 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$370 billion (US$332 billion) as at June 30, 2006. 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/. 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 Web site: http://www.jhfunds.com/ http://www.manulife.com/

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