Manulife Bank of Canada introduces Manulife Trust Company

TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945

WATERLOO, Sept. 13 /CNW/ - Manulife Bank of Canada has launched Manulife Trust Company to offer Canadians coast-to-coast a range of products available through their financial advisors.

"A trust company gives us the opportunity to provide Canadians with additional innovative, market-leading financial solutions," says Doug Conick, President and CEO, Manulife Bank of Canada and Manulife Trust Company.

"All Manulife Trust products will be available through financial advisors because we firmly believe that everyone should have a financial plan and incorporate trust and banking products to meet their overall goals and objectives."

Manulife Trust will initially offer Investment Savings Accounts and Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs), in all Canadian provinces and territories. It will also offer Preferred Rate Mortgages across the country, except in Yukon, Nunavut, and the North West Territories.

Manulife Trust is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Manulife Bank and has offices in Waterloo, Ontario and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Manulife Trust deposit accounts
All of Manulife Trust's deposit accounts pay a premium interest rate on every dollar in the account. Canadian residents or Canadian-registered businesses may choose from Investment Savings Accounts and Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs) within a "Nominee Name" account, which means it is offered through a financial advisor. They are available for registered and non-registered investments, including RRSPs, TFSAs, RRIFs, DPSPs, LIFs, LRIFs, PRIFs and RESPs.

Manulife Trust is a member of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC), as is its parent company, Manulife Bank. Deposits with Manulife Trust may be eligible for CDIC coverage. Please visit cdic.ca for more information.

Investment Savings Account
With an Investment Savings Account, a high rate of interest is earned on every dollar in the account, without the need to manage maturity dates as with other investments, such as Treasury Bills or GICs. This is an investment account managed by a financial advisor.

Guaranteed Investment Certificates
GICs give a portfolio guaranteed growth and reassurance that money is secure. Manulife Trust offers some of the best GIC rates in Canada with terms from 30 days to five years.

Opening an account
Manulife Trust believes financial decisions should be made with the help and insight of a trusted advisor. That's why Manulife Trust offers its products and services through financial advisors, to help provide clients with the products that will put their wealth creation and debt-management plans into action.

Clients can get started with an Investment Savings Account or a GIC:

• By contacting their financial advisor.
• Or, if they don't have a financial advisor, clients can Find a Manulife advisor by visiting www.manulifebank.ca/canada/canada1.nsf/Public/find_an_advisor.

About Manulife Bank
Established in 1993, Manulife Bank was the first federally regulated bank opened by an insurance company in Canada. It is a Schedule l federally chartered bank and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Manulife Financial.

As Canada's first advisor-based bank, it has successfully grown to nearly $16 billion in assets and serves clients across Canada.  Manulife Bank provides its innovative Manulife One account and deposit and loan products through independent financial advisors to help individuals make the most of their financial plan.

About Manulife Financial
Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group operating in 22 countries and territories worldwide. For more than 120 years, clients have looked to Manulife for strong, reliable, trustworthy and forward-thinking solutions for their most significant financial decisions.  Our international network of employees, agents and distribution partners offers financial protection and wealth management products and services to millions of clients. We provide asset management services to institutional customers worldwide as well as reinsurance solutions, specializing in life and property and casualty retrocession. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were Cdn$454 billion (US$428 billion) as at June 30, 2010.

The Company operates as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at www.manulife.com.                                

For further information:

Media contact:         
Tom Nunn
Manulife Financial         
1-877-782-2363
[email protected]