Sun Life Financial Introduces Customized Version of its Masters Variable Annuity Suite Exclusively for Huntington Bank

The U.S. division of Sun Life Financial, Inc. (NYSE:SLF, TSX:SLF) today introduced a customized version of its Masters variable annuities suite available exclusively through Huntington Bank, a $55 billion regional bank holding company in the Midwest. The proprietary products include 10 Huntington Bank VA Funds as additional investment options to appeal to Huntington Bank’s customers when choosing asset allocations. "Sun Life’s innovative approach to annuity products and its thorough understanding of the bank channel make it an ideal partner for Huntington,” said Paula Jurcenko, Senior Vice President and Director of Product Management and Sales at Huntington Bank. "We believe Sun Life’s Income ON DemandSM rider is a unique benefit in the annuity and retirement planning industry that will be particularly appealing to Huntington Bank customers looking for improved flexibility with the traditional protection and accumulation benefits of variable annuities.” Sun Life’s customized Masters variable annuities will enable investors to select from the Huntington Bank VA Funds and over 40 additional investment options across many asset classes. Customers can also choose to elect Income ON Demand, a rider that gives them the option to stop, start and store annuity income, should the policyholder’s needs fluctuate during retirement. Income ON Demand, Sun Life’s unique Income Storage Benefit, is available for an additional cost with most Sun Life Financial Masters® variable annuities. This patent-pending option complements boomers’ investment strategies of accumulating wealth by allowing them to defer part or all of the annual withdrawals permitted under the benefit and to "store” those withdrawals in the contract for future use. "We are excited to work with Huntington Bank and further extend the distribution of our industry-leading annuity products,” said Tim O’Hara, bank channel Executive Vice President and National Sales Manager of Sun Life Financial Distributors. "Sun Life considers the bank channel an important growth market in retirement planning, and we have significantly expanded our presence in this market. Last year the company was named Top Variable Annuity Provider in a study conducted by American Brokerage Consultants and American Banker, and we are pleased to offer these customized products to Huntington Bank and its customers.” About Huntington Bank Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is a $55 billion regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Huntington has more than 141 years of serving the financial needs of its customers. Huntington’s banking subsidiary, The Huntington National Bank, provides innovative retail and commercial financial products and services through over 600 regional banking offices in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Huntington also offers retail and commercial financial services online at huntington.com; through its technologically advanced, 24-hour telephone bank; and through its network of over 1,400 ATMs. Selected financial service activities are also conducted in other states including: Dealer Sales offices in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee; Private Financial and Capital Markets Group offices in Florida; and Mortgage Banking offices in Maryland and New Jersey. Sky Insurance offers retail and commercial insurance agency services, through offices in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, and West Virginia. International banking services are available through the headquarters office in Columbus, a limited purpose office located in both the Cayman Islands and Hong Kong. About Sun Life Financial Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth accumulation products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Chartered in 1865, Sun Life Financial and its partners today have operations in key markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China and Bermuda. As of September 30, 2007, the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of US $430.6 billion. Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under ticker symbol SLF. Visit Sun Life Financial’s website at www.sunlife-usa.com. Variable annuities are long-term investment vehicles designed for retirement purposes, and are subject to market fluctuation, investment risk and possible loss of principal. Income ON Demand is an optional benefit available only at issue for an annual charge of 0.65% of Income Benefit Base (0.85% for joint lives). Joint life coverage is not available in New York. The benefit also is not available with all variable annuity products. See a prospectus for limitations and restrictions. Sun Life Financial Masters variable annuities are issued by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.) (Wellesley Hills, MA) in all states except New York. In New York, the contracts are issued by Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York (New York, NY). All guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the issuing company. Variable products are distributed through Sun Life Financial Distributors, Inc. All three companies are members of the Sun Life Financial group of companies. NOT FDIC/NCUA INSURED ? MAY LOSE VALUE ? NO BANK/CREDIT UNION GUARANTEE ? NOT A DEPOSIT ? NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY © 2008 Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.). All rights reserved. Sun Life Financial and the globe symbol are registered trademarks of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada. SLPC 18293 (1/08) Exp. 1/09