September 27, 2004 EDGAR United States Securities and Exchange Commission Judiciary Plaza 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549 Re: Form N-Q Ladies and Gentlemen: Enclosed herewith for filing pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is the Registrant's Form N-Q filing for the quarter ending July 31, 2004. If you have any questions or comments regarding this filing, please contact the undersigned at (617) 375-1513. Sincerely, /s/ Alfred P. Ouellette Alfred Ouellette Senior Attorney and Assistant Secretary UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM N-Q QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES Investment Company Act file number 811-8568 John Hancock Bank & Thrift Opportunity Fund (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) 101 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02199 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code) Susan S. Newton, Secretary 101 Huntington Avenue Boston, Massachusetts 02199 (Name and address of agent for service) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 617-375-1702 Date of fiscal year end: October 31 Date of reporting period: July 31, 2004 ITEM 1. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS JOHN HANCOCK Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund 7.31.2004 Quarterly Portfolio Holdings [A 2" x 1" John Hancock (Signature)/John Hancock Funds logo in lower, center middle of page. A tag line below reads "JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS."] John Hancock Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund Securities owned by the fund on July 31, 2004 (unaudited) Issuer Shares Value COMMON STOCKS 98.94% $881,231,389 (Cost $395,419,519) Banks - Money Center 4.22% 37,570,474 Citigroup, Inc. (NY) 449,925 19,837,193 JPMorgan Chase & Co. (MA) 475,041 17,733,281 Banks - Regional 57.39% 511,215,902 ABC Bancorp. (GA) 65,400 1,147,116 Alabama National Bancorp. (AL) 142,500 8,155,275 AmericanWest Bancorp. (WA) (I) 357,921 6,192,033 AmSouth Bancorp. (AL) (L) 95,879 2,351,912 Bank of New York Co., Inc. (The) (NY) 288,000 8,274,240 Banknorth Group, Inc. (ME) 682,688 21,784,574 BB&T Corp. (NC) (L) 344,846 13,355,886 Beverly National Corp. (MA) 47,500 1,187,500 BOK Financial Corp. (OK) (I) (L) 117,208 4,809,044 Camden National Corp. (ME) 140,000 4,345,600 Capital City Bank Group, Inc. (FL) 59,635 2,302,507 Cardinal Financial Corp. (VA) (I) 86,200 786,144 Cascade Bancorp. (OR) 194,272 3,551,292 Chittenden Corp. (VT) 140,196 4,762,458 City Holding Co. (WV) 41,600 1,267,552 City National Corp. (CA) 224,427 14,475,541 CoBiz, Inc. (CO) 8,650 118,505 Colonial BancGroup (The), Inc. (AL) 585,200 11,288,508 Columbia Bancorp. (MD) 90,000 2,486,700 Columbia Bancorp. (OR) 13,250 205,375 Columbia Banking System, Inc. (WA) 29,645 645,372 Commercial Bankshares, Inc. (FL) (L) 63,702 1,783,656 Community Banks, Inc. (PA) 105,055 2,795,514 Compass Bancshares, Inc. (AL) 600,857 26,491,785 Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (TX) 20,000 860,400 Dearborn Bancorp., Inc. (MI)(I) 37,470 979,841 Desert Community Bank (CA) 137,500 3,368,750 DNB Financial Corp. (PA) 65,830 1,655,624 East-West Bancorp., Inc. (CA) 680,000 22,929,600 F.N.B. Corp. (PA) 90,049 1,812,686 Financial Institutions, Inc. (NY) 73,000 1,697,250 First Charter Corp. (NC) 52,200 1,177,110 First Horizon National Corp. (TN) (L) 170,900 7,408,515 First Midwest Bancorp., Inc. (IL) 18,000 607,860 First National Bankshares of Florida (FL) 92,750 1,650,023 First Regional Bancorp. (CA) (I)(K) 100,000 2,724,300 First Regional Bancorp. (CA) (I) 50,000 1,513,500 First State Bancorp. (NM) 65,000 1,901,250 FirstMerit Corp. (OH) 2,950 76,523 FNB Bankshares (ME) 62,340 1,511,745 Fulton Financial Corp. (PA) 106,803 2,190,530 Glacier Bancorp., Inc. (MT) 294,231 7,791,237 Harleysville National Corp. (PA) 131,216 3,079,640 Hibernia Corp. (Class A) (LA) 230,000 5,819,000 Independent Bank Corp. (MI) 308,105 7,881,326 International Bancshares Corp. (TX) 160,270 6,178,408 M&T Bank Corp. (NY) 238,657 22,249,992 Marshall & Ilsley Corp. (WI) (L) 334,545 12,849,873 MB Financial, Inc. (IL) 105,000 3,826,200 Mercantile Bankshares Corp. (MD) 209,500 9,513,395 Merrill Merchants Bankshares, Inc. (ME) 73,687 1,635,851 Mid-State Bancshares (CA) 50,000 1,218,500 National Commerce Financial Corp. (TN) 823,392 26,760,240 North Fork Bancorp., Inc. (NY) 290,800 11,355,740 Northern Trust Corp. (IL) 70,000 2,809,100 Northrim Bancorp., Inc. (AK) 70,053 1,411,568 Oriental Financial Group, Inc. (Puerto Rico) 18,395 468,153 Pacific Capital Bancorp. (CA) 364,354 10,099,893 Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. (TX) 120,000 2,907,600 Provident Bankshares Corp. (MD) 165,058 4,933,584 Regions Financial Corp. (AL) 127,390 3,782,209 Republic Bancorp., Inc. (MI) 3,000 43,950 S&T Bancorp., Inc. (PA) 154,700 5,146,869 Sandy Spring Bancorp., Inc. (MD) 9,500 296,020 Security Bank Corp. (GA) 35,000 1,148,350 Sky Financial Group, Inc. (OH) 234,850 5,483,747 SouthTrust Corp. (AL) 784,350 30,424,936 Southwest Bancorp. of Texas, Inc. (TX) (I) 520,660 10,595,431 Southwest Bancorp., Inc. (OK) 9,000 168,480 State Street Corp. (MA) 48,000 2,054,880 Summit Bancshares, Inc. (TX) 139,500 4,274,280 Synovus Financial Corp. (GA) 450,000 11,461,500 Taylor Capital Group, Inc. (IL) 213,200 5,121,064 TCF Financial Corp. (MN) (L) 214,008 12,926,083 TriCo Bancshares (CA) 53,000 955,590 UCBH Holdings, Inc. (CA) 200,000 7,818,000 Umpqua Holdings Corp. (OR) 177,901 4,022,342 Univest Corp. (PA) 136,812 5,321,987 Valley National Bancorp. (NJ) 149,892 3,729,313 Vineyard National Bancorp., Co. (CA) 75,000 3,188,025 Virginia Commerce Bancorp., Inc. (VA)(I) 13,337 323,422 Webster Financial Corp. (CT) 70,110 3,289,561 West Coast Bancorp. (OR) 67,583 1,391,534 Whitney Holding Corp. (LA) 106,500 4,351,590 Wilmington Trust Corp. (DE) 350,000 12,215,000 Yardville National Bancorp. (NJ) 97,400 2,624,930 Zions Bancorp. (UT) 456,825 27,637,913 Banks - Superregional 22.95% 204,393,632 Bank of America Corp. (NC) 322,335 27,401,698 Comerica, Inc. (MI) 447,400 26,159,478 Fifth Third Bancorp. (OH) (L) 467,563 23,078,910 KeyCorp (OH) 320,000 9,657,600 Mellon Financial Corp. (PA) 330,000 9,068,400 National City Corp. (DE) 590,188 21,541,862 PNC Financial Services Group (PA) 390,500 19,759,300 U.S. Bancorp. (MN) 941,041 26,631,460 Wachovia Corp. (NC) (L) 331,625 14,694,304 Wells Fargo & Co. (CA) 459,861 26,400,620 Broker Services 0.20% 1,793,608 Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. (NY) 20,000 1,402,000 Piper Jaffray Cos., Inc. (MN) (I) (L) 9,610 391,608 Finance 1.08% 9,660,844 CIT Group, Inc. (NY) 206,900 7,191,844 MBNA Corp. (DE) 100,000 2,469,000 Insurance 1.37% 12,157,680 MetLife, Inc. (NY) (L) 104,000 3,709,680 Prudential Financial, Inc. (NJ) 60,000 2,793,600 XL Capital Ltd. (Class A) (Bermuda) 80,000 5,654,400 Investment Management 2.66% 23,679,982 Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (MA) (I) (L) 270,750 12,430,132 Federated Investors, Inc. (Class B) (PA) 30,000 843,300 Legg Mason, Inc. (MD) 132,500 10,406,550 Mortgage Banking 4.05% 36,082,800 Countrywide Financial Corp. (CA) (L) 225,000 16,222,500 Fannie Mae (DC) 122,500 8,692,600 Freddie Mac (VA) 140,000 9,003,400 New Century Financial Corp. (CA) (I) 46,000 2,164,300 Thrifts 5.02% 44,676,467 Astoria Financial Corp. (NY) 71,910 2,456,446 Commercial Capital Bancorp., Inc. (CA) (I) (L) 450,000 9,886,500 GreenPoint Financial Corp. (NY) 255,750 10,391,122 Hingham Institute for Savings (MA) 80,000 3,336,000 LSB Corp. (MA) 65,000 1,107,600 NewAlliance Bancshares, Inc. (CT) (I) (L) 12,581 175,505 New York Community Bancorp, Inc. (NY) 40,000 769,600 PennFed Financial Services, Inc. (NJ) (I) 156,800 5,160,288 Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. (PA) 30,000 653,100 Washington Mutual, Inc. (WA) 276,812 10,740,306 Interest Par value Issuer, Description, Maturity date rate (000) Value BONDS 0.10% $920,612 (Cost $770,000) Banks - United States 0.10% 920,612 CSBI Capital Trust I, Sub Cap Income, Ser A 06-06-27 (B) 11.750% $770 920,612 SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 9.16% $81,625,500 (Cost $81,625,500) Certificates of Deposit 0.01% 76,808 Deposits in mutual banks 77 76,808 Joint Repurchase Agreement 0.93% 8,321,000 Investment in a joint repurchase agreement transaction with Barclays Capital, Inc. - Dated 07-30-04, due 08-02-04 (Secured by U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Bond 3.625%, due 04-15-28, and U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Note 3.000%, due 07-15-12) 1.330 8,321 8,321,000 Shares Cash Equivalents 8.22% 73,227,692 AIM Cash Investment Trust (T) 73,227,692 73,227,692 TOTAL INVESTMENTS 108.20% $963,777,501 OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES, NET (8.20%) ($73,060,968) TOTAL NET ASSETS 100.00% $890,716,533 John Hancock Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund Footnotes to Schedule of Investments July 31, 2004 (unaudited) (B) This security is valued in good faith under procedures established by the Board of Trustees. (I) Non-income-producing security. (K) Direct placement securities are restricted to resale. They have been valued in accordance with procedures approved by the Trustees after consideration of restrictions as to resale, financial condition and prospects of the issuer, general market conditions and pertinent information in accordance with the Fund's By-Laws and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Fund has limited rights to registration under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to these restricted securities. Additional information on these securities is as follows: See table on attached spreadsheet. (L) All or a portion of this security is on loan on July 31, 2004. (T) Represents investment of securities lending collateral. Parenthetical disclosure of a foreign country in the security description represents country of a foreign issuer. The percentage shown for each investment category is the total value of that category as a percentage of the net assets of the Fund. The cost of investments owned on July 31, 2004, including short-term investments, was $477,815,019. Gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments aggregated $488,389,635 and $2,427,153, respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $485,962,482. John Hancock Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund Direct Placement Securities July 31, 2004 (unaudited) Value as a percentage Acquisition Acquisition of fund's Value as of Issuer, description date Cost net assets July 31, 2004 First Regional Bankcorp 03-25-04 $2,950,000 0.31% $2,724,300 For more information Trustees Charles L. Ladner, Chairman* James F. Carlin William H. Cunningham Ronald R. Dion Dr. John A. Moore* Patti McGill Peterson* Steven R. Pruchansky James A. Shepherdson Lt. Gen. Norman H. Smith, USMC (Ret.) John P. Toolan* *Members of the Audit Committee Officers James A. Shepherdson President and Chief Executive Officer Richard A. Brown Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Susan S. Newton Senior Vice President and Secretary William H. King Vice President and Treasurer Investment Adviser John Hancock Advisers, LLC 101 Huntington Avenue Boston, Massachusetts 02199-7603 Custodian The Bank of New York One Wall Street New York, New York 10286 Transfer Agent and Dividend Disburser Mellon Investor Services 85 Challenger Road Overpeck Centre Ridgefield Park, New Jersey 07660 Legal Counsel Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP 60 State Street Boston, Massachusetts 02109-1803 Stock Symbol Listed New York Stock Exchange: BTO How to contact us Internet www.jhfunds.com Mail Regular mail: Mellon Investor Services 85 Challenger Road Overpeck Centre Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660 Phone Customer service representatives 1-800-852-0218 24-hour automated information 1-800-843-0090 TDD line 1-800-231-5469 This report is for the information of the shareholders of the John Hancock Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund. P90Q3 7/04 9/04 ITEM 2. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. (a) Based upon their evaluation of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as conducted within 90 days of the filing date of this Form N-Q, the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that those disclosure controls and procedures provide reasonable assurance that the material information required to be disclosed by the registrant on this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms. (b) There were no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. ITEM 3. EXHIBITS. Separate certifications for the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, are attached. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. John Hancock Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund By: ------------------------------ James A. Shepherdson President and Chief Executive Officer Date: September 27, 2004 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. By: ------------------------------ James A. Shepherdson President and Chief Executive Officer Date: September 27, 2004 By: ----------------------- Richard A. Brown Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Date: September 27, 2004