Sun Life announces another industry first and joins forces with a leader in Blockchain technologies

Sun Life is the first North American insurer to join forces with SecureKey for Verified.Me, using Blockchain technology to make it easier for Clients in Canada to instantly verify their credentials and enhance their digital experience

TORONTO, Feb. 7, 2018 /CNW/ - Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSX: SLF) (NYSE: SLF) ("Sun Life") today announced that it is the first North American insurer to collaborate with SecureKey Technologies Inc., a leading provider of identity and authentication solutions using Blockchain technologies.

This collaboration will make it even easier for Clients to do business with Sun Life, enabling them to conveniently and securely share identity information using other trusted providers, such as banks, telcos and governments. 

"As part of our relentless focus on making it easier for our Clients to do business with us through new digital capabilities, we are proud to team up with SecureKey to offer an even more simplified online experience," said Mark Saunders, Executive Vice-President & Chief Information Officer, Sun Life Financial. "As we take the next step along our digital transformation journey, we'll soon be able to streamline and simplify the onboarding process for new Clients by using SecureKey's permission-based tools and Blockchain security to instantly verify personal information."

Sun Life expects to introduce this technology to its Clients in Canada in the coming months. Some of the benefits include:

• Blockchain based solutions designed to make it easier for Clients to share their credentials in an efficient and secure way.
• Seamless and real-time identity verification process for new Clients to streamline digital offerings.
• Quick and easy data updates to information, enabling sharing of the most current, verified Client data.

"We are very excited for Sun Life to join the Verified.Me ecosystem," said Greg Wolfond, Founder and CEO, SecureKey Technologies. "Through this strategic relationship, Sun Life is reinforcing its commitment to providing the best possible digital experience for its Clients."

The new collaboration is the latest move by Sun Life as it continues to transform its business by advancing the company's digital strategy and exploring innovation-led collaborations. Sun Life has developed the highest rated insurer mobile app for Clients in Canada and recently launched Ella, its digital coach, for Group Plan members and retail Clients.

About Sun Life Financial
Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individuals and corporate Clients. Sun Life Financial has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of September 30, 2017, Sun Life Financial had total assets under management of $934 billion. For more information please visit www.sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.

About SecureKey Technologies
SecureKey is a leading identity and authentication provider that simplifies consumer access to online services and applications. SecureKey's next generation privacy-enhancing Verified.Me network enables consumers to conveniently and privately assert identity information using trusted providers, such as banks, telcos and governments, and help them connect to critical online services with a digital credential they already have and trust. SecureKey is headquartered in Toronto, with offices in Boston and San Francisco. For more information, please visit www.securekey.com.

Note to Editors: All figures in Canadian dollars except as otherwise noted. 

Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of certain securities laws, including the "safe harbour" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Additional information concerning forward-looking statements and important risk factors that could cause Sun Life's assumptions, estimates, expectations and projections to be inaccurate and its actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements can be found in Sun Life's most recently filed Annual Information Form and Management's Discussion and Analysis, which can be found on www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov.

Media Relations Contacts:
Alessandra Nigro
Director, Corporate Communications
Sun Life Financial
T. 416-979-4884
alessandra.nigro@sunlife.com

Sarah Kirk-Douglas
Director, Marketing
SecureKey Technologies
T. 905-251-6502
sarah.douglas@securekey.com

SOURCE Sun Life Financial Inc.