MILWAUKEE, Jan. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fourth consecutive year, M&I Institutional Trust Services (M&I) has been ranked the #1 Best-in-Class Provider of 401(k) services to plan sponsors and participants, based on the results of PLANSPONSOR magazine's 2010 defined contribution plan survey.

The survey interviews clients of the country's leading retirement plan providers and asks them to rank their current provider across 23 service categories in five market size categories. Best in Class designations are awarded to those providers ranking in the top quartile.

M&I received 70 Best-in-Class awards from a field of 115 possible categories, and outpaced the next highest ranked competitor by 25 awards. This is the ninth straight year M&I has received Best-in-Class awards from PLANSPONSOR.

James D. Cahn, managing director of M&I Institutional Trust Services, noted that M&I received Best-in-Class awards for its service delivery to large, mid-sized, small and micro plans. "Some 401(k) providers reserve their best service for large clients or specialize only in smaller plans, but we seek to provide a consistent level of exemplary service to every retirement plan, regardless of size or any other factor," Cahn said.

He continued, "PLANSPONSOR's editor-in-chief, Nevin Adams, wrote that 2010 was the year our industry '[ restored trust ]' with 401(k) sponsors and participants. The fact that M&I has once again received top honors based on our customers' feedback suggests that their trust in us never wavered."

He commented that this display of plan sponsor and participant trust is critical to the independent 401(k) plan advisors who recommend M&I to their clients.

"For M&I, an important aspect of PLANSPONSOR's annual survey is the anonymous customer feedback we receive," said Todd Perala, M&I's senior vice president and director of Relationship Management. "We appreciate the praise, but value most the constructive suggestions that spur us to make improvements and discourage any tendency to rest on our laurels."

Perala provided a representative sample of direct client feedback from the recent survey:

"M&I is not satisfied with the status quo and are always working on better ways to provide exceptional client/participant service."

"M&I has surpassed our expectations. We are very happy with them."

"Overall, the service level is EXCELLENT in all areas."

"M&I is proactive, friendly and helpful. Service is a number one priority to them."

"My M&I support team is very knowledgeable and always accessible."

"M&I offers innovative products and services, and consistently provides quality services to participants and the sponsor."

"This year's survey is history, and now we to have to devote the coming year to surpassing our prior efforts," Perala added.

For more information on M&I 2010 DC survey results, please visit [ www.plansponsor.com ] or contact Elon Green, 212.867.0131, [ elon@benabe.com ].

About the November 2010 PLANSPONSOR Survey

The results of the DC survey were announced in the November issue of PLANSPONSOR magazine. The survey polled 5,929 clients of 45 defined contribution plan providers. Best-in-Class awards are awarded to plan providers that score in the top quartile of a specific category. There were 23 Rating Categories with 13 Participant Services categories: Communications Materials, Education Program, Statement Clarity, Enrollment Assistance, Onsite Meetings, Loan Withdrawal Processing, Call Center Services, Beneficiary Administration, Web site Functionality, Online tools/services, Range of Investments, Retiree Services, and Participant Fee Disclosure; and 10 Sponsor Services categories: Web site/tools, Form 5500 Processing, Plan Reports/Benchmarking, Compliance Support, Fee Fairness, Fee Disclosure, Account Representative Knowledge, Responsiveness, Regulation Updates, and Staff Consistency. Market Size definitions: Micro (<$5 million in plan assets), Small ($5-50 million), Mid (>$50-200 million), Large (more than $200 million - $1 billion) and Mega ($1 billion and up).

About Marshall & Ilsley Trust Company N.A.

M&I Institutional Trust Services offers services through Marshall & Ilsley Trust Company, which is an affiliate of Marshall & Ilsley Corporation (NYSE: MI), a diversified financial services corporation headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., with $51.9 billion in assets. M&I Institutional Trust Services provides a comprehensive range of retirement plan, trust, custodial, and related services to corporate, institutional, individual, and Taft-Hartley clients nationwide. M&I has offices in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. With more than $90 billion in assets under administration, M&I Institutional Trust Services provides recordkeeping services to more than 550,000 participants and over 1,520 retirement plans. M&I provides investment management, equipment leasing, mortgage banking, asset-based lending, financial planning, and insurance services from offices throughout the country and on the Internet ([ www.mitrust.com ] or [ www.micorp.com ]).

M&I Institutional Trust Services offers products and services through various affiliates of Marshall & Ilsley Corporation, including Marshall & Ilsley Trust Company N.A., M&I Investment Management Corp., M&I Financial Advisors, Inc. (member FINRA/SIPC, maintaining its principal offices at 111 E. Kilbourn Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53202), North Star Trust Company and Taplin, Canida & Habacht, LLC. ©2009 Marshall & Ilsley Corporation

Investment products are: Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value

SOURCE M&I Institutional Trust Services

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M&I Institutional Trust Services Retains Title as Nation's Best 401(k) Provider for Fourth Consecutive Year

M&I Institutional Trust Services Retains Title as Nation's Best 401(k) Provider for Fourth Consecutive Year

PLANSPONSOR Magazine Survey Recognizes the Very Best In Retirement Plans