2009 News Releases

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. DECLARES STOCK AND QUARTERLY DIVIDENDS

(Kansas City, MO, October 30, 2009) – Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBSH) announced today that its Board of Directors approved a 5 percent stock dividend payable on December 15, 2009 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 30, 2009. Shares issued as a result of the stock dividend will be entered by Direct Registration System on the records of the Company’s transfer agent, Computershare, and statements reflecting the issuance will be mailed on December 15, 2009. No fractional shares will be issued and shareholders will receive cash for such fractional interests based on the market value of the stock on the record date.

COMMERCE BANK PSU GORILLA CARD TEXTBOOK SWEEPSTAKES

(Pittsburg, KS – October 27, 2009 ) – Jeremy Kaufman of Hesston, KS has won a $500 Commerce Bank gift certificate for the University Bookstore in the Overman Student Center in the Commerce Bank “PSU Gorilla Card Textbook” Sweepstakes. The 22-year old is a student at Pittsburg State University, where he is majoring in Construction Management with an emphasis in Company Management.

COMMERCE BANK FHSU TIGER CARD TEXTBOOK SWEEPSTAKES

(Hays, KS– October 27, 2009 ) – Timothy Zauche of Garden City, KS has won a $500 Commerce Bank gift certificate for the FHSU Bookstore in the Memorial Union in the Commerce Bank “FHSU Tiger Card Textbook” Sweepstakes. The 22-year old is a student at Fort Hays State University, where he is majoring in Elementary Education and Youth Ministry.

COMMERCE BANK KU CARD TEXTBOOK SWEEPSTAKES

(Lawrence, KS– October 27, 2009 ) – Devinee Fitzgerald of Wichita, KS has won a $500 Commerce Bank gift certificate for the KU Bookstore in the Kansas Union in the Commerce Bank “KU Card Textbook” Sweepstakes. The 19-year old is a student at The University of Kansas, where she is majoring in Advertising.

GEORGE JOINS COMMERCE AS RESIDENTIAL LENDING OFFICER

(Columbia, MO – October 26, 2009 ) – Teresa Maledy, president and CEO, Commerce Bank, Central Missouri Region, recently announced that Brooke George has joined Commerce Bank as a residential real estate lending officer. George comes to Columbia from Commerce Bank in Arnold, Missouri where she also served as a residential lending representative. In her position, she is responsible for business development and customer service related to the bank’s full line of mortgage loan products for Columbia and the surrounding area.

COMMERCE BANK OFFERS INSTANT ISSUE UNEMBOSSED VISA® CHECK CARDS AT SOME AREA BANKING CENTERS

(St. Louis, MO – September 2, 2009 ) – Bank customers may no longer need to wait for their debit card when they open a checking account at Commerce Bank. One of the first banks in the area to offer an instant issue, unembossed Visa® Check Card, Commerce Bank designed the program to give customers their personalized instant issue debit card the same day they open a new checking account with the bank. The card is immediately usable at ATM machines, stores and businesses. Commerce Bank is offering the card in 100 branches initially.

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER EARNINGS PER SHARE OF $.66

(Kansas City, MO – October 14, 2009 ) – Commerce Bancshares, Inc. announced earnings of $.66 per share for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 compared to $.48 per share in the previous quarter and $.32 per share in the third quarter of 2008. Net income for the third quarter amounted to $51.6 million compared to $37.0 million in the previous quarter and $24.7 million in the same period last year. During the third quarter of 2008, the Company recorded a loss on the purchase of auction rate securities totaling approximately $21 million after tax, or $.27 per share. For the quarter, the return on average assets totaled 1.16% and the return on average equity was 11.5%.

COMMERCE BANK IN O'FALLON, MISSOURI IS FIRST BANK BRANCH IN MISSOURI TO RECEIVE LEED® CERTIFICATION

(St. Louis, MO – September 15, 2009 ) – The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that it has awarded Missouri’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification of a bank branch to Commerce Bank’s new branch in O’Fallon, Missouri. LEED is the USGBC’s leading rating system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy efficient, and high performing buildings.

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. DECLARES DIVIDEND

(Kansas City, MO – July 24, 2009 ) – Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBSH) announced that its Board of Directors has approved a regular quarterly dividend of $0.24 per share on the company's common stock payable September 25, 2009, to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 11, 2009.

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS PER SHARE OF $.48

(Kansas City, MO – July 16, 2009) – Commerce Bancshares, Inc. announced earnings of $.48 per share for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 compared to $.40 per share in the previous quarter and $.74 per share in the second quarter of 2008. Net income for the second quarter amounted to $37.0 million compared to $30.8 million in the previous quarter and $56.0 million in the same period last year. For the quarter, the return on average assets totaled .84% and the return on average equity was 8.9%. During the quarter, the ratio of tangible common equity to total assets increased from 8.2% to 8.9%.

COMMERCE BANK EXPANDS PUBLIC FINANCE SERVICES AS INVESTMENT BANKING VETERAN DONALD A. ESTELL IS NAMED DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC FINANCE

(St. Louis – July 14, 2009) – Commerce Bank is expanding its investment services in public finance with the addition of Donald A. Estell, who brings twenty six years of experience to his new role of Commerce Bank director of public finance. Estell will help to build the bank’s public finance business by working with clients throughout the Midwest, with special emphasis on Commerce’s two major markets – Kansas City and St. Louis.

COMMERCE BANK AND THE KANSAS CITY ZOO OFFER NEW CREDIT CARD - Cardholders can now show support for the Zoo with their purchases

(Kansas City, MO – June 8, 2009) – While the sign may say "Don’t feed the animals," fans of the Kansas City Zoo can now support the animals every time they make a purchase with the new Kansas City ZooSM Visa®, credit card from Commerce Bank. Friends of the Zoo will earn $20 for each card activated on the Zoo grounds or on the Zoo’s web site, plus one percent of all Net Merchandise Purchases. Proceeds will support programs and activities sponsored by the Friends of the Zoo.

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. APPOINTS CHARLES KIM ITS NEW CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (CFO)

(Kansas City, MO – April 15, 2009) – The Board of Directors of Commerce Bancshares, Inc., parent company of Commerce Bank, N.A., announced today the appointment of Charles G. Kim (age 48) to chief financial officer (CFO) effective July 1, 2009. As part of the overall succession planning process, current CFO, A. Bayard Clark (age 63), announced his plans to retire in January 2010. He will relinquish his position as CFO effective July 1, 2009 and will continue as an officer of the company in an advisory capacity until his retirement date.

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. DECLARES DIVIDEND FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS

(Kansas City, MO – April 15, 2009) – Commerce Bancshares, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has approved a regular quarterly dividend of $0.24 per share on the company's common stock payable June 26, 2009, to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 9, 2009.

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS

(Kansas City, MO – April 14, 2009) – Commerce Bancshares, Inc. announced earnings of $.40 per share for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to $.84 per share in the first quarter of 2008. Net income for the first quarter amounted to $30.8 million compared to $64.2 million in the same period last year. The first quarter last year included a $22.2 million pre-tax cash gain on the sale of VISA Inc. (VISA) stock and the reversal of certain VISA litigation charges totaling $8.8 million pre-tax, which had the effect of increasing earnings per share by approximately $.26. For the quarter, the return on average assets totaled .73% and the return on average equity was 7.8%. At quarter end, the ratio of tangible common equity to total assets was 8.2%.

COMMERCE BANCSHARES ANNOUNCES ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS MEETING AVAILABLE BY WEBCAST

(Kansas City, MO – April 9, 2009) – Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBSH), a registered bank holding company offering a full line of banking services, announced that the company's annual meeting of shareholders will be available by webcast. Commerce Bancshares, Inc.'s annual shareholder meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time, Wednesday, April 15, 2009 in the Kemper Auditorium on the 15th floor of the Commerce Trust Building at 922 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106.

COMMERCE BANKSHARES, INC. NAMED NUMBER SEVEN AMONG 150 TOP PERFORMING BANKS BY BANK DIRECTOR MAGAZINE

(St. Louis, MO – March 10, 2009) – Commerce Bancshares, Inc. was ranked seventh among the Top 150 publicly traded bank companies in Bank Director magazine's 2008 Bank Performance Scorecard. The ranking measures each institution across three important categories including profitability, capital adequacy, and asset quality for the yearly period July 2007 to June 2008. Results for 2008 were released in the magazine's first quarter 2009 issue.

THE COMMERCE TRUST COMPANY EXPANDS TEAM IN FAMILY OFFICE & INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

(Kansas City, MO – March 5, 2009) – The Commerce Trust Company is pleased to announce the addition of two veteran Kansas City financial services professionals to its wealth management team to help drive the continued expansion of its growing investment management and family office business. The announcement was made by Jack Ovel, Commerce Trust Company West Region President and Scott Boswell, Managing Director of the West Region.

COMMERCE BANK ANNOUNCES RETAIL BANKING STAFF PROMOTIONS

(Moniteau County, MO – February 18, 2009) – Brad Clay, community president, Commerce Bank, Moniteau County, recently announced the following Retail Banking staff promotions

COMMERCE BANK ANNOUNCES PROMOTIONS IN COMMERCIAL BANKING DIVISION

(Springfield, MO – February 10, 2009) – John Himmel, chairman, Commerce Bank, Springfield Region, recently announced the following promotions in the bank’s Commercial Division

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. DECLARES DIVIDEND

(St. Louis, MO – February 6, 2009) – Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBSH) announced today that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.24 per share on the company's common stock. The dividend reflects an adjustment for the 5 percent stock dividend that was paid on December 1, 2008. The dividend is payable on March 27, 2009 to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 10, 2009.

COMMERCE MISSOURI TAX-FREE INTERMEDIATE BOND FUND (CFMOX) INSTITUTIONAL SHARE CLASS RANKED NO. 1 IN NATION BY LIPPER ANALYTICAL SERVICES, INC.

(Kansas City, MO – February 3, 2009) – A leading global provider of fund intelligence recently gave the Commerce Family of Mutual Funds its top national ranking. Lipper Analytical Service, Inc., named Commerce’s Missouri Tax-Free Intermediate Bond Fund (CFMOX) Institutional Share Class number one against 89 comparable funds in the organization’s Other States Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Category for 10-year performance as of 12/31/2008.

BEUSAN JOINS COMMERCE BANK AS RETAIL BANKING OFFICER

(Columbia, MO, February 2, 2009) – Teresa Maledy, president, Commerce Bank, Central Missouri Region, recently announced that Gianina Beusan has joined Commerce as Retail Banking Officer and Branch Manager for the company’s Business Loop Banking Center, 500 Business Loop 70 West, Columbia. In her position, she is responsible for business development and customer service related to the branch’s banking and lending services for consumers and small business.

COMMERCE BANK INTRODUCES TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES: MOBILE BANKING, ALERTS AND WEB SITE REDESIGN MAKE BANKING WITH COMMERCE EASIER

(St. Louis, MO, January 26, 2009) – Managing finances has never been easier for Commerce Bank customers with the roll-out of Commerce’s new Mobile Banking service and Alerts by email. In addition, Commerce Bank’s redesigned web site featuring a new layout gives customers more convenient access to their accounts and greater control over their finances.

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER EARNINGS PER SHARE OF $.58

(Kansas City, MO – January 20, 2009) - Commerce Bancshares, Inc. announced earnings of $.58 per share for the three months ended December 31, 2008 compared to $.58 in the fourth quarter of last year. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2008 amounted to $43.8 million compared to $43.7 million in the fourth quarter of last year.

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. (CBSH) ANNOUNCES PRESENTATION TO ANALYSTS AND INVESTORS IN NEW YORK JANUARY 26-28, 2009

(St. Louis, MO – January 16, 2009) - Commerce Bancshares, Inc. announced today that Chief Financial Officer, Bayard Clark, will make a presentation to small groups of analysts and investors in New York on January 26-28, 2009. The presentation will be an update of the company’s 2008 financial performance and general business plan.

COMMERCE BANK NAMES LAMPKINS AS RETAIL BANKING OFFICER

(Columbia, MO – January 5, 2009) - Teresa Maledy, president, Commerce Bank, Central Missouri Region, recently announced that Melissa Lampkins has been promoted to Retail Banking Officer. In her position, she is responsible for overseeing region-wide deposit operations, supervising branch operation teams and coordinating the region’s operation audit programs.