COMMERCE BANK AWARDS $25,000 GRAND PRIZE IN THE "SKIP THE PIN, SIGN - AND WIN!" CONTEST

(LEAVENWORTH, KS, January 22, 2002) - David Cuny is now $25,000 richer, having been named Grand Prize Winner in Commerce Bank's "Skip the PIN, Sign - and Win!" contest.

Cuny was one of thousands of entrants which included Commerce Bank customers who automatically entered the contest between April and December each time they used their Commerce Visa® Check Card by selecting "credit" instead of "debit" at the checkout.

Cuny's winning entry was made when he used his card to pay for a $12.00 purchase at CDStreet.com last July. "I bought a CD some of my college friends recorded. I wanted to support their band," he recalled.

"The contest was a win-win situation for winners and customers alike," commented Carl Bradbury, Vice President and Check Card Manager, Commerce Bank. "Using the Check Card without the PIN for purchases provides unique advantages to the customer, including loss protection, product warranty plus and travel accident insurance." The promotion successfully encouraged customers to "Skip the PIN". Commerce Bank plans more Visa Check Card promotions this year.

In addition to the $25,000 grand prize, Commerce awarded $1,000 each day between April and December to a winner whose name was drawn from that day's transactions and entries. Over $100,000 was awarded in all.

Cuny, 25, says he's not sure what he will do with the money, but he's got a few ideas in mind. "I'm really undecided and shocked," he said. Cuny, whose parents live in Leavenworth, now lives in Lenexa. He graduated from Wheaton College in Illinois and works as a Systems Programmer with Sprint.

"We think it's wonderful that the grand prize winner is someone who is a Leavenworth customer," said Jon Crippen Manager of Commerce Bank's Leavenworth Banking Center, where Cuny opened his checking account.

Two of the daily $1,000 winners had also banked at Commerce Bank's Leavenworth Banking Center, making it one of the contest's "winning-est" branches.

"We have a lot of great customers here who appreciate the convenience and value of using their Commerce Visa Check Card," explained Crippen.

Commerce Bank is an affiliate of Commerce Bancshares, Inc., a registered bank holding company with assets of $12.9 billion offering a full line of banking services, including investment management and securities brokerage. The Company currently operates in approximately 330 locations in Missouri, Illinois, and Kansas. The Company also has operating subsidiaries involved in mortgage banking, credit related insurance, venture capital, and real estate activities.

For further information contact:
Rebecca Freetly-Graber
Marketing Officer
(816) 234-2308

Website: www.commercebank.com
e-mail: mymoney@commercebank.com
SYMBOL: CBSH

# # #