COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. ANNOUNCES OFFICER PROMOTIONS

(Kansas City, MO January 28, 2002) - The Board of Directors of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. has announced the following promotions.

Charles L. Spencer has been promoted to Vice President, Commerce Bancshares Loan Review. As department manager, Mr. Spencer supervises analysts in both Kansas City and St. Louis. He oversees decisions from individual credit risk assessment, portfolio risk and management to oversight of charge offs. Mr. Spencer is also responsible for reporting to external agencies including the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Reserve Bank. Joining Commerce in 2001, Mr. Spencer has nine years financial and risk management experience with other financial institutions. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics.

Christy Campbell has been promoted to Assistant Vice President, Commerce Bancshares Marketing Department. As Marketing Manager, Ms. Campbell is responsible for developing marketing strategy and advertising programs reaching Commerce Bank's corporate and small business clients and prospects. Ms. Campbell received her Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri, Kansas City and her Bachelor of Science Degree in marketing management from Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri.

Commerce Bancshares, Inc. is 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 341 locations in Missouri, Kansas and Illinois.

For further information contact:
Nancy E. Levin, APR
Director, Regional Marketing
(816) 234-2632

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

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