JUANITA HINSHAW APPOINTED TO COMMERCE BANK, ST. LOUIS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

(St. Louis, MO., March 28, 2002) - Commerce Bank, N.A., St. Louis, is pleased to announce the appointment of Juanita Hinshaw to its Board of Directors.

"We're very pleased to have Juanita join our board," said Seth M. Leadbeater, chairman and chief executive officer of Commerce Bank, St. Louis. "She brings an extensive background in corporate finance and a strong commitment to the St. Louis community."

Hinshaw is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Graybar Electric, Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, where she is responsible for the Company's treasury, accounting, tax and audit areas. Hinshaw is a member of Graybar Electric's Board of Directors.

Prior to joining Graybar Electric, Hinshaw retired from Monsanto Company where she served as Vice President and Treasurer since 1988. She was employed at RJR Nabisco as manager of International Banking and Foreign Exchange in Winston Salem, NC, before joining Monsanto Company in 1984.

Hinshaw also serves on the Board of Directors of Insituform Technologies, Inc., and is a board member of KETC/Channel 9, Grand Center, RCGA, Maryville University and the United Way. For the past two years, she has been the United Way Women's Leadership Giving Initiative campaign co-chair. Hinshaw is past Chairman of the Board of Directors for the International Institute of St. Louis, Bethesda Hospital and Homes, YWCA of Metropolitan St. Louis and Ranken Jordan Children's Center.

About Commerce Bank
Commerce Bank is an affiliate of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. Commerce Bancshares 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 more than 340 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.

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For further information contact:
Mary Savacool
(314) 746-7380

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