COMMERCE BANK NAMES COLUMBIA NATIVE PRESIDENT AND MARKET MANAGER OF MIDSTATE REGION

Teresa Rouse Maledy brings over 20 years of financial services experience and strong sense of community commitment to the post

COLUMBIA, MO - May 29, 2002 - David Kemper, CEO and chairman, Commerce Bancshares, Inc. today announced that Teresa Rouse Maledy, Columbia native and 20-year industry veteran has been named President and Market Manager of the Midstate Region for Commerce Bank. Maledy's professional achievements and strong civic involvement were cited as some of the reasons for her promotion. She will have overall responsibility for the market, which includes banks in Boone, Audrain, Moniteau and Randolph counties.

"We are very fortunate to have an officer of Teresa's caliber, both professionally and personally, to lead Commerce Bank in our Midstate region," said Kemper. "She brings to the post a proven track record of business development and customer service."

Maledy graduated from Hickman High School in Columbia and is married with three children. She actively participates and holds leadership positions in several area organizations including: Vice President of the Central Missouri Food Bank Board of Directors; Treasurer of the Friends of Rusk Advisory Board for the Rusk Rehabilitation Center; Advisory Board Member of the Easter Seals, Central MO Region; Secretary of the Columbia South Rotary Board of Directors; Loaned Executive Co-chair of the United Way Campaign; Co-chair of the Stephens College Community Campaign; and a member of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.

"This means so much to me given my history in Columbia," Rouse Maledy said. "I'm excited to further my career here with my family, friends and a great organization like Commerce Bank that exhibits such a strong commitment to its customers and communities where the organization serves.

"I am particularly pleased to be working with such a strong team of bankers - where the average tenure is 22 years - and look forward to building on the success and momentum we have developed in recent years," Rouse Maledy added.

Maledy began her career with Commerce as a part-time teller while in school in St. Charles. Her first full-time position was as a Financial Services Representative in Kansas City over 20 years ago. She then moved into the Cash Management Representative position and was promoted to Manager of the Treasury Services group, where she was later named Senior Vice President. Moving back to her hometown in 1997, she assumed the position of Executive Vice President, Commercial Loan Manager.

In her new capacity, Maledy will oversee all commercial and retail business in the region. Maledy will be leading a team that includes Jim Schatz, chairman and senior credit officer; Valerie Shaw, senior vice president and retail manager; Laura Lower, senior vice president of operations; Ron Hopkins, community president, Mexico; Tim Brubaker, community president, Moberly; and Joe Hartman, community president, Moniteau County.

Maledy earned her A.A. degree in design from Stephens College, Columbia, MO, and her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Webster University, Kansas City, MO.

About Commerce Bank
Commerce Bank is the principal subsidiary of Commerce Bancshares Inc (NASDAQ: CBSH), a $12.3 billion regional bank holding company. For more than 135 years, Commerce has been meeting the financial services needs of individuals and businesses. Commerce provides a diversified line of financial services, including business and personal banking, wealth management and estate planning and investments through its affiliated companies. Commerce Bancshares operates across three states with more than 340 location and also has operating subsidiaries involved in mortgage banking, credit related insurance, venture capital and real estate activities.

For more information contact:
Susan Kirkman
Regional Marketing Manager
(417) 837-5333

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

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