COMMERCE BANK PROMOTES LOWER, MORGRET, SHAW TO SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

COLUMBIA, MO, July 8, 2002 - Teresa Rouse Maledy, president and market manager of Commerce Bank, Mid-Missouri Region, today announced the following officer promotions:

Laura Lower has been promoted to Senior Vice President in the Retail Operations division of the bank. Lower joined Commerce in 1980 and is responsible for overseeing the management of key aspects of the daily operations of the bank's branch and ATM network in Mid-Missouri including security, property services and more. Active in civic and charitable initiatives, Lower is a trustee for Missouri Symphony Society and a member of the United Way Agency Relations Committee.

Curt Morgret has been promoted to Senior Vice President in the Commercial Lending division of the bank. Morgret has more than 17 years of experience in banking and is responsible for business development and customer service related to the bank's commercial lending and business banking products and services. A 1984 graduate of the University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, with a B.S. degree in Finance, Morgret is a member of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce; board member, Downtown Optimist Club; board member, Trout Unlimited; and secretary of the board, Columbia Lutheran Association of Schools.

Valerie Shaw has been promoted to Senior Vice President in the Retail Sales division of the bank. Shaw has 22 years of experience with Commerce and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of sales management related to the bank's personal banking products and services including consumer loans, checking and savings accounts, on-line banking, credit and debit cards for the bank's 11 branches in the Mid-Missouri Region. A 2000 graduate of Stephens College, Columbia, MO, with a B.S. degree in Business, she is active in civic and not-for-profit organizations including member, Columbia Kiwanis; treasurer and executive board member, Columbia Branch of NAACP; assistant treasurer, Missouri State Conference, NAACP; member, Columbia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; founding partner, The Ebony Sense Investment Club, LLC; member, MU School of Social Work PAC; past member, Douglas Coalition; and member, Amos Johnson Order of the Eastern Star. Shaw is currently pursuing an MBA through William Woods University, Columbia Program, Columbia, 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 330 locations 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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