CHAIRMAN OF COMMERCE BANK, BARRY COUNTY, ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

Business and civic leader, William A. (Bill) Easley, to retire from Commerce Bank on August 30^th after 33 years of distinguished service to bank and to community

CASSVILLE, MO - July 19, 2002- Commerce Bank, Barry County, Chairman, William A. (Bill) Easley will retire from Commerce Bank effective August 30, 2002. A dedicated business and civic leader and 2001 recipient of the Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award, Easley's contributions to the bank, its customers, its employees and the community have been far reaching in his 33 years of service at Commerce.

Upon retirement, Easley will serve as a director on the local Commerce Bank board. Jon L. Horner will manage the bank's Barry County operations and serve as Chairman of its local Advisory Board of Directors. The transition in leadership at Commerce began in 1999 with the promotion of Horner to Community President, Commerce Bank, Barry County.

David W. Kemper, Chairman and CEO, Commerce Bancshares, Inc., commented on Easley's 33 year career, "Bill Easley's contributions during his career with Commerce have strengthened our banking franchise in southern Missouri." Kemper continued, "He represents the core values that drive the success of our company including integrity and customer focus with his proven ability to develop value-added relationships with customers and the community. We salute his numerous contributions, commitment and achievements and look forward to his continued input on our Barry County Community Board."

A Cassville native, Easley grew up on a farm in Barry County and graduated from Cassville High School in 1954. He furthered his education earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo., in 1958. He went on to serve his country in the United States Army from 1958-1961.

Easley's impressive career in banking and finance took root in Kansas City, Mo., where he was employed by Household Finance Company from 1961-65. He worked for First National Bank, Leavenworth, Kansas, from 1965-1968, before returning to his hometown where he joined Barry County Bank in January 1969 as Vice President. Barry County Bank became Commerce Bank in 1975 and Easley continued to serve in management and leadership positions including President, from 1980 to 1999, and Chairman from 1999 until present.

Actively involved in professional and civic organizations, Easley's commitment to the community is evident through his tenure and leadership in organizations including: board member and past board chairman, Cassville Industrial Development Corporation, 1979 -2001; board member and past board chairman, South Barry County Hospital, 1984 - 2000; board member, Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce, 1975 - 1983; budget committee, First Baptist Church, 1982 - present; member, Alumni Athletic Board, University of Missouri, 1998 - present; and St. John's Health Systems Regional Board, 2001 - present.

Easley and his wife, Doris, have two grown children and two grandchildren. Their son, Kevin Easley, resides in Ozark, Mo., with his wife Melissa and daughter Jaden; and Easley's daughter, Janna Anthonysz, resides in Cassville with her husband Noel and son Jessie.

Commerce Bank will host an open house and reception honoring Bill Easley in the bank's main lobby in downtown Cassville from 9:30 a.m. - 12 noon on Thursday, August 29th. Members of the community are invited to attend.

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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