COMMERCE BANK ANNOUNCES OFFICER PROMOTIONS

SPRINGFIELD, MO - July 22, 2002 - John Himmel, chairman of Commerce Bank, Springfield Region, announces the following officer promotions:

Jo Hicks has been promoted to Senior Vice President in the bank's Commercial Lending division. Hicks, who serves on the bank's internal loan committee, has 33 years of experience in banking and specializes in lending and relationship management for commercial and small business customers, including SBA loans. Prior to re-locating to Springfield and joining Commerce Bank in 1993, she served 24 years with Wells Fargo Bank in California. Active in local civic organizations, she serves on the board and loan committee for Springfield Finance and Development Corporation and the loan committee for Rural Missouri, Inc.

Sharyl Boyce has been promoted to Assistant Vice President, Commerce Brokerage Services, Inc., a division of Commerce Bank. Boyce has 17 years of experience in finance and business and specializes in providing clients with comprehensive investment information from college planning to retirement planning. A licensed Series 7 and 63 General Securities Representative, she is registered with the OCC, SEC and NASD. Her background includes employment with the Missouri Attorney General's Office.

Karen Wagner has been promoted to Regional Training Officer in the Organizational Development division of the bank. Wagner has 19 years of experience in banking and specializes in implementing business education and leadership development programs and initiatives for Commerce Banks in Outstate Missouri and Outstate Kansas. Prior to re-locating to Springfield and joining Commerce in 1998, she served for 15 years with financial institutions in Illinois. Wagner is a member and past Vice President of Communications for the Southwest Missouri Chapter of the American Society of Training and Development.

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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