BRIAN T. HABJAN ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT, COMMERCE BANK

LEAVENWORTH, KS - August 21, 2002 -- Commerce Bank announced the election of Brian T. Habjan as Vice President of Commercial Banking. As Vice President, Habjan is responsible for commercial lending and providing financial solutions for Leavenworth area businesses.

Habjan graduated from Northern Oklahoma A&M with an Associate of Arts Degree and is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science - Business Option. Habjan's hobby is raising cattle, and he spends many volunteer hours participating in 4-H functions. He has served as President of the Douglas County Fair Auction and is active in the Leavenworth/Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce.

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:
Rebecca Freetly-Graber
Marketing Officer
Regional Marketing Rep.
(816) 234-2308

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

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