LETSCH JOINS COMMERCE AS VICE PRESIDENT AND PRIVATE BANKING MANAGER

SPRINGFIELD, MO - September 13, 2002 - Robin E. Robeson, senior vice president and market executive, The Commerce Trust Company, today announced that Andrea Letsch has joined Commerce as Vice President and Private Banking Manager. Letsch has 12 years of experience in business and, prior to joining Commerce, was a Private Banker for a national bank's trust division in Springfield.

In her position, she is responsible for managing business development and customer service for Commerce's Private Banking Group in the Springfield Region. A 1990 graduate of the University of Kansas, Lawrence, with a B.A. degree in Economics, Letsch received her MBA in May 2002 from Southwest Missouri State University.

Active in charitable and civic organizations, she is a 2002 Business and Industry Section Chair, United Way Campaign; member, Springfield Symphony Guild; chair, Public Relations Committee, and member, Finance Council, The Junior League of Springfield.

About The Commerce Trust Company
The Commerce Trust Company, a division of Commerce Bank, N.A., is responsible for more than $16 billion in assets, including nearly $10 billion of assets under active management. The Commerce Trust Company offers a complete range of fully integrated private client services, including financial advisory, investment management, brokerage, trust, lending and banking services. It also provides institutional trust and investment services to corporations, foundations, endowments, employee benefit plan sponsors, public funds and Taft-Hartley plans, as well as corporate debt administration services.

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

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

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