RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY MARKS OFFICIAL OPENING OF COMMERCE BANK DRIVE-UP ATM

NIXA, MO - September 18, 2002 - Officials from Commerce Bank and the Nixa Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony at noon today, marking the opening of Commerce Bank's new Nixa drive-up automated teller machine (ATM) located at the northwest corner of Highway 160 & 14. The ATM, located in the parking lot of Kentucky Fried Chicken, began operation on September 12^th and offers 24-hour banking convenience to Commerce Bank customers and non-customers through the STAR^sm and Cirrus^® networks. This new ATM is Commerce Bank's 30^th in the Greater Springfield area.

"We are excited that our new drive-up ATM is now open for business," stated Stoney Roberts, community president of Commerce Bank, Nixa. "We know customers choose their bank based on many factors, with convenience being one of the most important considerations. This new ATM, located at Nixa's highest-traffic intersection, offers convenient banking to our customers who are either residents or commuters in the area."

In addition to the network of 30 ATMs, Commerce Bank operates 14 full-service banking centers including two branches in Christian County - the Nixa Banking Center, located at Hwy. 160 & CC, and the Ozark Banking Center, located at Hwy. 65 & 14.

About Commerce Bank, N.A.
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:
Stoney Roberts, Community President, Commerce Bank, Nixa
417-725-5566, or
Cozetta Jones, Marketing Representative
417-837-5334

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

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