TUMLIN JOINS COMMERCE BANK AS ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT, SMALL BUSINESS BANKING

(SPRINGFIELD, MO, October 23, 2001) - Robert A. Hammerschmidt, Jr., President and CEO, Commerce Bank, Springfield Region, announced that Scott Tumlin has joined Commerce as Assistant Vice President, Small Business Banking Division. Tumlin is responsible for business development and service related to the bank's newly expanded small business product line which includes solutions for small buisness including QuickLoan®, QuckLine®, business debit cards, internet banking and more.

Mr. Tumlin has 11 years of banking experience and is a 1994 graduate of Southwest Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. He is located at the Battlefield Banking Center, 1345 E. Battlefield.

Commerce Bank is an affiliate of Commerce Bancshares, Inc., a registered bank holding company with $12.3 billion in assets and 341 locations in Missouri, Kansas and Illinois. The Company operates 25 banking centers in Southwest Missouri.

For more information contact:
Susan Kirkman
Regional Marketing Manager
417 837-5334

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

SYMBOL: CBSH

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