COMMERCE BANK LOWERS PRIME RATE TO 4.25 PERCENT

KANSAS CITY, MO - November 7, 2002 - Commerce Bank announced today that its bank prime lending rate will be lowered from 4.75 percent to 4.25 percent effective today, Thursday, November 7, 2002.

About Commerce Bank, N.A.
Commerce Bank is the principal subsidiary of Commerce Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ: CBSH), a $13.2 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 340 locations and also has operating subsidiaries involved in mortgage banking, credit related insurance, venture capital and real estate activities.

For more information contact:

Eliza Hamlet
Public Relations Representative
800-892-7100 ext. 1930

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

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