WHITE JOINS COMMERCE BANK AS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, COMMERCIAL LENDER

JOPLIN, MO - December 11, 2002 - Fred Osborn, chairman, Commerce Bank, MO-KAN Region, today announced that Michael R. White, has joined Commerce Bank in Joplin as Senior Vice President and Commercial Lender. An experienced banking professional, White's background includes key management and officer positions with national, regional, and community banks in Missouri and Kansas. Prior to joining Commerce, he served eight years as Senior Banking Executive and Credit Products Officer for the Carthage area division of a national banking company.

White earned two degrees, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Masters in Business Administration, from Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas. Active in civic and not-for-profit organizations, he is board member and treasurer, Salvation Army of Carthage; past president, board member, and treasurer, Fair Acres Family YMCA; past board member and treasurer, CASA for Kids; and graduate, Leadership Carthage, Carthage Area Chamber of Commerce.

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:
Susan Kirkman
Regional Marketing Manager
417 837-5333

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

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