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ST. LOUIS, MO - May 5, 2004 - Bringing broad experience to the organization, John M. Blakeney, has joined Commerce Bank as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer. He is responsible for managing the Information Services and Technologies Division of the company, which includes application technologies, telecommunications and computer services.
"We are fortunate to have found someone with John's experience and insight," said Jonathan M. Kemper, Vice Chairman, Commerce Bancshares, Inc. "As we continue to strive to provide appropriate financial solutions for our customers' ever-changing needs, our IT area is of great importance. We're excited that John can help us with the development of strategies to enhance the company's platform to service Commerce and its customers' present and future technology requirements."
Blakeney most recently served as Chief Information Officer of INFOnxx, based in Omaha, Neb., that operates 12 call centers in the United States, England and the Philippines. He has prior IT experience with financial institutions including Summit Service Corporation in Princeton, N. J., First Data Resources in Omaha, Neb., and Bisys Information Services Group in Houston, TX, a service bureau that provides data processing to financial institutions throughout the United States. Blakeney earned his master's of business administration degree from Wharton Graduate School, University of Pennsylvania. He has a bachelor's of science degree in management science from Kean University of New Jersey.
Blakeney is replacing C. Thomas "Tom" Cook who has served as Chief Information Officer of the company since 1999. Prior to joining Commerce, Cook was the Executive Vice President and Network and Computer Services Division Manager for Banc One Services in Columbus, Ohio.
"We are really going to miss Tom and wish him all the best in his retirement," said Bob Rauscher, Senior Vice President and Director, Operations and Information Technology, Commerce Bancshares, Inc. "Tom and his team have really delivered IT solutions that have had a major impact on the service quality and efficiency that Commerce delivers to its customers," Rauscher added. "And, we are very pleased that John has chosen to join our organization and look forward to him continuing the outstanding successes that Tom has brought to the IT area of Commerce."
About Commerce Bank
Commerce Bank is the principal subsidiary of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBSH), a $14.5 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 currently operates in approximately 330 locations in Missouri, Illinois and Kansas. Commerce also has operating subsidiaries involved in mortgage banking, credit related insurance, venture capital and real estate activities.
For more information contact:
Nancy E. Levin, APR
Director, Regional Marketing
816-234-2632
Website: www.commercebank.com
e-mail: mymoney@commercebank.com
SYMBOL: CBSH
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