Our history

Commerce Bank started in 1865 just as communities were rebuilding after the Civil War. The nation needed to be rebuilt, and Francis Reid Long arrived in Kansas City with $10,000 in capital. He started a bank and was soon funding companies like Long-Bell Lumber, which provided lumber to communities, businesses and the railroads that would connect them to the nation.

NEXT: Dr. Woods

The culture of safe lending and compassionate service continued under the leadership of W.T. Kemper. By the time of the 1929 stock market crash, Commerce experienced losses but, thanks to its prudence, did not take as big of a hit as other banks. When President Roosevelt called for banks to temporarily close, and customers lined up to withdraw their money, W.T. Kemper responded by personally handing out apples. This inspired so much trust in Commerce’s character that some customers stepped out of line. They were validated when Commerce was one of the first banks to reopen after the “bank holiday.”

NEXT: After World War II

From the 1960s to the 2000s, Commerce grew alongside the American economy, expanding throughout Missouri, Kansas and Illinois. The bank later added Colorado and Oklahoma to its footprint, with additional commercial offices throughout the Midwest and commercial payments services available in 48 states. With each local bank it acquired, Commerce stayed true to its roots by investing in its new communities while remaining diligent about safe business decisions. This emboldened the super-community banking model that Commerce still practices today.

NEXT: During the 2008 Recession