COMMERCE BANK NAMES LAMPKINS AS RETAIL BANKING OFFICER

Columbia, MO – January 5, 2009 - Teresa Maledy, president, Commerce Bank, Central Missouri Region, recently announced that Melissa Lampkins has been promoted to Retail Banking Officer. In her position, she is responsible for overseeing region-wide deposit operations, supervising branch operation teams and coordinating the region’s operation audit programs.

Lampkins is a graduate of Columbia College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and has 10 years of banking experience with Commerce. Active in the community, Lampkins volunteers for several not-for-profit organizations, including United Way, American Red Cross and The Salvation Army.

About Commerce Bank

Commerce Bank, N.A. is a subsidiary of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBSH), a $17.5 billion regional bank holding company. For more than 140 years, Commerce Bank has been meeting the financial services needs of individuals and businesses. Commerce Bank provides a diversified line of financial services, including business and personal banking, wealth management and estate planning and investments through its subsidiary and affiliated companies. Commerce Bank currently operates in approximately 350 locations in Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Oklahoma and Colorado. Commerce Bancshares also has operating subsidiaries involved in mortgage banking, leasing, credit-related insurance, venture capital and real estate activities.

For additional information contact:

Email: mymoney@commercebank.com†