HEARTLAND REGIONAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION RECEIVES A $250,000 GRANT FOR THE EMPOWER PLANT CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

St. Joseph, MO - January 27, 2003 - Heartland Regional Community Foundation announced a $250,000 grant from the William T. Kemper Foundation, Commerce Bank, Trustee and Commerce Bank. The grant will support the emPower Plant, an experiential learning program for young people with a focus on reversing the trend of economic and population decline in the "Midwestern Four Corners" - northwest Missouri, northeast Kansas, southwest Iowa and southeast Nebraska.

"We are proud that we could make this contribution to the emPower Plant," said Emil Sechter, Community Bank President. "The William T. Kemper Foundation and Commerce Bank are pleased to help fund a program that will provide learning opportunities that will benefit the entire region." The $250,000 gift supports a $10 million campaign, which includes the emPower Plant, by the Heartland Regional Community Foundation.

"The Foundation is thrilled to receive this gift for the emPower Plant," said Judy Sabbert-Muck, Chief Operating Officer, Heartland Regional Community foundation. "This is such an important initiative for this region and we are pleased that the William T. Kemper Foundation, Commerce Bank, Trustee is committed to the success of this program."

Heartland Regional Community Foundation along with The Learning Exchange, a national educational consulting firm, met with citizens from northwest Missouri and identified the need for an experiential learning center. The emPower Plant's mission is to help create an environment for students to become valued and active members of their communities, while developing skills and attitudes for a more qualified workforce. Each year, the emPower Plant will serve up to 15,000 young people from the ages of 12-15. Students will learn to build on the assets of their community in a setting that is different from a traditional classroom.

The William T. Kemper Foundation, Commerce Bank Trustee, was established in 1989 following Mr. Kemper's death. The foundation is dedicated to continuing Mr. Kemper's lifelong interest in improving the human condition and quality of life. The Foundation supports Midwest communities and concentrates on initiatives in education, health and human services, civic improvement and the arts.

About Commerce Bank
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:
Rebecca Freetly-Graber
Marketing Officer
816.234.2308

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

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