THE COMMERCE TRUST COMPANY ANNOUNCES THE OPENING OF NEW LAWRENCE LOCATION

(Lawrence, KS - March 7, 2003) - The Commerce Trust Company, a division of Commerce Bank, announces the opening of a full service trust office in the Commerce Bank building at 1500 Wakarusa. The new office will provide trust and asset management services to individuals, families, endowments and foundations.

Jon M. King has been elected Vice President and is responsible for managing the delivery of The Commerce Trust Company's full line of investment management and trust services for individual and institutional clients in the Lawrence market. King has 10 years of experience in the personal trust and investment management areas in Lawrence.

King graduated from Fort Hays State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management and has a Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas Law School. Active in professional, civic and community organizations, he is a President of the Douglas County Estate Planning Council, a member of the Kansas and Douglas County Bar Associations, Chair of Leadership Lawrence Board, Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of the Lawrence Schools Foundation, and Treasurer of Brookcreek Learning Center.

"Jon's considerable background in the investment management business makes him a strong advocate for trust clients in Lawrence," said Kent Hatesohl, Senior Vice President, The Commerce Trust Company. "He is a local decision maker whose clients will benefit greatly from his ability to create one-of-a-kind financial solutions."

Joining King is Erika Kroetch, Senior Client Associate. Kroetch will oversee client service and personal account administration. Kroetch has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in French from St. Olaf College and a Juris Doctor from William and Mary Law School. She is active in community organizations including Health Care Access Benefit and American Association of University Women.

"Having a full-service trust office as part of our bank is another way that Commerce Bank strives to deliver superior financial solutions for our clients," said Mark Gonzales, Community Bank President. "We welcome Jon King and Erika Kroetch to the Commerce Bank team. They bring experience and expertise that will help us provide exceptional service."

About The Commerce Trust Company
The Commerce Trust Company, a division of Commerce Bank, N.A., is responsible for more than $16 billion in assets, including nearly $10 billion of assets under active management. The Commerce Trust Company offers a complete range of fully integrated private client services, including financial advisory, investment management, brokerage, trust, and lending and banking services. It also provides institutional trust and investment services to corporations, foundations, endowments, employee benefit plan sponsors, public funds and Taft-Hartley plans, as well as corporate debt administration services.

About Commerce Bank
Commerce Bank is the principal subsidiary of Commerce Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ: CBSH), a $13.3 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, Commerce Bank
816.234.2308

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

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