ATHON JOINS COMMERCE AS ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT & RESIDENTIAL LENDING SPECIALIST

COLUMBIA, MO - March 28, 2003 - Teresa Rouse Maledy, president and market manager of Commerce Bank, Central Missouri Region, today announced that David Athon has re-joined Commerce as Assistant Vice President and Residential Lending Specialist. Athon has 10 years of banking and lending experience, including serving from 1993-1996 as a retail banker and consumer loan administrator with Commerce Bank. Prior to re-joining the company, he held the position of Loan Officer with a Columbia area savings bank. In his new position, Athon is responsible for business development and customer service related to the bank's full line of mortgage loan products.

A 1999 graduate of Columbia College with a B.S. degree in Business Administration and Finance, Athon is active in civic organizations serving as member, Columbia Area Chamber of Commerce; and member and past treasurer, Columbia Jaycees.

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:
Teresa Rouse Maledy
President
Commerce Bank, Central Missouri Region
573-886-5200

Susan Kirkman
Regional Marketing Manager
417-837-5333

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

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