COMMERCE BANK TREASURY SERVICES SPECIALIST TO ADDRESS MID-AMERICA PAYMENT EXCHANGE

KANSAS CITY, MO - April 29, 2003 - Commerce Bank today announced that Janet Smith, vice president of Treasury Services, is addressing The National Automated Clearing House Association's 2003 Payments Conference in Orlando, Florida, as an invited speaker. Smith will give a presentation, in conjunction with Ann-Marie Bartels, president & CEO of the Mid-America Payment Exchange, entitled "Managing the Migration to Next Generation Automated Clearing House (ACH)."

The presentation addresses the significant implications of Next Generation ACH that reach far beyond the ACH operations areas of financial institutions, thus impacting systems, risk management and customer service. ACH volume across the United States is projected to double by 2006 as the line between checks and ACH transactions begin to blur, creating new opportunities and challenges for ACH Network participants. Smith will outline a case study that will provide financial institutions with an understanding of the issues that must be addressed to take advantage of these changes while ensuring good customer service and efficient backroom operations.

Smith is a Vice President in Commerce Bank's Treasury Services division. With extensive experience in the electronic payment industry, Smith's career in the payment industry spans more than a decade. During her tenure in the banking industry, Smith has directed ACH Product Development for a leading national bank and served as National Sales Manager for another national bank's ACH/EDI Services Division. As a member of NACHA's Electronic Check Council, Smith actively participated in the development of rules allowing for the conversion of paper checks to ACH transactions.

Smith is a graduate of Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois, and obtained her Certified Cash Manager designation in 1993 from the Association for Financial Professionals.

Mid-America Payment Exchange is a not-for-profit regional association responsible for providing payment systems information, support and leadership regarding the Automated Clearing House (ACH) Network, financial electronic data interchange, Internet commerce and emerging electronic payment applications. Founded by the financial community in 1974, today MPX serves over 2,000 financial institution and corporate members throughout Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Southern Illinois, Southwestern Iowa and Western Kentucky.

About Commerce Bank
Commerce Bank is the principal subsidiary of Commerce Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ: CBSH), a $13.4 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 330 locations and also has operating subsidiaries involved in mortgage banking, credit related insurance, venture capital and real estate activities.

For more information contact:
Eliza Hamlet
Public Relations Representative
800-892-7100

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

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