COMMERCE BANK RECOGNIZED FOR COMMERCE TRUST BUILDING RESTORATION AND RENOVATION PROJECT

Building Magazine commends the bank for efforts in preserving and modernizing the built history in Kansas City

Kansas City, MO - July 7, 2003 - Building Magazine, a prestigious national trade publication, presented its 2003 Modernization Award to Commerce Bank, recognizing the successful completion of its two-year effort to renovate and restore the landmark Commerce Trust Building in downtown Kansas City.

"We were very pleased to see this major project completed on time and on budget - now, for it to be recognized by a national professional publication is especially gratifying," said Mr. Jonathan Kemper, chairman, Commerce Bank, Kansas City. Our over-riding goal was to insure that the Commerce Trust Building continued to be a modern building for our customers, visitors and employees. Building Magazine's Modernization Award demonstrates that we have achieved that objective."

Opened in 1908, the Commerce Trust Building has helped to anchor Commerce Bank's presence in downtown Kansas City for nearly 100 years.

The National Registry of Historic Sites lists the Commerce Trust Building based on its architectural and historical significance in the life and growth of Kansas City.

The Trust Building represented the first Kansas City design by Jarvis Hunt, who later developed the architectural plans for both the Kansas City Star Building at 18th and Grand (1909) and Kansas City's Union Station at Main and Pershing (1910). The George A. Fuller Company undertook the construction of the building and was completed in 1908.

Overseeing the renovation of the building were local design firm Gastinger, Walker and Harden and local general contractor J.E. Dunn Construction.

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:
Nancy E. Levin, APR
Director, Regional Marketing
816-234-2632

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

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