Commerce Bank Announces Officer Promotions and Elections

KANSAS CITY, MO - August,21 2003 - The Board of Directors of Commerce Bank, Kansas City, announced the following officer promotions and elections.

Joseph E.(Ted)Combs Combs has been elected Assistant Vice President in Information Technology -Information Security. He is responsible for managing information security for the entire Commerce franchise. Combs has been handling information security for 16 years, the past two with Commerce. He is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA). Combs earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Southwest Texas State University and a M.B.A. from Baker University, Baldwin City, KS. He is currently studying for a Master of Science degree in Network Security from Capitol College, Washington, D.C.

Van A. Dunlap has been promoted to Assistant Vice President, Information Technology - Delivery Management, where he serves as Manager of Database Administration. The Database Administration team designs, builds and maintains all database platforms for the Bank. He has 13 years experience in Information Technology. Dunlap has a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Wichita State University, Wichita, KS.

Matthew S. Pflugradt has been promoted to Assistant Vice President in Information Technology - Computer Operations. In this capacity, he serves as manager of the Commerce Data Center Operations staff. Pflugradt has 17 years experience in Information Technology, the past two with Commerce Bank.

James D. Smith has been promoted to Assistant Vice President, Information Technology where he serves as the unit manager supporting the Human Resources, Finance, Retail Lending and Payment Systems, Time Deposits and Compliance areas and systems. Smith has 24 years of Information Technology experience with a number of area companies. He is a graduate of Drake University, Des Moines, IA with a B.S.B.A. degree in Actuarial Science and of the University of Missouri, Kansas City with a M.B.A. in Finance.

Sarah Clark has been elected an Officer in the Retail Lending and Payment Systems (RLPS) department. As an RLPS manager, her responsibilities include the management of the Branch Hotline where questions are answered about a variety of loan products. Clark has been with Commerce for six years. She received an Associate of Arts degree from Indian Hills Community College, Ottumwa, IA.

David Knott has been elected an Officer in the Retail Lending and Payment Systems (RLPS) department where he is responsible for the development and implementation of pre-paid debit card products for the Bank's commercial clients. A Commerce Banker for eight years, he has served on the Bank's Habitat for Humanity committee as a volunteer coordinator. Knott has a B.S.B.A. in Finance from Creighton University, Omaha, NE.

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 additional information, please visit www.commercebank.com or email mymoney@commercebank.com

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