COMMERCE BANK PROMOTES DOUG NEFF TO MANAGER, COMMERCIAL BANKING DIVISION

WICHITA, KS - October 23, 2003 - John Clevenger, president, Commerce Bank, Wichita Region, announced today that Doug Neff has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Manager of the Commercial Banking Division. In his new position, he is responsible for managing the Commercial Banking and Treasury Services departments of the bank.

Neff joined Commerce Bank in 1991 as a management trainee before becoming an Assistant Vice President in the Correspondent Banking Division where he called on banks in Kansas and Nebraska. Neff was then named a relationship manager in the Bank's U.S. Banking Group in Kansas City, focusing on agribusiness companies in Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Arkansas. He most recently served as Vice President in Commerce Bancshares' Regional Group where he had credit and administrative management responsibilities for the Commerce Banks in Garden City, Hays, Manhattan and southeast Kansas area.

"It's great to have Doug join our team of Wichita Commerce Bankers," said John Clevenger, Commerce Bank president. "Doug's solid banking background and experience in working with Kansas businesses of all type will allow us to serve our clients and community well."

Neff received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from the University of Missouri, Columbia. He also holds a Masters of Banking degree from Prochnow Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin.

About Commerce Bancshares, Inc.
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:
Dana Haynes
Regional Marketing Specialist
316-262-4703

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

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