<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. 3/31/00 Form 10-Q and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<CASH>                                         568,358
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0<F1>
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               221,206
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                12,456
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  2,268,918<F2>
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      7,777,279<F3>
<ALLOWANCE>                                    124,803
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              11,206,720
<DEPOSITS>                                   9,113,279
<SHORT-TERM>                                   892,516
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             86,875
<LONG-TERM>                                     25,372
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       312,140
<OTHER-SE>                                     776,538
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              11,206,720
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                156,718
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               36,816<F4>
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 3,110
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               196,830
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              65,938
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              77,637
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          119,193
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    8,665
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 (1)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                104,960
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 62,364
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      41,255
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    41,255
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .66
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .66
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.68<F5>
<LOANS-NON>                                     17,573
<LOANS-PAST>                                    17,396
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               123,042
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    9,752
<RECOVERIES>                                     2,848
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              124,803
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           124,803
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
<FN>
<F1>Certificates of deposit of $200,000 are included in Investments-
Held-For-Sale.
<F2>Excludes non-marketable securities of $39,194,000.
<F3>Gross of allowance for loan losses.
<F4>Excludes interest of $186,000 on trading account securities.
<F5>Yield is computed on a tax equivalent basis.
</FN>