<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. 6/30/00 Form 10-Q and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000
<CASH>                                         641,550
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0<F1>
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               271,958
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                 6,567
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  2,074,557<F2>
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      7,841,876<F3>
<ALLOWANCE>                                    127,024
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              11,228,963
<DEPOSITS>                                   9,057,216
<SHORT-TERM>                                   915,920
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             85,128
<LONG-TERM>                                     75,164
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       312,140
<OTHER-SE>                                     783,395
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              11,228,963
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                321,373
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               70,792<F4>
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 6,788
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               399,302
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             134,456
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             159,099
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          240,203
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   18,876
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 505
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                210,558
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                131,556
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      86,858
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    86,858
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.41
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.40
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.72<F5>
<LOANS-NON>                                     15,544
<LOANS-PAST>                                    18,250
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               123,042
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   20,244
<RECOVERIES>                                     5,350
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              127,024
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           127,024
<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 $63,989,000.
<F3>Gross of allowance for loan losses.
<F4>Excludes interest of $349,000 on trading account securities.
<F5>Yield is computed on a tax equivalent basis.
</FN>