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

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                         532,293
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0<F1>
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               195,250
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                23,209
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  1,959,173<F2>
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      7,889,963<F3>
<ALLOWANCE>                                    128,455
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,963,581
<DEPOSITS>                                   8,776,174
<SHORT-TERM>                                   867,758
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            124,501
<LONG-TERM>                                     74,926
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       312,140
<OTHER-SE>                                     808,082
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              10,963,581
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                491,760
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              102,775<F4>
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                10,986
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               606,073
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             206,229
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             245,186
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          360,887
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   27,092
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 810
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                320,623
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                198,141
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     132,351
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   132,351
<EPS-BASIC>                                       2.16
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.14
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.73<F5>
<LOANS-NON>                                     14,640
<LOANS-PAST>                                    30,883
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               123,042
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   30,285
<RECOVERIES>                                     8,606
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              128,455
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           128,455
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
<FN>
<F1>Certificates of deposit of $100,000 are included in Investments-
Held-For-Sale.
<F2>Excludes non-marketable securities of $55,068,000.
<F3>Gross of allowance for loan losses.
<F4>Excludes interest of $552,000 on trading account securities.
<F5>Yield is computed on a tax equivalent basis.
</FN>