<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. 9/30/95 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-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1995
<CASH>                                         568,591
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0<F1>
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               194,425
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                 7,584
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  2,528,148<F2>
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      5,465,995<F3>
<ALLOWANCE>                                     98,295
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               9,155,289
<DEPOSITS>                                   7,685,408
<SHORT-TERM>                                   501,659
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             64,459
<LONG-TERM>                                     15,663
<COMMON>                                       183,222
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                     704,878
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               9,155,289
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                337,723
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              121,734<F4>
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 6,711
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               466,331
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             182,775
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             201,655
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          264,676
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    8,690
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 670
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                227,199
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                125,468
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      79,392
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    79,392
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.21
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.53<F5>
<LOANS-NON>                                     12,494
<LOANS-PAST>                                    17,460
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                87,179
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   15,826
<RECOVERIES>                                     5,320
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               98,295
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            98,295
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
<FN>
<F1>Certificates of deposit of $348,000 are included in Investments-Held-
For-Sale.
<F2>Excludes non-marketable investment securities of $26,863,000.
<F3>Gross of allowance for loan losses.
<F4>Excludes interest of $163,000 on trading account securities.
<F5>Yield is computed on a tax equivalent basis.
</FN>