<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. 3/31/96 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-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                         745,877
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0<F1>
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               515,424
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                11,494
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  2,565,309<F2>
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      5,298,064<F3>
<ALLOWANCE>                                     98,666
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               9,505,651
<DEPOSITS>                                   8,077,174
<SHORT-TERM>                                   448,806
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             81,094
<LONG-TERM>                                     14,455
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       187,827
<OTHER-SE>                                     696,295
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               9,505,651
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                115,516
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               38,588<F4>
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 7,882
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               162,074
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              66,556
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              72,560
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           89,514
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    5,553
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               1,224
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 78,608
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 42,149
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      27,283
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    27,283
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .74
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.33<F5>
<LOANS-NON>                                     16,161
<LOANS-PAST>                                    20,826
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                98,537
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    7,317
<RECOVERIES>                                     1,893
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               98,666
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            98,666
<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 $33,032,000.
<F3>Gross of allowance for loan losses.
<F4>Excludes interest of $88,000 on trading account securities.
<F5>Yield is computed on a tax equivalent basis.
</FN>