<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. 9/30/96 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-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                         700,632
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0<F1>
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               343,090
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                 5,255
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  2,621,282<F2>
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      5,390,915<F3>
<ALLOWANCE>                                     98,366
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               9,414,109
<DEPOSITS>                                   8,039,862
<SHORT-TERM>                                   414,855
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             56,223
<LONG-TERM>                                     14,233
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       187,827
<OTHER-SE>                                     701,109
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               9,414,109
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                344,500
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              119,027<F4>
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                19,192
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               482,927
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             195,331
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             211,969
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          270,958
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   17,063
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               2,004
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                237,650
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                132,150
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      87,056
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    87,056
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.38
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.37<F5>
<LOANS-NON>                                     11,829
<LOANS-PAST>                                    21,604
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                98,537
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   22,629
<RECOVERIES>                                     5,395
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               98,366
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            98,366
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
<FN>
<F1>Certificates of deposit of $347,000 are included in Investments-
Held-For-Sale.
<F2>Excludes non-marketable investment securities of $39,383,000.
<F3>Gross of allowance for loan losses.
<F4>Excludes interest of $208,000 on trading account securities.
<F5>Yield is computed on a tax equivalent basis.
</FN>