<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Commerce Bancshare, Inc. 12/31/96 Form 10-K and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                         833,260
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0<F1>
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               368,690
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                11,265
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  2,670,420<F2>
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      5,472,342<F3>
<ALLOWANCE>                                     98,223
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               9,698,186
<DEPOSITS>                                   8,166,429
<SHORT-TERM>                                   526,807
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             66,559
<LONG-TERM>                                     14,120
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       187,827
<OTHER-SE>                                     736,444
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               9,698,186
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                460,970
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              160,954<F4>
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                25,334
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               647,603
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             259,504
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             281,860
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          365,743
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   24,522
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               3,293
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                317,954
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                182,429
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     119,512
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   119,512
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.11<F5>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.40<F6>
<LOANS-NON>                                     13,945
<LOANS-PAST>                                    24,806
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                98,537
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   31,914
<RECOVERIES>                                     7,078
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               98,223
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            98,223
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
<FN>
<F1>Certificates of deposit of $297,000 are included in Investments-
Held-For-Sale.
<F2>Excludes non-marketable investment securiites of $39,830,000.
<F3>Gross of allowance for loan losses.
<F4>Excludes interest of $345,000 on trading account securities.
<F5>A 5% stock dividend was distributed on December 13, 1996.  Prior
financial data schedules have not been restated.
<F6>Yield is computed on a tax equivalent basis.
</FN>