<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. 6/30/97 Form 10-Q and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                         853,623
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0<F1>
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                64,435
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                12,142
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  2,682,951<F2>
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      5,811,167<F3>
<ALLOWANCE>                                    103,730
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               9,793,986
<DEPOSITS>                                   8,358,882
<SHORT-TERM>                                   435,515
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             58,565
<LONG-TERM>                                     10,301
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       187,827
<OTHER-SE>                                     742,896
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               9,793,986
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                240,643
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               82,316<F4>
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 8,012
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               331,151
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             128,670
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             139,420
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          191,731
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   14,831
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 322
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                166,007
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 94,841
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      61,732
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    61,732
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.64
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.57<F5>
<LOANS-NON>                                     15,004
<LOANS-PAST>                                    26,743
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                98,223
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   16,930
<RECOVERIES>                                     4,285
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              103,730
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           103,730
<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 securities of $41,682,000.
<F3>Gross of allowance for loan losses.
<F4>Excludes interest of $180,000 on trading account securities.
<F5>Yield is computed on a tax equivalent basis.
</FN>