<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. 9/30/97 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-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                         802,314
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0<F1>
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               135,120
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                 9,241
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  2,624,341<F2>
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      6,089,468<F3>
<ALLOWANCE>                                    105,485
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,014,247
<DEPOSITS>                                   8,448,049
<SHORT-TERM>                                   477,688
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            104,633
<LONG-TERM>                                     10,200
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       187,827
<OTHER-SE>                                     785,850
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              10,014,247
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                370,376
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              123,735<F4>
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                10,410
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               504,837
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             195,110
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             212,048
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          292,789
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   22,638
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               2,708
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                253,651
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                147,135
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      95,954
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    95,954
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.55
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.58<F5>
<LOANS-NON>                                     13,260
<LOANS-PAST>                                    33,261
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                98,223
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   26,031
<RECOVERIES>                                     6,380
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              105,485
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           105,485
<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 $41,463,000.
<F3>Gross of allowance for loan losses.
<F4>Excludes interest of $316,000 on trading account securities.
<F5>Yield is computed on a tax equivalent basis.
</FN>