<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. 12/31/97 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-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                         978,239
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0<F1>
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               132,980
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                 6,477
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  2,614,040<F2>
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      6,224,381<F3>
<ALLOWANCE>                                    105,918
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,306,941
<DEPOSITS>                                   8,700,578
<SHORT-TERM>                                   512,663
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            105,814
<LONG-TERM>                                      7,102
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       194,286
<OTHER-SE>                                     786,498
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              10,306,941
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                505,604
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              163,181<F4>
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                13,647
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               682,876
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             262,107
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             285,102
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          397,774
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   31,354
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               3,253
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                344,450
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                202,062
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     132,702
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   132,702
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.40<F5>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.36
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.61<F6>
<LOANS-NON>                                     23,382
<LOANS-PAST>                                    24,383
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                98,223
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   38,183
<RECOVERIES>                                    10,249
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              105,918
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           105,918
<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 $44,414,000.
<F3>Gross of allowance for loan losses.
<F4>Excludes interest of $444,000 on trading account securities.
<F5>A 5% stock dividend was distributed on December 12, 1997.  Prior
financial data schedules have not been restated.
<F6>Yield is computed on a tax equivalent basis.
</FN>