<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. 3/31/98 Form 10-Q and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                         740,392
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0<F1>
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               179,696
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                11,147
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  2,610,903<F2>
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      6,424,884<F3>
<ALLOWANCE>                                    108,569
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,367,118
<DEPOSITS>                                   8,699,665
<SHORT-TERM>                                   505,071
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            129,790
<LONG-TERM>                                      6,996
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       293,229
<OTHER-SE>                                     732,367
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              10,367,118
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                134,320
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               39,060<F4>
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 4,045
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               177,553
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              66,908
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              73,479
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          104,074
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   10,716
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               1,421
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 90,421
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 52,896
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      34,483
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    34,483
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .59
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .58
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.66<F5>
<LOANS-NON>                                     17,106
<LOANS-PAST>                                    21,032
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               105,918
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   10,991
<RECOVERIES>                                     1,962
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              108,569
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           108,569
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
<FN>
<F1>Certificates of deposit of $497,000 are included in Investments-
Held-For-Sale.
<F2>Excludes non-marketable investment securities of $28,869,000.
<F3>Gross of allowance for loan losses.
<F4>Excludes interest of $128,000 on trading account securities.
<F5>Yield is computed on a tax equivalent basis.
</FN>