<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. 11/30/98 Form 8-K and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   11-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               NOV-30-1998
<CASH>                                         679,430
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0<F1>
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               453,077
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                 9,784
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  2,737,050<F2>
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      7,035,782<F3>
<ALLOWANCE>                                    117,784
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              11,259,869
<DEPOSITS>                                   9,413,785
<SHORT-TERM>                                   590,216
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            157,074
<LONG-TERM>                                     27,206
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       293,229
<OTHER-SE>                                     778,359
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              11,259,869
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                506,199
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              143,389<F4>
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                14,559
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               664,662
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             251,329
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             275,390
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          389,272
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   34,132
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               6,729
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                341,530
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                205,206
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     135,769
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   135,769
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.22
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.19
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.57<F5>
<LOANS-NON>                                     18,423
<LOANS-PAST>                                    26,293
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               105,918
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   37,649
<RECOVERIES>                                     9,576
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              117,784
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           117,784
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
<FN>
<F1>Certificates of deposit of $100,000 are included in Investments-
Held-For-Sale.
<F2>Excludes non-marketable securities of $28,577,000.
<F3>Gross of allowance for loan losses.
<F4>Excludes interest of $515,000 on trading account securities.
<F5>Yield is computed on a tax equivalent basis.
</FN>