<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. 12/31/98 Form 10-K and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                         738,672
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0<F1>
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               261,535
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                14,210
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  2,988,230<F2>
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      7,046,852<F3>
<ALLOWANCE>                                    117,092
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              11,402,023
<DEPOSITS>                                   9,530,197
<SHORT-TERM>                                   617,830
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            146,081
<LONG-TERM>                                     27,130
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       306,763
<OTHER-SE>                                     774,022
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              11,402,023
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                554,210
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              157,926<F4>
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                15,781
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               728,471
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             274,436
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             300,726
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          427,745
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   36,874
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               6,894
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                379,344
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                225,564
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     150,091
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   150,091
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.46<F6>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.42<F6>
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.56<F5>
<LOANS-NON>                                     17,831
<LOANS-PAST>                                    24,529
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               105,918
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   42,366
<RECOVERIES>                                    10,858
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              117,092
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           117,092
<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 $29,276,000.
<F3>Gross of allowance for loan losses.
<F4>Excludes interest of $554,000 on trading account securities.
<F5>Yield is computed on a tax equivalent basis.
<F6>A 5% stock dividend was distributed on December 18, 1998.
Prior financial data schedules have not been restated.
</FN>