<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. 6/30/99 Form 10-Q and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1999
<CASH>                                         702,609
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0<F1>
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               140,125
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                22,562
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  2,708,409<F2>
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      7,175,890<F3>
<ALLOWANCE>                                    120,225
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              11,067,012
<DEPOSITS>                                   9,228,794
<SHORT-TERM>                                   618,171
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            118,270
<LONG-TERM>                                     26,201
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       306,763
<OTHER-SE>                                     768,813
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              11,067,012
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                277,039
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               81,695<F4>
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 9,521
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               368,653
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             129,145
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             141,417
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          227,236
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   17,291
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 993
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                207,308
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                121,529
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      80,456
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    80,456
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.32
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.30
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.55<F5>
<LOANS-NON>                                     12,760
<LOANS-PAST>                                    21,970
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               117,092
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   19,702
<RECOVERIES>                                     5,544
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              120,225
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           120,225
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
<FN>
<F1>Certificates of deposit of $200,000 are included in Investments-
Held-For-Sale.
<F2>Excludes non-marketable securities of $30,341,000.
<F3>Gross of allowance for loan losses.
<F4>Excludes interest of $398,000 on trading account securities.
<F5>Yield is computed on a tax equivalent basis.
</FN>