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

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                         604,315
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0<F1>
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               167,836
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                14,866
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  2,592,299<F2>
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      7,422,270<F3>
<ALLOWANCE>                                    121,239
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              11,116,740
<DEPOSITS>                                   9,244,598
<SHORT-TERM>                                   712,778
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             57,624
<LONG-TERM>                                     25,975
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       306,763
<OTHER-SE>                                     769,002
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              11,116,740
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                423,723
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              121,974<F4>
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                11,804
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               558,065
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             192,184
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             211,837
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          346,228
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   25,584
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 993
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                311,974
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                184,295
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     121,860
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   121,860
<EPS-BASIC>                                       2.01
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.98
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.59<F5>
<LOANS-NON>                                     11,867
<LOANS-PAST>                                    27,270
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               117,092
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   29,700
<RECOVERIES>                                     8,263
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              121,239
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           121,239
<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 $30,958,000.
<F3>Gross of allowance for loan losses.
<F4>Excludes interest of $564,000 on trading account securities.
<F5>Yield is computed on a tax equivalent basis.
</FN>