EXHIBIT 24
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
  KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned do hereby appoint J.
Daniel Stinnett and Jeffery D. Aberdeen, or either of them, attorney for the
undersigned and in the name of and on behalf of the undersigned to sign a
Registration Statement on Form S-4 to be filed by Commerce Banschares, Inc.,
together with any and all amendments which might be required from time to time
with respect thereto, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
under the Securities Act of 1933, with respect to the acquisition of Shawnee
Bancshares, Inc. and The Shawnee State Bank with full power and authority in
either of said attorneys to do and perform in the name of and on behalf of the
undersigned every act whatsoever necessary or desirable to be done in
connection therewith as fully and to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do in person.
 
  Executed this 7th day of February, 1997.
    /s/ Georgio Balzer
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           Georgio Balzer
 
    /s/ Fred L. Brown
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           Fred L. Brown
 
    /s/ James B. Hebenstreit
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                             James B. Hebenstreit
 
    /s/ David W. Kemper
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           David W. Kemper
 
    /s/ James M. Kemper, Jr.
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           James M. Kemper, Jr.
 
    /s/ Terry O. Meek
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           Terry O. Meek
 
    /s/ Robert H. West
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           Robert H. West
 
    /s/ Jonathan M. Kemper
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           Jonathan M. Kemper