UMB FINANCIAL CORP
DEF 14A, 1997-03-11
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS
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<PAGE>

                           SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

          Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
                    Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.  )
        
Filed by the Registrant [X]

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [_] 

Check the appropriate box:

[_]  Preliminary Proxy Statement         [_]  CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE
                                              COMMISSION ONLY (AS PERMITTED BY
                                              RULE 14A-6(E)(2))

[X]  Definitive Proxy Statement 

[_]  Definitive Additional Materials 

[_]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12

                           UMB FINANCIAL CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

      
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[X]  No fee required

[_]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

   
     (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

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     (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

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     (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
         pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which
         the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

     -------------------------------------------------------------------------
      

     (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

     -------------------------------------------------------------------------


     (5) Total fee paid:

     -------------------------------------------------------------------------

[_]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
     
[_]  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
     Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
     was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
     number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
     
     (1) Amount Previously Paid:
 
     -------------------------------------------------------------------------


     (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

     -------------------------------------------------------------------------


     (3) Filing Party:
      
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     (4) Date Filed:

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Notes:

<PAGE>
 
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                                      LOGO
                           UMB FINANCIAL CORPORATION
 
NOTICE OF
ANNUAL MEETING
OF SHAREHOLDERS
AND
PROXY STATEMENT
 
 
April 15, 1997
10:00 a.m.
 
 
UMB Bank Building
1010 Grand Avenue
Kansas City, Missouri 64106
 
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                                      LOGO
                           UMB FINANCIAL CORPORATION
 
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
 
  The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of UMB Financial Corporation (the
"Company") will be held at the UMB Bank Building, 1010 Grand Avenue, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106 on April 15, 1997, at 10:00 a.m. to consider and vote on
the following matters:
 
  1) the election of nine Class III directors to hold office until the Annual
     Meeting in 2000; and
 
  2) such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any
     adjournments thereof.
 
  Only shareholders of record at the close of business on March 3, 1997 will be
entitled to notice of or to vote at this meeting or any adjournments thereof.
 
  Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, you are requested to sign and
date the enclosed proxy and return it promptly in the envelope enclosed for
that purpose.
 
                                          By Order of the Board of Directors,
 
                                               David D. Miller
                                                  Secretary
 
The date of this notice is March 11, 1997.
 
       PLEASE SIGN AND DATE THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY AND MAIL IT PROMPTLY.
<PAGE>
 
                           UMB FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                               1010 GRAND AVENUE
                          KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 64106
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
 
                        ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
 
  This Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of proxy are furnished to the
shareholders of UMB Financial Corporation (the "Company") in connection with
the solicitation of proxies by its Board of Directors (the "Board") for use at
the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at the UMB Bank Building, 1010
Grand Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64106, on April 15, 1997, at 10:00 a.m.
and at any adjournments thereof (the "Annual Meeting").
 
  Mailing of this Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of proxy is
expected to commence on March 11, 1997.
 
  A shareholder may revoke a proxy with a later-dated proxy or other writing
delivered to the Secretary of the Company at any time before the proxy is
voted at the Annual Meeting. Attendance at the meeting will not have the
effect of revoking a proxy unless the shareholder delivers a written
revocation to the Secretary of the Company before the original proxy is voted.
 
  The Company will bear the cost of the Annual Meeting, including all costs
relating to its solicitation of proxies.
 
  Proxies may also be solicited by telephone, telegram or in person by
officers, directors and employees of the Company not specially engaged or
compensated for that purpose.
 
  Brokers, dealers, banks, voting trustees, other custodians and their
nominees are asked to forward soliciting material to the beneficial owners of
shares held of record by them and, upon request, will be reimbursed for their
reasonable expenses in completing the mailing of soliciting material to such
beneficial owners.
 
                                    VOTING
 
  Shareholders at the Annual Meeting will consider and vote upon: 1) the
election of nine Class III directors to hold office until the Annual Meeting
in 2000; and 2) such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or
any adjournments thereof. Shareholders do not have any dissenters' rights of
appraisal in connection with any of those matters.
 
  The only voting security of the Company is its Common Stock. As of January
15, 1997, the Company had 19,891,908 outstanding shares of Common Stock.
Holders of Common Stock are entitled to cast one vote for each share held. A
majority of shares that are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting must be
represented at the Annual Meeting by shareholders who are present in person,
or represented by a proxy, in order to have a quorum of such shares.
 
  Voting is cumulative in the election of directors (but not on other
matters), and each holder of Common Stock is entitled to cast as many votes as
shall equal the number of shares of Common Stock held by him
<PAGE>
 
multiplied by the number of directors to be elected in any given class of
directors, and he may cast all such votes for a single nominee within a class
or he may distribute them between two or more nominees within a class as he
may see fit. The directors shall be elected by an affirmative vote of the
plurality of shares that are entitled to vote on the election of directors and
that are represented at the Annual Meeting by shareholders who are present in
person or represented by a proxy, assuming a quorum is present.
 
  In all matters other than the election of directors, assuming a quorum is
present, the affirmative vote of the majority of shares that are entitled to
vote on the matter and that are represented at the Annual Meeting by
shareholders who are present in person or represented by a proxy is required
for approval.
 
  In determining the number of shares that have been affirmatively voted for a
particular matter, shares not represented at the Annual Meeting, shares
represented by shareholders that abstain from voting on a matter and shares
held by nominees for which no voting instructions on the matter being voted
upon have been given by the beneficial owner and the nominee does not have
discretionary authority to vote (although the beneficial owner has given
voting instructions on other matters) are not considered to be votes
affirmatively cast. Any of the foregoing is equivalent to a vote against the
proposal other than the election of directors and will have no effect on the
election of directors. Abstentions will have the effect of a vote against any
of the proposals to which the abstention applies.
 
  Under the rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers (the
"NASD"), member brokers who hold shares of Common Stock in the broker's name
for customers are required to forward, along with certain other information,
signed proxy cards to the customers for them to complete and send to the
Company, and such brokers may only vote shares of Common Stock if the brokers
are the beneficial owners or hold them in a fiduciary capacity with the power
to vote. Notwithstanding the restrictions on voting of the NASD rules, if an
NASD member broker is also a member of a national securities exchange, then
they can vote the shares of Common Stock held for customers in accordance with
the rules of that exchange. Under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange,
Inc. ("NYSE"), for example, NYSE member brokers can vote shares of Common
Stock held for a customer on certain routine matters (as specified by the
NYSE) if the brokers customer does not instruct the broker how to vote the
shares.
 
  When a broker holding shares for a customer votes on one proposal but does
not vote on another proposal because the broker does not have discretionary
voting power with respect to such proposal and has not received instructions
from the beneficial owner, it is referred to as a "broker non-vote". Properly
executed proxies marked "abstain" or proxies required to be treated as "broker
non-votes" will be treated as present for purposes of determining whether
there is a quorum at the Annual Meeting.
 
  Only shareholders of record at the close of business on March 3, 1997, the
record date for the Annual Meeting, are entitled to receive notice of and to
vote at the Annual Meeting.
 
  All shares represented by proxies solicited hereunder will be voted in
accordance with the specifications of the shareholders executing such proxies.
If a shareholder does not specify how a proxy solicited hereunder is to be
voted, the shares represented thereby will be voted FOR the election of
management's nominees for directors and in accordance with the discretion of
the person to whom the proxy is granted upon other matters that come before
the Annual Meeting. This Proxy Statement solicits discretionary authority to
vote cumulatively for the election of directors, and the accompanying form of
proxy grants such authority.
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                            PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
 
  The following persons owned of record or beneficially more than five percent
of the outstanding voting securities of the Company at the close of business
on January 15, 1997:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                               NUMBER OF SHARES
                               HELD OF RECORD AS           NUMBER OF
                              A FIDUCIARY BUT NOT         SHARES OWNED
   NAME AND ADDRESS           OWNED BENEFICIALLY  PERCENT BENEFICIALLY   PERCENT
   ----------------           ------------------- ------- ------------   -------
   <S>                        <C>                 <C>     <C>            <C>
   UMB Bank, n.a.............      3,156,180(1)    15.87   1,314,343(2)    6.61
    1010 Grand Avenue
    Kansas City, Missouri
   R. Crosby Kemper..........              0           0   3,777,905(3)   18.99
    1010 Grand Avenue
    Kansas City, Missouri
   ESOP of UMB Financial                   0           0   1,980,258(4)    9.96
    Corporation, Inc.........
    1010 Grand Avenue
    Kansas City, Missouri
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Held by UMB Bank, n.a. ("UMB, n.a."), an affiliate bank of the Company, in
    agency accounts and may be voted or disposed of only upon instructions
    from the beneficial owners or are held in trusts and estates and may be
    voted or disposed of only upon the instructions of persons having voting
    control (see footnote [3]). UMB n.a. disclaims beneficial ownership of all
    these shares.
(2) Includes 1,054,246 shares that may be voted or disposed of only in
    conjunction with co-fiduciaries, and UMB, n.a. disclaims beneficial
    ownership of these shares. Also includes 260,097 shares held in trusts and
    estates for which UMB, n.a. is the sole fiduciary; however, UMB, n.a. has
    elected not to vote such shares and disclaims beneficial ownership
    thereof. Shares reported do not include shares held by UMB, n.a. as
    trustee of the Company's ESOP (see footnote [4]). UMB n.a. disclaims
    beneficial ownership of all of these shares.
(3) Includes 48,638 shares held beneficially by him as custodian for a minor
    child, 18,579 shares held by Mary S. Kemper (wife of R. Crosby Kemper),
    presently exercisable options to acquire 6,142 shares granted under the
    Company's 1992 Incentive Stock Option Plan and 3,031 shares held under the
    Company's ESOP Plan for which he has voting rights. Includes 152,799
    shares held by Kemper Realty Company, 171,579 shares held by Pioneer
    Service Corporation, 73,128 shares held by Stagecoach, Inc., and 708,429
    shares held by Stagecoach Investments, L.P. entities which may be
    controlled, directly or indirectly by R. Crosby Kemper. Also includes
    844,142 shares held in various trusts for which he has or shares voting or
    investment powers. Of this number, 300,701 shares are held in trusts
    established under the will of Rufus Crosby Kemper, and 32,226 shares are
    held in the Enid and Crosby Kemper Foundation. In both cases, the shares
    may be voted or disposed of by UMB, n.a. as trustee but only upon the
    direction of R. Crosby Kemper, Mary S. Kemper and Alexander C. Kemper, or
    any two of them. Also 143,070 shares are held in trusts established under
    the will of Enid J. Kemper and may be voted or disposed of by UMB, n.a. as
    trustee but only upon the direction of R. Crosby Kemper; 320,074 shares
    are owned by the R.C. Kemper, Sr. Charitable Trust and Foundation but may
    be voted or disposed of only by the co-trustees, R. Crosby Kemper, R.
    Crosby Kemper III and Shelia Kemper Dietrich; 5,838 shares are owned by
    the R.C. Kemper, Jr. Charitable Trust and Foundation and may be voted or
    disposed of by R. Crosby Kemper, Mary S. Kemper and R. Crosby Kemper III,
    trustees, or any two of them; and 22,233 shares are owned by the William
    T. Kemper Foundation and may be voted or disposed of by R. Crosby Kemper.
(4) Held by UMB, n.a. as trustee for the benefit of eligible employees of the
    Company and all its subsidiaries under the Company's ESOP. Participants
    have the right to direct the voting of shares attributable to their
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
   accounts. All shares not so directed are voted in accordance with the
   instructions of the Administrative Committee of the ESOP. Shares are
   disposed of in the discretion of the Administrative Committee. If the
   Administrative Committee fails to give instructions with respect to voting
   or fails to give directions with respect to a required dispositive
   decision, UMB, n.a., as trustee, is to exercise the voting rights and make
   the dispositive decision. Beneficial ownership of all of these shares is
   disclaimed.
 
              STOCK BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY DIRECTORS AND NOMINEES
                            AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
                 (AS OF CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON JANUARY 15, 1997)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 TOTAL       PERCENT OF
      NAME                      SHARES         CLASS
      ----                     ---------     ----------
      <S>                      <C>           <C>
      Paul D. Bartlett, Jr....    94,010(1)      *
      Thomas E. Beal..........    20,471(2)      *
      H. Alan Bell............   133,549(3)      *
      David R. Bradley, Jr....     8,686(4)      *
      Newton A. Campbell......     2,095         *
      William Terry Fuldner...     1,124(5)      *
      Peter J. Genovese.......    44,091(6)      *
      Jack T. Gentry..........       -0-         *
      Royce M. Hammons........       551(7)      *
      C. N. Hoffman, Jr.......   189,567(8)      *
      Alexander C. Kemper.....   529,391(9)     2.66
      R. Crosby Kemper........ 3,777,905(10)   18.99
      R. Crosby Kemper III....   363,062(11)    1.79
      Daniel N. League, Jr....       130         *
      William J. McKenna......     9,674(12)     *
      Roy E. Mayes............       348(13)     *
      John H. Mize, Jr........        37         *
      Mary Lynn Oliver........   200,184        1.01
      W. L. (Barry) Orscheln..    60,410(14)     *
      Robert W. Plaster.......    57,750         *
      Alan W. Rolley..........   201,093        1.01
      Joseph F. Ruysser.......    84,987(15)     *
      Thomas D. Sanders.......    24,141(16)     *
      Herman R. Sutherland....    78,942(17)     *
      Thomas A. Ward..........     1,172(18)     *
      E. Jack Webster, Jr.....    62,624(19)     *
      Dr. Jon Wefald..........     3,000(20)     *
      J. Lyle Wells, Jr.......    21,440(21)     *
      John E. Williams........     2,323(22)     *
      All executive officers
       and directors as a
       group.................. 5,193,063(23)   26.09
</TABLE>
- --------
  *Less than 1%
(1) Sole trustee of personal trust owning 2,839 shares; voting power shared
    with two other trustees on 3,176 shares owned by Bartlett and Company
    Profit Sharing Trust and with two other directors on 19,039 shares owned
    by Bartlett and Company and 68,956 shares owned by Bartlett Enterprises,
    Inc.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
(2) Includes 5,341 shares owned by his wife and 15,130 shares held in a trust
    established for the benefit of him and his wife.
(3) Includes 61,326 shares owned by his wife.
(4) Includes 2,537 shares owned by him as trustee under his father's will.
(5) Includes 562 shares held by his wife.
(6) Includes 16,009 shares for which options are exercisable, 11,022 shares
    under the Company's ESOP for which he has voting rights and 508 shares
    held jointly with his mother and brother.
(7) Includes 233 shares held by the Company's ESOP.
(8) Includes 186,984 shares held in four family trusts and 42 shares held by
    his wife.
(9) Includes 3,602 shares for which options are exercisable, 1,896 shares held
    by Stagecoach Investments, L.P., 1,386 shares under the Company's ESOP for
    which he has voting rights, and 332,927 shares held in trust in which he
    shares investment and voting authority with R. Crosby Kemper and Mary S.
    Kemper (see Footnote [3] under Principal Shareholders, page 3). Also
    includes 29,683 shares held in six other trusts in which he shares voting
    and dispositive authority with other family members, and 152,799 shares
    held by Kemper Realty Company by virtue of his position as President.
(10) See Footnote [3] under Principal Shareholders, page 3.
(11) Includes 325,912 shares held in trust in which he shares investment and
     voting authority with R. Crosby Kemper and Mary S. Kemper or Sheila
     Kemper Dietrich (See Footnote [3] under Principal Shareholders, page 3).
     Also includes 29,683 shares held in six other trusts in which he shares
     voting and investment authority with other family members, 927 shares
     under the Company's ESOP for which he has voting authority and 937 shares
     for which options are exercisable.
(12) Includes 5 shares held as custodian for a minor child.
(13) All such shares are held for his benefit in the Carmar, Inc. Profit
     Sharing Trust.
(14) Has voting power over 60,283 shares owned by ADEO, L.L.C., by virtue of
     his position as President and 127 shares held by his wife.
(15) Includes 75,866 shares held by a partnership over which he has voting
     power and 511 shares held by Company's ESOP.
(16) Includes 22,487 shares owned by MMC Corp, by virtue of his position as
     Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and 1,231 shares held by him as
     trustee.
(17) Includes 4,807 shares owned by his wife and 2,093 shares held in trusts.
(18) Shares owned by his wife.
(19) Includes 7,514 shares owned by his wife.
(20) Includes 288 shares owned by his wife.
(21) Includes 148 shares owned by his wife, 6,540 shares under the Company's
     ESOP for which he has voting rights and 2,271 shares for which options
     are exercisable.
(22)Includes 698 shares owned by his wife.
(23) The 332,927 shares for which R. Crosby Kemper, Mary S. Kemper and
     Alexander C. Kemper are co-trustees; the 320,074 shares for which R.
     Crosby Kemper, R. Crosby Kemper, III and Sheila Kemper Dietrich are co-
     trustees; the 5,838 shares for which R. Crosby Kemper, Mary S. Kemper and
     R. Crosby Kemper III are co-trustees; the 29,683 shares held in six
     trusts over which Alexander C. Kemper and R. Crosby Kemper III have
     shared authority; the 152,799 shares held by Kemper Realty Company, and
     the 1,896 shares owned by Stagecoach Investments, L.P. which are
     beneficially owned by Alexander C. Kemper have been included only once in
     this total. Includes 43,277 shares for which options are exercisable and
     51,028 shares held under the Company's ESOP for which the officers have
     voting rights.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
  The Company has maintained a practice of nominating individuals for Board
membership from various communities served by its banking subsidiaries. On
July 30, 1996, the Board of Directors elected Jack T. Gentry to fill a newly
created position on the Board.
 
  The shareholders will elect nine directors to serve in Class III until the
Annual Meeting in 2000, or until their respective successors are duly elected
and qualified. Each shareholder is entitled to cast as many votes as shall
equal the number of shares of Common Stock held by him multiplied by the
number of directors to be elected in any given class of directors, and he may
cast all such votes for a single nominee within a class or he may distribute
them between two or more nominees within a class as he may see fit.
 
  Each nominee has consented to be named as a nominee in this Proxy Statement
and to serve as a director, if elected. It is not anticipated that any nominee
will become unavailable for election; however, if any nominee(s) should
unexpectedly become unavailable for election, the shares represented by the
proxy will be voted for such substitute nominee(s) as the Board may name.
 
INFORMATION ABOUT DIRECTORS AND NOMINEES
 
  The following schedule sets forth information about the nominees and about
the present directors of the Company who will continue in office. With the
elections at the Annual Meeting, Class I directors will serve until 1998,
Class II directors will serve until 1999 and Class III directors will serve
until 2000.
 
                             NOMINEES FOR ELECTION
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               DIRECTOR   TERM
    NAME                        AGE POSITION WITH THE COMPANY   SINCE   EXPIRING
    ----                        --- -------------------------  -------- --------
<S>                             <C> <C>                        <C>      <C>
CLASS III
H. Alan Bell...................  58 Director                     1993     2000
Jack T. Gentry.................  73 Director                     1996     2000
R. Crosby Kemper III...........  46 Vice Chairman and Director   1994     2000
Daniel N. League, Jr...........  61 Director                     1991     2000
John H. Mize, Jr...............  57 Director                     1986     2000
Alan W. Rolley.................  64 Director                     1993     2000
Thomas D. Sanders..............  52 Director                     1991     2000
Herman R. Sutherland...........  84 Director                     1971     2000
Dr. Jon Wefald.................  59 Director                     1995     2000
</TABLE>
 
                     DIRECTORS WHO WILL CONTINUE IN OFFICE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               DIRECTOR   TERM
    NAME                         AGE POSITION WITH THE COMPANY  SINCE   EXPIRING
    ----                         --- ------------------------- -------- --------
<S>                              <C> <C>                       <C>      <C>
Paul D. Bartlett, Jr............  77 Director                    1977     1998
Thomas E. Beal..................  66 Director                    1983     1999
David R. Bradley, Jr............  47 Director                    1983     1998
</TABLE>
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            DIRECTOR   TERM
    NAME                 AGE           POSITION WITH THE COMPANY             SINCE   EXPIRING
    ----                 ---           -------------------------            -------- --------
<S>                      <C> <C>                                            <C>      <C>
Newton A. Campbell......  68 Director                                         1986     1998
William Terry Fuldner...  69 Director                                         1985     1998
Peter J. Genovese.......  50 Vice Chairman and Director                       1979     1998
C.N. Hoffman, Jr........  78 Director                                         1993     1998
Alexander C. Kemper.....  31 President and Director                           1992     1998
R. Crosby Kemper........  70 Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director   1969     1999
Roy E. Mayes............  62 Director                                         1988     1999
William J. McKenna......  70 Director                                         1984     1999
Mary Lynn Oliver........  57 Director                                         1993     1998
William L. Orscheln.....  46 Director                                         1989     1999
Robert W. Plaster.......  66 Director                                         1995     1999
Joseph F. Ruysser.......  39 Director                                         1993     1999
Thomas A. Ward, III.....  58 Director                                         1995     1998
E. Jack Webster, Jr.....  76 Director                                         1985     1999
John E. Williams........  70 Director                                         1987     1999
</TABLE>
 
  Mr. Bartlett has served as Chairman of the Board of Bartlett and Company, an
agri-business company, since 1987.
 
  Mr. Beal has served as President of Beal Properties, Inc., a real estate
management company, since 1976, and of Beal Broadcasting Co. from 1990 to 1996.
 
  Mr. Bell served as Chairman of UMB Citizens Bank and Trust Co., Manhattan,
Kansas from January 1994 to July 1994. Prior to that he served as Chairman and
President of Citizens Bank and Trust Co. in Manhattan, Kansas, from 1976 to
1994.
 
  Mr. Bradley has served as President and Editor of the News-Press and Gazette
Company, St. Joseph, Missouri, since 1981. He has also served as Publisher
since 1994.
 
  Mr. Campbell has served as Chairman Emeritus of Burns & McDonnell Engineering
Company since 1994. He served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer of that company from 1986 until December 1993.
 
  Mr. Fuldner has served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
of EFCO CORPORATION, a manufacturing company, since 1953.
 
  Mr. Genovese has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of the Company since
1982. He has also served as Chairman and CEO of UMB Bank of St. Louis, n.a.
since 1979.
 
  Mr. Gentry has served as President of Positronic Industries, Inc. since 1966.
 
  Mr. Hoffman has served as Chairman of UMB National Bank of America, Salina,
Kansas since 1993. Prior to that he served as Chairman of National Bank of
America at Salina, Salina, Kansas, from 1988 to 1993.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
  Mr. Alexander C. Kemper, a son of R. Crosby Kemper, has served as President
of the Company since January, 1995, as President of UMB Bank, n.a. since
January, 1994 and as President and CEO since January, 1996. He has been an
officer of UMB Bank, n.a. since 1988.
 
  Mr. R. Crosby Kemper has served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company since 1972. He also has served as Chairman of the Board
and CEO of UMB Bank, n.a. from 1971 through 1995, and as Chairman since
January, 1996.
 
  Mr. R. Crosby Kemper III, a son of R. Crosby Kemper, has served as Vice-
Chairman of the Board of the Company since January, 1995 and as President of
UMB Bank of St. Louis, n.a. since November, 1993. He served as an officer of
UMB Bank, n.a. from September, 1991 until November, 1993.
 
  Mr. League has served as Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Pioneer Astro Industries, Inc., a manufacturing company,
since 1974. He has also served as President of Pioneer Manufacturing Co. since
1981 and as Chairman of Double L Manufacturing Co. since 1983.
 
  Mr. McKenna has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kellwood
Company, a maker of wearing apparel, since 1991. Prior to that he served as
President and CEO from 1984. Mr. McKenna is a director of Genovese Drug
Stores, Inc. and Kellwood Company.
 
  Mr. Mayes has served as Chairman of the Board and President of Carmar Group,
Inc., a warehousing operation, since 1965.
 
  Mr. Mize has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Blish-
Mize Company, a wholesale hardware dealer, since 1982.
 
  Mrs. Oliver served as Chairman of Russell State Bank and of Security State
Bank from 1984 to 1994.
 
  Mr. Orscheln has served as President of the Orscheln Group of Companies
since 1990. They are engaged primarily in manufacturing, retail and real
estate development. He is also a director of Dura Automotive Systems, Inc.
 
  Mr. Plaster has served as Chairman of the Board of Empire Energy Corporation
since 1994; prior to that he served as Chairman of the Board of Empire Gas
Corporation from 1963 until 1994.
 
  Mr. Rolley served as Chairman of UMB Highland Park Bank and Trust in Topeka,
Kansas from 1993 until 1994. Prior to that he served as Chairman of Highland
Park Bank and Trust and North Plaza State Bank, both in Topeka, Kansas, from
1965 and 1972, respectively, until 1993. He has served as Chairman of the
Kansas State Bank of Holton, Kansas since 1976.
 
  Mr. Ruysser has been a partner in J and B Investments since 1986. In
addition, he served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Commercial
National Bank, Kansas City, Kansas, from May, 1992 to April, 1993. Mr. Ruysser
also served as President and Chief Operating Officer of CNB Financial
Corporation from April, 1990 to April, 1993.
 
  Mr. Sanders has served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
of MMC Corp, a mechanical contractor, since 1991. He previously served as
Chairman of the Board and President of Midwest Mechanical Contractors, Inc.
from 1985 through 1990.
 
  Mr. Sutherland has served as a Partner of Sutherland Lumber Company since
1941.
 
  Mr. Ward has served as President of Jack Cooper Transportation Company, Inc.
since 1988.
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
  Mr. Webster has served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
of Petrol Properties, Inc., a real estate and marketing company, since 1957.
He has also served as Chief Executive Officer of Reliant Industries, Inc., a
real estate and environmental services company since 1990. He is a director of
Adams Resources and Energy, Inc and Mid-American Century Life Insurance Co.
 
  Dr. Wefald has served as President of Kansas State University since July,
1986.
 
  Mr. Williams has served as Chairman of the Board of H.E. Williams, Inc., a
manufacturing company, since 1996, having previously served as Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer since 1989 and as President since 1973.
 
            SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
 
  Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
officers and directors, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of the
Company's Common Stock to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Officers, directors and greater-
than-10% beneficial owners are required by SEC regulations to furnish the
Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely on a
review of the copies of such forms furnished to the Company, and written
representations that no Forms 5 were required, the Company believes that
during 1996 all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its officers,
directors and greater-than-10% beneficial owners were complied with; except
that Messrs. H. Alan Bell, Charles A. Garney, R. C. Kemper and Joseph F.
Ruysser each failed to file a timely report with respect to a single
transaction. Mr. R. Crosby Kemper III failed to file a timely report on four
occasions, each with respect to a single transaction.
 
                             CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
 
  The directors, officers, nominee directors and companies with which they are
associated were customers of and had banking transactions with the Company's
affiliate banks in the ordinary course of each respective bank's business
during 1996. Such relationships continue to be conducted on substantially the
same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at
the same time for comparable transactions with other persons and do not
involve more than normal risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable
terms.
 
  Messrs. R. Crosby Kemper, Alexander C. Kemper, R. Crosby Kemper III and
Wells, who are executive officers and directors of the Company or its
affiliates and certain other members of Mr. R. Crosby Kemper's immediate
family own approximately 75% of the stock of Pioneer Service Corporation.
During 1996, Pioneer Service Corporation leased real estate to the Company and
its subsidiaries under a six year lease expiring December 31, 1996 on terms no
less favorable to the Company than that which could be obtained from non-
affiliated parties. In December 1996, $177,240 was paid as rent for the 1997
annual rental period under a new two year lease.
 
               COMMITTEES AND MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
  The Board of Directors has appointed an Audit Committee from among its
members. It has also created an Officers Salary and Stock Option Committee.
Membership on this committee is open to members of the Company's Board of
Directors as well as Board members from the Company's subsidiaries. The Board
has not appointed a Nominating Committee.
 
  The Audit Committee, among other functions, reviews the nature and scope of
the audit, reviews the accounting practices and control systems of the Company
and reviews the qualifications and performance of the auditing firm. Present
members of the committee are Thomas E. Beal, Newton A. Campbell, Daniel N.
League, Jr., and John E. Williams.
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
  The Officers Salary and Stock Option Committee is responsible for setting
and administering overall compensation policy and setting compensation levels
for senior officers. Members of the committee during 1996 were Paul D.
Bartlett, Jr., William J. McKenna, Thomas D. Sanders, and Herman R. Sutherland
from the Company's Board of Directors. Mr. John W. Uhlmann is also a member of
the Committee and a member of the Board of UMB Bank, n.a., the Company's
largest subsidiary.
 
  In addition to the regularly scheduled meetings of the Board of Directors,
an Executive Committee appointed by the Board of Directors meets periodically.
This committee takes action on matters in lieu of the Board of Directors and
reports such action taken to the Board at its next scheduled meeting for
ratification. Present members of the committee are R. Crosby Kemper, Chairman,
Peter J. Genovese, Royce M. Hammons, Alexander C. Kemper, R. Crosby Kemper
III, Richard A. Renfro, James A. Sangster, William C. Tempel and J. Lyle
Wells, Jr. Mr. Hammons is Chairman, President and CEO of UMB Bank Oklahoma;
Mr. Renfro is President and CEO of UMB National Bank of America; Mr. Sangster
is a Divisional Executive Vice President of UMB Bank, n.a., and Mr. Tempel is
President and CEO of UMB Bank Kansas and a Divisional Executive Vice President
of UMB Bank, n.a.
 
  In addition to the four meetings of the Board of Directors, the Executive
Committee held eight meetings or took action in lieu of meetings. The Audit
Committee met five times, and the Officers Salary and Stock Option Committee
met twice in 1996. All directors attended at least 75 percent of the meetings
of the Board and committees upon which they served except William J. McKenna
and Roy E. Mayes.
 
                            EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
I. SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         LONG TERM
                                                       COMPENSATION
                            ANNUAL COMPENSATION          (AWARDS)
                      -------------------------------- ------------
                                                        SECURITIES
   NAME AND PRINCIPAL                     OTHER ANNUAL  UNDERLYING    ALL OTHER
        POSITION      YEAR  SALARY  BONUS COMPENSATION OPTIONS(#)(6) COMPENSATION
   ------------------ ---- -------- ----- ------------ ------------- ------------
<S>                   <C>  <C>      <C>   <C>          <C>           <C>
R. Crosby Kemper      1996 $647,145  --        --          2,718       $25,582(1)
 Chairman and CEO     1995  627,334  --        --          2,514        26,745
 and                  1994  606,593  --        --          3,478        23,788
 Chairman of UMB      
 Bank, n.a.

Alexander C. Kemper   1996 $268,493  --        --          2,718       $ 9,262(4)
 President and        1995  184,887  --        --          2,514        10,425
 President and CEO    1994  132,329  --        --          1,100         6,748
 of
 UMB Bank, n.a.

Peter J. Genovese     1996 $252,767  --        --          1,575       $ 9,262(2)
 Vice Chairman and    1995  242,488  --        --          1,650        10,425
 Chairman and CEO     1994  229,562  --        --          1,100         7,468
 UMB Bank of St.
 Louis

J. Lyle Wells         1996 $195,540  --        --          1,050       $13,628(3)
 Vice Chairman        1995  189,556  --        --          1,100        14,791
                      1994  181,463  --        --          1,100        11,834

Royce M. Hammons      1996 $161,050  --        --            525       $10,867(5)
 Vice President and   1995       --  --        --             --            --
 Chairman, Presi-     1994       --  --        --             --            --
  dent and
 CEO of UMB
 Oklahoma Bank
</TABLE>
 
                                      10
<PAGE>
 
- --------
(1) Includes a split dollar insurance premium of $16,320, which includes
    $11,663 attributable to term life insurance coverage, and a contribution
    to the Company Profit Sharing of $9,262.
(2) Profit Sharing contribution of $9,262.
(3) Includes split dollar insurance premium of $4,366, which includes $2,397
    attributable to term life insurance coverage, and a contribution to the
    Company Profit Sharing of $9,262.
(4) Profit Sharing contribution of $9,262.
(5) Profit Sharing contribution of $9,262 and a matching contribution of
    $1,605 to the 401(k) savings plan.
(6) All figures adjusted for 10% stock dividends paid January 2, 1996 and and
    a 5% stock dividend paid January 2, 1997.
 
II. OPTION GRANTS IN 1996
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE
                                                                               AT ANNUAL RATES OF STOCK
                                                                                PRICE APPRECIATION FOR
                                            INDIVIDUAL GRANTS (1)                     OPTION TERM
                                 -------------------------------------------- --------------------------
                                 NUMBER OF  % OF TOTAL
                                 SECURITIES  OPTIONS
                                 UNDERLYING GRANTED TO  EXERCISE
                                  OPTIONS   EMPLOYEES     PRICE    EXPIRATION
        NAME                      GRANTED    IN 1996   (PER SHARE)    DATE         5%           10%
        ----                     ---------- ---------- ----------  ---------- ------------ --------------
<S>                              <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>          <C>
R. Crosby Kemper (2)               2,718      10.3%      $40.47    Oct. 2001    $17,613       $ 51,044
 Chairman and CEO and Chairman
 of UMB Bank, n.a.
Alexander C. Kemper                2,718      10.3%       36.79    Oct. 2006     62,894       159,356
 President and
 President and CEO of
 UMB Bank, n.a.
Peter J. Genovese                  1,575       6.0%       36.79    Oct. 2006     36,445         92,342
 Vice Chairman and
 Chairman and CEO UMB Bank of
 St. Louis
J. Lyle Wells                      1,050       4.0%       36.79    Oct. 2006     24,297         61,561
 Vice Chairman
Royce M. Hammons                     525       2.0%       36.79    Oct. 2006     12,148         30,781
 Vice President and
 Chairman, President and
 CEO of UMB Oklahoma Bank
All shareholders as a group (3)                                               $460,298,751 $1,166,262,566
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) All information relating to option grants adjusted for 5% stock dividend
    paid January 2, 1997.
(2) By virtue of Mr. Kemper's having voting rights over more than 10% of the
    Company's common stock there is a 10% premium on his exercise price and
    his option period cannot exceed five years from date of grant.
(3) Increase in value of shares presently held by all shareholders assuming 5%
    and 10% compound rates of return over the ten year life of options granted
    in 1996. Using an exercise price of $36.79 per share, a 5%
 
                                      11
<PAGE>
 
   compound rate of return (excluding cash dividends) would result in a per
   share price of $59.93 after ten years. Assuming a 10% compound rate of
   return (excluding cash dividends) the per share price would be $95.42 after
   ten years.
 
  Except as noted in the footnote, all options are granted for a term of ten
years. The Stock Option Plan provides for delayed vesting according to the
following schedule: two years from grant of option--40%; three years--60%;
four years--80%; and four years and eleven months--100%. All options granted
since 1989 give the Company the right to recover benefits derived by the
exercise of an option by an employee within two years of his or her employment
by a competitor. Both of these features are intended to encourage long term
commitments by key officers.
 
III. AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN 1996, AND OPTION VALUES AT DECEMBER 31,
1996.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    NUMBER OF SECURITIES
                                   UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED     VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                         OPTIONS AT          IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS AT
               SHARES             DECEMBER 31, 1996 (#) (2)     DECEMBER 31, 1996
            ACQUIRED ON   VALUE   ------------------------- -------------------------
   NAME     EXERCISE (#) REALIZED EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
   ----     ------------ -------- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
<S>         <C>          <C>      <C>         <C>           <C>         <C>
R. Crosby
 Kemper
 (1)           3,756     $32,752     6,142        9,570      $ 54,166      $39,465
 Chairman
 and CEO
 and
 Chairman
 of UMB
 Bank,
 n.a.
Alexander
 C. Kemper       --          --      3,602        6,660        57,431       32,885
 President
 and Pres-
 ident and
 CEO of
 UMB
 Bank,
 n.a.
Peter J.
 Genovese      3,742      66,457    16,009        4,814       299,817       28,550
 Vice
 Chairman
 and
 Chairman
 and CEO
 UMB Bank
 of St.
 Louis
J. Lyle
 Wells         1,651      27,576     2,271        3,101        42,165       18,265
 Vice
 Chairman
Royce M.
 Hammons         --          --        --           525           --         1,948
 Vice
 President
 and
 Chairman,
 President
 and CEO
 of UMB
 Oklahoma
 Bank
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) By virtue of Mr. Kemper's having voting rights over more than 10% of the
    Company's common stock there is a 10% premium on his exercise price and
    his option period cannot exceed five years from date of grant.
(2) Number of underlying securities adjusted to reflect 5% stock dividends
    paid in 1988 and 1989; 10% stock dividends paid in 1992, 1994 and 1996,
    and a 5% stock dividend paid January 2, 1997.
 
                                      12
<PAGE>
 
IV. BENEFITS UNDER THE UMB FINANCIAL CORPORATION RETIREMENT PLAN.
 
  The following table shows examples of pension benefits based on different
periods of service and rate of pay. The following benefits are based on the
salary figures shown on the Summary Compensation Table.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 UMB RETIREMENT PLAN
                                         ESTIMATED ANNUAL NORMAL RETIREMENT
                                                      BENEFITS
                                        CREDITED SERVICE AT NORMAL RETIREMENT
                                                        DATE
                                       ---------------------------------------
        FINAL AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY      15      20      25      30      35
                AS OF 1/1/97            YEARS   YEARS   YEARS   YEARS   YEARS
        ---------------------------    ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
      <S>                              <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
      $125,000........................ $24,555 $32,740 $40,925 $49,110 $57,295
       150,000........................  29,993  39,990  49,988  59,985  69,983
       175,000........................  30,333  40,455  50,576  60,698  70,819
       200,000........................  34,091  45,778  57,465  69,153  80,840
       225,000........................  37,849  51,102  64,355  77,607  90,860
       250,000........................  41,607  56,425  71,244  86,062 100,881
       300,000........................  45,066  61,326  77,586  93,845 110,105
       400,000........................  45,066  61,326  77,586  93,845 110,105
       450,000........................  45,066  61,326  77,586  93,845 110,105
       500,000........................  45,066  61,326  77,586  93,845 110,105
       550,000........................  45,066  61,326  77,586  93,845 110,105
       600,000........................  45,066  61,326  77,586  93,845 110,105
       650,000........................  45,066  61,326  77,586  93,845 110,105
</TABLE>
 
  Benefit Formula:
 
    The sum of:
 
      a. 0.8% of the Participant's Average Monthly Earnings up to Social
    Security Covered Compensation; and
 
      b. 1.45% of the Participant's Average Monthly Earnings in excess of
    Social Security Covered Compensation.
 
    Such sum multiplied by Credited Service up to 35 years, plus 1.45% of the
  Participant's Average Monthly Earnings multiplied by Credited Service in
  excess of 35 years.
 
  Average Monthly Earnings is defined as the average of Monthly Earnings during
any 120 months of continuous employment that yields the highest average.
 
  The maximum benefit payable from a qualified retirement plan to someone
retiring at age 65 in 1997 is limited to $125,000 per Internal Revenue Code
Section 415. Final Average Salary is limited to $160,000 per Internal Revenue
Code Section 401(a)(17).
 
  Assumptions used in the benefit calculations:
 
    1. Employee was born in 1932
 
    2. Social Security Covered Compensation for an individual age 65 in 1997
  is $27,000.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
 
  Credited Services as of January 1, 1997 for the following five employees is
given below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            CREDITED SERVICE AT
           NAME                                               JANUARY 1, 1997
           ----                                             -------------------
      <S>                                                   <C>
      R. Crosby Kemper.....................................          44
      Peter J. Genovese....................................          25
      J. Lyle Wells........................................          14
      Alexander C. Kemper..................................           9
      Royce M. Hammons.....................................           0
</TABLE>
 
  The table above presents annual retirement benefits payable as a single life
annuity under this plan.
 
          REPORT OF THE OFFICERS SALARY AND STOCK OPTION COMMITTEE ON
                            EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
  The Officers Salary and Stock Option Committee of the Board of Directors
(the "Committee") is composed of five Directors who are not employees. Subject
only to oversight by the full Board, the Committee has final responsibility
for setting and administering overall compensation policy and levels of
compensation for senior officers including the Chief Executive Officer.
Members of the Committee are individuals with significant holdings of Company
stock who can more particularly bring a shareholder's perspective to the
Committee's deliberations.
 
  Throughout its existence the Company has maintained a simple,
straightforward compensation program. The components of total compensation for
nearly every officer of the Company are base salary and benefits which are
otherwise provided to all employees regardless of position. However, the
Committee has the discretion to award bonuses, stock options and other
benefits including company owned automobiles and split dollar insurance. The
timing and amounts of such awards are determined on a subjective basis.
Subject to limitations on his stock options as discussed below, Mr. R. Crosby
Kemper's compensation is determined in the same way as all other officers for
which the Committee has discretion.
 
  The Company's policy is to pay base salaries which are competitive with
other financial service providers in communities served by the Company. The
list of financial service providers used for this comparison are not the same
as those included in the Performance Graph that follows. That index includes
all the companies included in the NASDAQ Bank Index while the companies
included in the compensation surveys are more limited. Salary comparisons are
made (i) to those paid by competitors in the immediate trade area of each
banking affiliate except UMB Bank, n.a., (ii) a group of ten banks of
comparable size and a cluster of fifteen north central banks with assets
ranging between $2.0 and $5.9 billion for UMB Bank, n.a., and (iii) a cluster
of twenty-three nationwide financial institutions with assets ranging from $6
to $9.9 billion for UMB Financial Corporation. Salary levels set by the
Committee for 1997 generally correspond to the salary ranges included in the
salary surveys referred to above. While primary emphasis is placed on matching
competitive salary levels disclosed by the appropriate survey, consideration
is also given to the package of benefits available to all employees compared
to those offered by competitors. Salary levels are considered annually and are
based on current salary and individual performance during the previous
calendar year. There is no direct link between corporate performance and the
amount of salary, bonus or any other component of Executive Compensation.
 
  The Company has a policy of providing some incentive to its officers tied to
the market performance of the Company's stock. Since 1981 the Company has
maintained an Incentive Stock Option Program in which a limited number of
stock options are granted annually to officers of the Company whose
contributions to the Company merit such recognition. Those options allow the
officer to purchase the option shares for ten years at a price equal to market
value at the time the option is granted. Since he has the power to vote more
than 10% of the outstanding stock of the Company, Mr. R. Crosby Kemper's
options are for only five years and his option
 
                                      14
<PAGE>
 
price is 110% of market value. The Stock Option Plan provides for delayed
vesting according to the following schedule: two years from grant of option--
40%; three years--60%; four years--80%; and four years and eleven months--100%.
If an employee exercises an option granted after 1988 and goes to work for a
competitor within two years of his or her exercise of that option, the Company
has a right to recover the benefits realized at the time of exercise. Both of
these features are intended to encourage long term commitments by key officers.
Historically, however, the level of options granted by the Company under the
Option Plans has been modest. As shown on Tables I and II above, the projected
benefits received by officers under this plan are relatively low when compared
with their salaries and will be matched by benefits realized by all
shareholders. They are also relatively low when compared with other companies.
 
  The Company has sponsored a pension plan for all officers and employees for
many years. A decision has been made to terminate that plan effective December
31, 1997. In lieu of that plan, a Company match to the 401(k) Savings Plan
("Plan") was established for all officers and employees who were not
participants in the pension plan. All officers and employees may, subject to
regulations of the Internal Revenue Service, elect to contribute up to 10% of
their annual compensation to the Plan. The Company in its discretion may match
part of those contributions. For 1996 and 1997 the Company elected to
contribute fifty cents for each dollar contributed by an officer or employee.
The Company's contribution is limited in that the match can only apply to the
first four percent of an employee's annual compensation. Officers and employees
who are current participants in the pension plan can make elective
contributions to the Plan, but the Company will not make any matching
contributions for those individuals until 1998.
 
  The Company has no other long-term incentive plan awards, no employment
contracts and no change-in-control or "golden parachute" arrangements.
 
  The Internal Revenue Code was amended effective in 1994 to add Section
162(m), which limits the deduction for federal income tax purposes by publicly
held corporations of compensation in excess of $1 million dollars paid to the
executive officers listed in the summary compensation table in the
corporation's proxy statement unless such compensation is performance based as
defined in Section 162(m).
 
  Although the total compensation paid by the Company to any of the executives
named in the Company's summary compensation table is now less than $1 million,
the Compensation Committee and the Board have been and will continue to be
counseled on the limitations imposed by Section 162(m), and the Compensation
Committee will consider the limitations imposed by Section 162(m) in
structuring future compensation for the Company's executives. The Committee
cannot make any assurances, however, that it will not authorize the payment of
non-deductible compensation. As stated above, the Compensation Committee
structures compensation for its executives to be competitive with other
financial service providers in the communities served by the Company. The
Committee will work to maintain competitive compensation, to the extent
feasible, with compensation that is fully deductible. Nonetheless, the
limitation on deductibility will have to be weighed against the interests of
the Company in attracting and retaining high quality executives.
 
                            MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
 
                   Paul D. Bartlett, Jr., William J. McKenna,
          Thomas D. Sanders, Herman R. Sutherland and John W. Uhlmann.
 
                             DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
 
  Directors of the Company who are not employed by the Company or its
subsidiaries are paid Directors' fees of $500 for each Board meeting they
attend. Attendance fees of $500 are paid to members of the Audit Committee.
Officers Salary and Stock Option Committee members receive an attendance fee of
$300.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
 
             SALARY COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
  The Company's Officers Salary and Stock Option Committee members are
identified in the Section entitled Committees and Meetings of the Board of
Directors.
 
  Members of the Committee and companies with which they are associated were
customers of and had banking transactions with the Company's affiliate banks
in the ordinary course of each respective bank's business during 1996. Such
relationships continue to be conducted on substantially the same terms,
including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the same time
for comparable transactions with other persons and do not involve more than
normal risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable terms. No officers
or former officers served as members of the Salary and Stock Option Committee.
 
                               PERFORMANCE GRAPH
 
  The graph below summarizes the cumulative return experienced by the
Company's shareholders over the years 1992 through 1996, compared to the S&P
500 Stock Index and the NASDAQ Bank Index. In all cases the return assumes a
reinvestment of dividends.
 
                        UMB FINANCIAL CORPORATION STOCK
                           VS VARIOUS STOCK INDICES

                          [LINE CHART APPEARS HERE] 

                                 Value of $1

             UMB Financial Corporation Stock    S&P 500    NASDAQ Bank
             -------------------------------    -------    -----------
12/91                    1.00                     1.00        1.00
12/92                    1.10                     1.08        1.46
12/93                    1.05                     1.18        1.66
12/94                    0.98                     1.20        1.65
12/95                    1.25                     1.65        2.46
12/96                    1.54                     2.03        3.26 


                                      16
<PAGE>
 
                        INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
  The Board of Directors has selected Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent
public accountants to perform the 1997 audit, which includes: 1) the
examination of annual financial statements; 2) review of unaudited quarterly
financial information; 3) assistance and consultation in connection with
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and 4) consultation on
various audit-related accounting matters. Deloitte & Touche LLP has served as
the Company's auditors continuously since 1982.
 
  A representative of Deloitte & Touche LLP is expected to be present at the
Annual Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement if he so
desires and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
 
                             SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
 
  Shareholder proposals must be received by the Company by November 11, 1997,
to be considered for inclusion in the proxy materials of the Company for the
1998 Annual Meeting. The Company requests that such shareholder proposals be
sent by certified mail--return receipt requested.
 
                                 OTHER MATTERS
 
  The Board of Directors knows of no matters expected to be presented for
consideration at the Annual Meeting that are not described herein. However, if
other matters properly come before the meeting, persons named in the
accompanying form of proxy will vote thereon in accordance with their best
judgment.
 
                                          By Order of the Board of Directors
 
                                               David D. Miller
                                                  Secretary
 
March 11, 1997
 
  A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K, AS FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE COMMISSION, WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE UPON WRITTEN
REQUEST DIRECTED TO: SECRETARY, UMB FINANCIAL CORPORATION, 1010 GRAND AVENUE,
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 64106.
 
 
                                      17
<PAGE>

 
PROXY                      UMB FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                 P.O. Box 419226, Kansas City, MO 64141-62226

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE ANNUAL 
                          MEETING ON APRIL 15, 1997.

     The undersigned hereby appoints R. Crosby Kemper and Alexander C. Kemper, 
or either of them, with full power of substitution as proxies, to vote all 
shares of Common Stock of UMB Financial Corporation, which the undersigned is 
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held April 15, 
1997, and any adjournments thereof.

1.  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS IN CLASS III
    (To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike a line
    through the nominee's name. In such event, unless you request otherwise,
    your votes will then be cumulated and voted for the other nominees.)

          [_] FOR all nominees in Class III (except as otherwise indicated)

          [_] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY on all nominees below

  H. Alan Bell, Jack T. Gentry, R. Crosby Kemper III, Daniel N. League, Jr., 
  John H. Mize, Jr., Alan W. Rolley, Thomas D. Sanders, Herman R. Sutherland,
                                Dr. Jon Wefald


(TO BE SIGNED ON OTHER SIDE)
<PAGE>
 
     Management knows of no other matters to be brought before the Annual 
Meeting; however, the persons named as proxy holders or their substitutes will 
vote in accordance with their best judgment if any other matters are properly 
brought before the Annual Meeting.  This proxy, when properly executed, will be 
voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned shareholder or absent 
instruction will be voted FOR Proposal 1.  Unless authority to vote for any 
director nominee is withheld, authority to vote for such nominee will be deemed 
granted.

                                       PLEASE ________________________________
                                                       Signature
                                        SIGN 
                                              ________________________________
                                        HERE           Signature

                                       Please sign exactly as name appears. If
                                       shares are held jointly, any one of the
                                       joint owners may sign. Attorneys-in-fact,
                                       executors, administrators, trustees,
                                       guardians or corporation officers should
                                       indicate the capacity in which they are
                                       signing.

                                       PLEASE SIGN, DATE, AND MAIL THIS PROXY
                                       PROMPTLY whether or not you expect to
                                       attend the meeting.

                                       Date_____________________________, 1997


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