<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. 9/30/00 Form 10-Q and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<CASH> 532,293
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0<F1>
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 195,250
<TRADING-ASSETS> 23,209
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 1,959,173<F2>
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0
<LOANS> 7,889,963<F3>
<ALLOWANCE> 128,455
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 10,963,581
<DEPOSITS> 8,776,174
<SHORT-TERM> 867,758
<LIABILITIES-OTHER> 124,501
<LONG-TERM> 74,926
0
0
<COMMON> 312,140
<OTHER-SE> 808,082
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 10,963,581
<INTEREST-LOAN> 491,760
<INTEREST-INVEST> 102,775<F4>
<INTEREST-OTHER> 10,986
<INTEREST-TOTAL> 606,073
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 206,229
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 245,186
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 360,887
<LOAN-LOSSES> 27,092
<SECURITIES-GAINS> 810
<EXPENSE-OTHER> 320,623
<INCOME-PRETAX> 198,141
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 132,351
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> 132,351
<EPS-BASIC> 2.16
<EPS-DILUTED> 2.14
<YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.73<F5>
<LOANS-NON> 14,640
<LOANS-PAST> 30,883
<LOANS-TROUBLED> 0
<LOANS-PROBLEM> 0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 123,042
<CHARGE-OFFS> 30,285
<RECOVERIES> 8,606
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 128,455
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 128,455
<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 $55,068,000.
<F3>Gross of allowance for loan losses.
<F4>Excludes interest of $552,000 on trading account securities.
<F5>Yield is computed on a tax equivalent basis.
</FN>
</TABLE>