COMMERCE BANCORP INC /NJ/
10-K/A, 1996-05-14
STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS
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                                       The following Items were the subject of a
                                Form 12b-25 and are included herein: Items 10-13

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  FORM 10-K/A-1

X    ANNUAL REPORT  PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE  SECURITIES  EXCHANGE
     ACT OF 1934 (FEE REQUIRED) FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995

     TRANSITION  REPORT  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  13 OR  15(d)  OF THE  SECURITIES
     EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (NO FEE REQUIRED)

                         Commission File Number 0-12874

                             COMMERCE BANCORP, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

                                                        Commerce Atrium
       New Jersey                                      1701 Route 70 East
(State or other jurisdiction of                     Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-5400
incorporation or organization)                   (Address of principal executive
                                                    offices including zip code)

                                   22-2433468
                                (I.R.S. Employer
                             Identification Number)

                                 (609) 751-9000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
                                      NONE
                                (Title of class)

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
                         Common Stock, $1.5625 par value
                                (Title of class)

     Indicate  by check mark  whether the  registrant  (i) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934 during the  preceding  12 months,  and (ii) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days. YES X NO

     Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of Registrant's  knowledge,  in definitive proxy or information  statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [X]

     The aggregate  market value of voting stock held by  non-affiliates  of the
registrant is $218,226,000.1


- --------

     1 The  aggregate  dollar  amount of the voting  stock set forth  equals the
number of shares of the Registrant's  common stock  outstanding,  reduced by the
amount of common stock held by officers,  directors and  shareholders  owning in
excess of 10% of the  registrant's  common  stock,  multiplied  by the last sale
price  for the  Registrant's  common  stock on March 8,  1996.  The  information
provided shall in no way be construed as an admission that any officer, director
or 10%  shareholder  in  the  Registrant  may  be  deemed  an  affiliate  of the
Registrant or that he is the  beneficial  owner of the shares  reported as being
held by him,  and any such  inference  is  hereby  disclaimed.  The  information
provided  herein is  included  solely  for the  record-keeping  purposes  of the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
<PAGE>

                      APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS
     Indicate the number of shares  outstanding of each of the issuer's  classes
of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

       Common Stock, $1.5625 Par Value                       11,297,014
             Title of Class                           No. of Shares Outstanding
                                                            as of 3/8/96
         Series C ESOP Cumulative
        Convertible Preferred Stock                            417,000
           Title of Class                             No. of Shares Outstanding
                                                            as of 3/8/96

                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
     Parts II and IV  incorporate  certain  information  by  reference  from the
Registrants Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1995 (the "Annual Report").

                                        2

<PAGE>

                                EXPLANATORY NOTE

     This Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year  ended  December  31,  1995,  as filed  with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  on March 28, 1996 (the "1995  10-K"),  is being filed to provide the
disclosure required by Items 10 through 13 of Form 10-K which the Registrant had
incorporated  into the 1995 10-K by  reference  to its proxy  statement  for the
Registrant's  1996 annual meeting of shareholders.  Since the Registrant did not
file its definitive  proxy statement within 120 days after the end of the fiscal
year covered by the 1995 10-K, the  information  required by Items 10 through 13
of Form 10-K is accordingly set forth below.

                                    PART III

ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.

     Directors and Executive Officers

     The  following  table sets forth  certain  information  with respect to the
directors and executive  officers of Commerce Bancorp,  Inc. (the "Company") and
the executive officers of the Company's banking subsidiaries.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Name                                  Age            Positions with the Company and Subsidiaries
<S>                                  <C>    <C>                    
Vernon W. Hill, II                    50     Chairman and President of the Company; Chairman and President of Commerce
                                             NJ; Chairman and President of Commerce PA; Chairman of Commerce Shore

C. Edward Jordan, Jr.                 52     Executive Vice President and Director of the Company; Executive Vice
                                             President and Director of Commerce NJ

Robert C. Beck                        60     Secretary and Director of the Company; Secretary and Director of Commerce
                                             NJ

David Baird, IV                       59     Director of the Company and Commerce NJ

Jack R Bershad                        65     Director of the Company, Commerce NJ and Commerce PA

Morton N. Kerr                        65     Director of the Company and Commerce NJ

Steven M. Lewis                       46     Director of the Company, Commerce NJ and Commerce PA

Daniel J. Ragone                      68     Director of the Company and Commerce NJ

Joseph T. Tarquini, Jr.               60     Director of the Company and Commerce NJ

Peter M. Musumeci, Jr.                45     Executive Vice President, Senior Credit Officer, Treasurer and Assistant
                                             Secretary of the Company; Executive Vice President of Commerce NJ; Director
                                             of Commerce PA and Commerce Shore

Robert D. Falese, Jr.                 49     Executive Vice President and Senior Loan Officer of Commerce NJ

Dennis M. DiFlorio                    42     Executive Vice President of Commerce NJ

David Wojcik                          43     Senior Vice President of the Company
</TABLE>

                                        3

<PAGE>

     Mr. Hill, a director of Commerce NJ since 1973 and the Company  since 1982,
has been  Chairman  and/or  President of Commerce NJ since 1973 and Chairman and
President  of the  Company  since 1982.  Mr. Hill also has been  Chairman of the
Board and/or  President of Site  Development,  Inc.,  Cherry Hill, New Jersey, a
developer of real estate, since 1968. Mr. Hill has been Chairman of the Board of
Directors  of Commerce PA from June 1984 to June 1986 and from  January  1987 to
the present,  President of Commerce PA since June,  1994, a director of Commerce
Bank/Harrisburg,  Camp  Hill,  Pennsylvania  since  1985,  and the  Chairman  of
Commerce Shore since January, 1989.

     Mr.  Jordan,  a director of  Commerce  NJ since 1974 and the Company  since
1982,  has been Executive Vice President of Commerce NJ since 1974 and Executive
Vice President of the Company since 1982.

     Mr. Beck, a director of Commerce NJ since 1973 and the Company  since 1982,
has been  Secretary of Commerce NJ since 1973 and Secretary of the Company since
1982.  Mr.  Beck  also has been a  partner  of the law firm of  Parker,  McCay &
Criscuolo, Marlton, New Jersey since 1987.

     Mr. Baird,  a director of the Company and Commerce NJ since 1988,  has been
President of Haddonfield  Lumber  Company,  Inc.,  Cherry Hill, New Jersey since
1962.

     Mr.  Bershad,  a director  of  Commerce  PA since 1984 and the  Company and
Commerce  NJ since  1987,  has been a partner  of the law firm of  Blank,  Rome,
Comisky & McCauley,  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania  and Cherry  Hill,  New Jersey,
since 1964 and its Chairman since 1990.

     Mr. Kerr, a director of Commerce NJ since 1973 and the Company  since 1982,
has been President of Markeim-Chalmers, Inc., Realtors, Cherry Hill, New Jersey,
since 1965.

     Mr.  Lewis,  a director  of  Commerce  PA since 1984 and a director  of the
Company and  Commerce NJ since 1988,  has been  President  of U.S.  Restaurants,
Inc.,  Blue Bell,  Pennsylvania  since 1985 and President of S. J. Dining,  Inc.
since 1986.

     Mr.  Ragone,  a director of  Commerce  NJ since 1981 and the Company  since
1982, has been Chairman of the Board and President of Raible, Lacatena & Beppel,
C.P.A., Haddonfield, New Jersey, or its predecessor firms, since 1960.

     Mr.  Tarquini,  a director of Commerce NJ since 1973 and the Company  since
1982,  has been  President of The Tarquini  Organization,  A.I.A.,  Camden,  New
Jersey,  since 1980.  Prior  thereto,  he had been a partner in its  predecessor
firms.

     Mr. Musumeci has been an Executive Vice President and Senior Credit Officer
of the Company  since 1986;  Treasurer  and  Assistant  Secretary of the Company
since 1984;  Executive  Vice  President  of Commerce NJ since 1986;  Director of
Commerce PA since 1987 and Commerce Shore since 1989.

     Mr.  Falese has been  Executive  Vice  President and Senior Loan Officer of
Commerce NJ since 1992.  From 1990 to 1992,  Mr.  Falese was President and Chief
Executive Officer of Sterling Bank, Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Prior thereto, Mr.
Falese  was an  Executive  Vice  President  and  Senior  Lending  Officer at the
Fidelity Bank, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for more than five years.

     Mr.  DiFlorio  has been an  Executive  Vice  President of Commerce NJ since
January,  1996.  Prior  thereto  Mr.  DiFlorio  was a Senior Vice  President  of
Commerce NJ since 1988.

     Mr. Wojcik has been a Senior Vice President of the Company since 1988.

                                        4

<PAGE>

     Compliance With Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

     Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
directors and executive  officers,  and persons who own more than ten percent of
the Company's Common Stock, to file with the Securities and Exchange  Commission
("SEC")  initial  reports of  ownership  and reports of changes in  ownership of
Common Stock and other  securities of the Company.  Such persons are required by
the SEC to furnish the Company with copies of all Section  16(a) forms that they
file.

     To the Company's  knowledge,  based solely on a review of the copies of the
Section  16(a) reports  furnished to the Company and on written  representations
that no other  reports were required  during the fiscal year ended  December 31,
1995, all of the Company's directors, officers and ten percent stockholders have
complied with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.

ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

     The  following  table is a summary of certain  information  concerning  the
compensation  awarded or paid to, or earned by, the  Company's  chief  executive
officer and each of the Company's other four most highly  compensated  executive
officers (the "named executives") during each of the last three fiscal years.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                Long Term
                                                                              Compensation
                                                                               Securities
                                                             Other             Underlying           All
                 ANNUAL COMPENSATION                         Annual           Stock Option         Other
        Name/Title            Year    Salary      Bonus  Compensation(1)        Grants (2)      Compensation
<S>                           <C>    <C>        <C>        <C>                  <C>            <C>      
Vernon W. Hill, II            1995   $441,000   $125,000   $ 50,779             33,075         $ 37,925 (3)
Chairman of the Board,        1994    390,000    150,000     50,244             - 0 -            36,653
Chief Executive Officer and   1993    316,000    125,000     50,564             65,985           33,005
President of the Company;
Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer and
President of Commerce NJ

C. Edward Jordan, Jr          1995   $225,000   $ 60,000                        22,050          $30,269 (3)
Executive Vice President of   1994    215,000     75,000       --               - 0 -            28,868
the Company; Executive Vice   1993    190,000     75,000       --               50,647           22,916
President of Commerce NJ


Peter M. Musumeci, Jr         1995   $225,000   $ 60,000                        22,050         $ 26,757 (3)
Executive Vice President,     1994    200,000     75,000       --               - 0 -            24,763
Treasurer and Assistant       1993    185,000     50,000       --               50,647           27,072
Secretary of the Company;
Executive Vice President
of Commerce NJ

Robert D. Falese, Jr          1995   $225,000   $ 75,000                        22,050         $ 15,319 (3)
Executive Vice President of   1994    200,000     75,000       --               - 0 -            14,041
Commerce NJ                   1993    175,000     50,000       --               38,492            2,083



                                        5

<PAGE>

Dennis M. DiFlorio            1995   $175,000   $ 75,000                        22,050         $ 10,760 (3)
Executive Vice President of   1994    140,000     60,000       --                - 0 -            8,368
Commerce NJ                   1993    100,000     25,000       --               24,657            7,970

<FN>
- ------------------------

(1)  The total in this  column  reflects  personal  use of a company  car (1995,
     $5,389;  1994, $5,389;  1993,  $5,449),  expense allowances (1995, $36,600;
     1994, $36,600;  1993, $32,600) and country club dues (1995,  $8,790;  1994,
     $8,255; 1993, $12,515). The value of such other annual compensation did not
     exceed the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of salary and bonus for any  individual
     in any year except Mr. Hill in 1993, 1994 and 1995.

(2)  The stock option grants reflected in this column have been adjusted for the
     5% stock dividends declared on January 2, 1996,  December 13, 1994, January
     19, 1994 and January 19, 1993. The original grant was adjusted based on the
     unexercised option shares outstanding on the date of the stock dividend.

(3)  The totals in this column reflect premiums on life insurance (for 1995, Mr.
     Hill, $25,613; Mr. Jordan, $18,685; and Mr. Musumeci,  $14,516);  long-term
     disability  policies (for 1995, Mr. Hill, $4,738;  Mr. Jordan,  $4,010; Mr.
     Musumeci,  $4,667;  Mr.  Falese,  $7,745;  and Mr.  DiFlorio,  $3,186)  and
     contributions  to the  Company's  ESOP (in 1995,  $7,574  each for all five
     individuals).
</FN>
</TABLE>

Employment Agreements

     At the recommendation of the Company's  Personnel  Committee,  the Board of
Directors of the Company approved Employment Agreements for Messrs. Hill, Jordan
and Musumeci.

     Mr. Hill's  Employment  Agreement  provides that he will be employed by the
Company and Commerce NJ as Chairman of the Board,  President and Chief Executive
Officer for a term of five years  effective  January 1, 1992,  provided  that on
each  January 1  thereafter  the  Employment  Agreement  shall be  automatically
renewed and extended for a new five year term unless  either the Company or Hill
gives the other at least  ninety days prior  written  notice of their  desire to
terminate the Agreement, in which event the term will have four years remaining.

     Under the terms of the Employment Agreement, Mr. Hill's "base salary" shall
not be less than $480,000 per year subject to upward adjustment by the Company's
Board of Directors. The Employment Agreement requires Mr. Hill to participate in
any  benefit  or  compensation  programs  in  effect  which are  generally  made
available  from time to time to  executive  officers of the Company and provides
for all other fringe benefits as in effect from time to time which are generally
available to the Company's  salaried  officers  including,  without  limitation,
medical and  hospitalization  coverage,  life insurance  coverage and disability
coverage.

     The  Employment  Agreement  requires the Company to compensate Mr. Hill for
the balance of the term of the  Employment  Agreement at a rate equal to seventy
percent of his annual base salary if he becomes permanently disabled (as defined
in the Employment  Agreement)  during the term and to pay Mr. Hill's  designated
beneficiary  a lump sum death  benefit  if he dies  during the term in an amount
equal to three  times his  average  annual  base  salary in  effect  during  the
twenty-four months immediately preceding his death.

                                        6
<PAGE>

     The Employment  Agreement  allows Mr. Hill to terminate his employment with
the  Company  upon a  change  in  control  of the  Company  (as  defined  in the
Employment  Agreement)  and if within  three  years of such  change in  control,
without Mr.  Hill's  consent,  among other  things,  the nature and scope of his
authority  with the Company or a surviving  or acquiring  person are  materially
reduced to a level  below that which he enjoyed on January 1, 1992.  If Mr. Hill
terminates his employment because of a change in control, he will be entitled to
a lump sum severance  payment equal to four times his average annual base salary
in effect  during  the  twenty-four  month  period  immediately  preceding  such
termination  (provided  that  such  payment  does not  constitute  a  "parachute
payment"  under  Section 280G of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
and in the event such payment would constitute a "parachute payment",  such lump
sum  severance  payment  shall be reduced so as to not  constitute  a "parachute
payment"),   and  the  continuation  of  certain  benefits   including  medical,
hospitalization  and  life  insurance.   The  Employment  Agreement  contains  a
non-competition  covenant for Mr. Hill should his employment with the Company be
terminated under certain circumstances.

     The Employment Agreements for Messrs. Jordan and Musumeci are substantially
similar to that of Mr.  Hill's  except that:  Mr. Jordan will serve as Executive
Vice  President/Chief  Financial Officer of the Company and Commerce NJ, and Mr.
Musumeci will serve as Executive  Vice  President/Senior  Credit  Officer of the
Company and  Commerce NJ. The term of each  Employment  Agreement is three years
and the lump sum  death  benefit  is each  equal to two times  their  respective
average  annual  base  salary in effect  during  the  twenty-four  month  period
preceding  death.  Mr. Jordan's "base salary" under the Employment  Agreement is
$240,000 and Mr.  Musumeci's  "base  salary" under his  Employment  Agreement is
$240,000.

Director Compensation

     Directors of the Company and Commerce NJ were paid an annual fee of $10,000
plus $600 for each meeting of the Board of  Directors  attended in 1995 and will
be paid an annual  fee of  $10,000  plus $750 for each  meeting  of the Board of
Directors  attended  in 1996.  When  meetings of the Board of  Directors  of the
Company and Commerce NJ occur on the same day,  only one fee is paid.  Committee
members  received  a fee of $600  for  each  meeting  attended  in 1995 and will
receive a fee of $750 for each meeting  attended in 1996.  Directors of Commerce
PA are paid a fee of $300 for  each  meeting  of the  Board of  Directors  and a
committee thereof  attended.  Directors of Commerce Shore are paid a fee of $400
for each meeting of the Board of Directors and committee  meeting  attended.  No
fees are paid to  directors  who are also  operating  officers  of the  Company,
Commerce  NJ,  Commerce PA or Commerce  Shore.  Each  director of the Company is
provided with $100,000 of permanent life insurance.

     A  retirement  plan for  outside  directors,  i.e.,  directors  who are not
officers  or  employees  of the  Company on the date their  service as a Company
director  ends,  provides  that  outside  directors  with five or more  years of
service as a Company director are entitled to receive annually, for ten years or
the number of years  served as a director,  whichever is less,  commencing  upon
such  director's  attainment of age 65 and retirement  from the Company Board or
upon such  director's  disability,  payments  equal to the  highest  retainer in
effect  at any time  during  the five year  period  immediately  preceding  such
director's  retirement or, if earlier,  death or  disability.  This plan further
provides  that,  in the event a director  dies before  receiving all benefits to
which he or she is entitled,  such  director's  surviving  spouse is entitled to
receive all benefits not received by the deceased director  commencing upon such
director's  death.  Upon a change in control of the Company,  the plan  provides
that each director then sitting on the Company Board, notwithstanding the length
of time served as a director,  becomes  entitled  to receive  annually,  for ten
years,  or twice the number of years  served as a director,  whichever  is less,
payments  equal to the  higher  of the  director's  retainer  at the time of the
director's  termination  of Board service and the highest  retainer in effect at
any time during the five year period immediately preceding the change in control
commencing on the latest to occur of the  termination  of the  director's  Board
service, attainment of age 65 or any date designated by the director at

                                        7
<PAGE>

any time and from time to time.  The  definition  of  "change  in  control"  for
purposes of this plan  parallels the  definition  of that term  contained in the
Employment Agreements. This plan became effective January 1, 1993.

1989 Stock Option Plan For Non-Employee Directors

     Effective April 24, 1989 (and as amended in 1995),  the Company adopted the
1989 Stock  Option  Plan for  Non-Employee  Directors  (the "1989  Plan")  which
provides for the purchase of a total of not more than 211,066  shares of Company
Common  Stock by members  of the  Boards of  Directors  of the  Company  and its
subsidiary  corporations.  Options  granted  pursuant  to the  1989  Plan may be
exercised  beginning  on the  earlier to occur of (i) one year after the date of
their  grant or (ii) a  "change  in  control"  of the  Company,  as such term is
defined in the 1989 Plan.

     Each  non-employee  director  of  the  Company  or any  Company  subsidiary
corporation who on or after May 1, 1989 is elected or reelected as a director of
the Company or any subsidiary  corporation  at any annual or special  meeting of
shareholder(s) of the Company or any Company subsidiary  corporation will, as of
the date of such election or reelection,  automatically  be granted an option to
purchase 500 shares of the Company's  Common  Stock;  however,  no  non-employee
director may receive an option or options to purchase  more than 1,000 shares of
Common  Stock in any one  calendar  year.  The  maximum  number of shares of the
Company  Common  Stock as to which  options  may be granted to any  non-employee
director under the 1989 Plan is 10,000 shares.

     The 1989 Plan is  administered  by the Board of  Directors  of the Company,
including  non-employee  directors.  Options granted under the 1989 Plan are not
"incentive stock options" as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended. Option prices are intended to equal 100% of the fair market
value of the Company's  Common Stock on the date of the election or  re-election
of the non-employee directors.

     For the year ended December 31, 1995, Messrs.  Baird, Beck, Bershad,  Kerr,
Lewis,  Ragone and Tarquini  each  received  options  under the Plan to purchase
1,050  shares of Company  Common  Stock (as  adjusted  to  reflect  the 5% stock
dividend  declared on January 2, 1996).  Such  options were not  exercisable  in
1995.

1984 Incentive Stock Option Plan

     Effective April 14, 1984, the Company  adopted the Company  Incentive Stock
Option Plan (the "1984 Plan") which  provided for the purchase of a total of not
more than  1,284,011  shares of Company  Common Stock (as adjusted for all stock
splits and stock  dividends  through May 1, 1996) by key employees.  Options may
not be granted under the 1984 Plan after  December 31, 1993.  The purpose of the
1984 Plan was to enable the  Company to  continue  to  compete  successfully  in
attracting and retaining key employees. Key executive and other employees of the
Company and its  subsidiaries  were  eligible to receive  options under the 1984
Plan. No further options may be granted under the 1984 Plan.

     Options granted  pursuant to the 1984 Plan were not  exercisable  until one
year after the date of grant and then were  exercisable  pursuant  to a schedule
based on years of service or option holding  period.  Options  granted under the
1984 Plan were intended to constitute  "incentive  stock  options" as defined in
Section 422 of the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as amended  (the  "Code").
Option  prices  were  intended  to equal  100% of the fair  market  value of the
Company's  Common Stock on the date of grant.  Recipients  of options  under the
1984 Plan were determined by the Personnel Committee.

                                        8
<PAGE>

     There was no limit on the number of shares for which options may be granted
to any single employee under the 1984 Plan,  except that incentive stock options
first  exercisable  by an  employee in any one year under the 1984 Plan (and all
other Plans of the Company) may not exceed $100,000 in value  (determined at the
time of grant).  Payment of the option  price on exercise  of options  under the
1984 Plan may be made in cash,  shares of Company  Common Stock or a combination
of both.

     Options granted under the 1984 Plan are not transferable other than by will
or by the  laws of  descent  and  distribution.  The  Board  of  Directors  or a
committee  thereof  fixed the term (which may not be more than ten years) of the
options,  but the  options are  subject to earlier  termination  in the event of
termination of  employment,  death,  or disability.  The 1984 Plan provided that
during the lifetime of an optionee,  his option is  exercisable  only by him and
only while  employed by the Company or a  subsidiary  or within (i) three months
after his  retirement,  or (ii) three months after he otherwise  ceases to be so
employed,  to  the  extent  the  option  was  exercisable  on  the  last  day of
employment. For these purposes, retirement means termination of employment by an
optionee who has attained age 65. If an optionee retires due to disability,  his
options may be exercised  within  twelve  months of his  retirement  date. If an
optionee dies within a period during which his option could have been  exercised
by him,  his option may be  exercised  within one year of his death  (unless the
option  earlier  terminates)  by those  entitled  under  his will or the laws of
descent and  distribution,  but only to the extent the option was exercisable by
him immediately prior to his death.

1994 Employee Stock Option Plan

     Effective May 24, 1994, the Company adopted the Company 1994 Employee Stock
Option Plan (the "Employee Stock Option Plan" or "Plan").  Pursuant to the Stock
Option  Plan,  stock  options may be granted  which  qualify  under the Internal
Revenue Code as  incentive  stock  options as well as stock  options that do not
qualify as  incentive  stock  options.  All  officers  and key  employees of the
Company or any current or future subsidiary  corporation are eligible to receive
options under the Employee Stock Option Plan. As of May 1, 1996, 531,881 options
had been granted  under the Plan.  The Plan replaced the 1984 Plan which expired
on December 31, 1993.

     The purpose of the  Employee  Stock  Option  Plan is to provide  additional
incentive  to  employees  of the  Company by  encouraging  them to invest in the
Company's Common Stock and thereby acquire a proprietary interest in the Company
and an  increased  personal  interest  in the  Company's  continued  success and
progress.  The  Employee  Stock  Option Plan is  administered  by the  Personnel
Committee  ("Committee")  which  is  appointed  by the  Board of  Directors  and
consists  only of Directors  who are not eligible to receive  options  under the
Employee Stock Option Plan. The Committee determines,  among other things, which
officers and key employees receive an option or options under the Employee Stock
Option Plan, the type of option (incentive stock options or non-qualified  stock
options,  or both) to be granted,  the number of shares  subject to each option,
the rate of option  exercisability,  and, subject to certain other provisions to
be discussed below,  the option price and duration of the option.  No individual
may be granted,  in any  calendar  year,  a number of options  that is more than
100,000 and incentive stock options first  exercisable by an employee in any one
year under the Plan (and all other plans of the Company) may not exceed $100,000
in  value  (determined  at  the  time  of  grant).  The  Committee  may,  in its
discretion,  modify  or  amend  any of the  option  terms  hereafter  described,
provided that if an incentive  option is granted  under the Plan,  the option as
modified or amended continues to be an incentive stock option.

     The  aggregate  number of shares  which may be issued upon the  exercise of
options under the Employee Stock Option Plan is 1,102,500 shares of Common Stock
(as adjusted for all stock splits and stock  dividends  through May 1, 1996). In
the event of any change in the  capitalization of the Company,  such as by stock
dividend,  stock  split  or what  the  Board  of  Directors  deems  in its  sole
discretion to be similar circumstances,  the aggregate number and kind of shares
which may be issued under the Plan will be

                                        9
<PAGE>

appropriately  adjusted in a manner  determined  in the sole  discretion  of the
Board of Directors.  Reacquired shares of the Company's Common Stock, as well as
unissued  shares,  may be used for the purpose of the Plan.  Common Stock of the
Company subject to options which have terminated unexercised, either in whole or
in part, will be available for future options granted under the Plan. The option
price for options  issued under the Employee  Stock Option Plan must be at least
equal to 100% of the fair  market  value of the Common  Stock as of the date the
option is granted.

     Payment of the option price on exercise of options  granted  under the Plan
may be made in (a) cash, (b) Company  Common Stock,  which will be valued by the
Secretary of the Company at its fair market value or (c) any combination of cash
and Common Stock of the Company valued as provided in clause (b).

     Except as otherwise  described below, none of the options granted under the
Employee Stock Option Plan may be exercised during the first year after the date
granted.  Thereafter, each optionee may exercise options held more than one year
based  upon  years of service or option  holding  period,  whichever  is sooner,
pursuant to the following schedule:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                               Option Holding
         Years of Service                                          Period

<S>                                <C>                       <C>                      <C>
         Less than 3 years            25%                          0-1 year                 0%
    More than 3 years and less
           than 6 years               50%                          1-2 years               25%
    More than 6 years and less
           than 8 years               75%                          2-3 years               50%
                                                                   3-4 years               75%
         More than 8 years           100%                      More than 4 years          100%
</TABLE>

     In the event of a "change in  control"  of the  Company,  as defined in the
Employee  Stock  Option  Plan,  each  optionee  may exercise the total number of
shares then subject to the option.  The  Committee  has the authority to provide
for a different rate of option exercisability for any optionee.

     Unless  terminated  earlier by the option's terms,  incentive stock options
expire ten years after the date they are granted and non-qualified stock options
expire ten years after the date they are granted. Options terminate three months
after the date on which  employment is terminated  (whether such  termination be
voluntary  or  involuntary),  other than by reason of death or  disability.  The
option  terminates  one  year  from  the  date of  termination  due to  death or
disability (but not later than the scheduled  termination date). Options granted
pursuant  to the Plan are not  transferable,  except  by the will or the laws of
descent and distribution in the event of death.  During an optionee's  lifetime,
the option is exercisable only by the optionee, including, for this purpose, the
optionee's legal guardian or custodian in the event of disability.

     The Company's  Board of Directors has the right at any time,  and from time
to time, to modify,  amend,  suspend or terminate the Plan, without  shareholder
approval,   except  to  the  extent  that  shareholder   approval  of  the  Plan
modification  or  amendment  is required by the Code,  to permit the granting of
incentive  stock options under the Plan. Any such action will not affect options
previously  granted.  If the Board of Directors  voluntarily  submits a proposed
modification,  amendment,  suspension or termination for  shareholder  approval,
such  submission  will  not  require  any  future   modifications,   amendments,
suspensions or terminations

                                       10
<PAGE>

(whether  or not  relating  to the  same  provision  or  subject  matter)  to be
similarly submitted for shareholder approval.

Stock Options

         The following table sets forth certain  information  regarding  options
granted to the named executive officers in 1995.



                          OPTION GRANTS IN FISCAL 1995

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                   Number of               % of Total
                                  Securities                Options
                                  Underlying                Granted
                                    Options               to Employees        Exercise       Expiration            Grant Date
           Name                   Granted(1)          in Last Fiscal Year     Price(1)          Date             Present Value (2)
<S>                                 <C>                      <C>              <C>          <C>                     <C>     
Vernon W. Hill, II                  33,075                   12.7%            $17.86        January 1, 2005         $184,228
C. Edward Jordan, Jr.               22,050                    8.5              17.86        January 1, 2005          122,819
Peter M. Musumeci, Jr.              22,050                    8.5              17.86        January 1, 2005          122,819
Robert D. Falese, Jr.               22,050                    8.5              17.86        January 1, 2005          122,819
Dennis M. DiFlorio                  22,050                    8.5              17.86        January 1, 2005          122,819
<FN>
- -----------------------------

(1)  The stock option grants and exercise price  reflected in these columns have
     been adjusted for the 5% stock dividends  declared on December 13, 1994 and
     January 2, 1996.

(2)  In  accordance  with  Securities  and  Exchange   Commission   rules,   the
     Black-Scholes  option  pricing  model was chosen to estimate the grant date
     present value of the options set forth in this table.  The Company's use of
     this model  should not be construed  as an  endorsement  of its accuracy at
     valuing  options.   All  stock  option  valuation  models,   including  the
     Black-Scholes  model,  required a prediction  about future  movement of the
     stock price. The assumptions used in the model were expected  volatility of
     .31,  risk-free rate of return of 7.04%,  dividend yield of 3.92%, and time
     to  exercise  of 10 years.  The real  value of the  options  in this  table
     depends upon the actual  performance  of The Company's  Common Stock during
     the applicable period.
</FN>
</TABLE>

          The  following   table  sets  forth  certain   information   regarding
     individual  exercises  of stock  options  during  1995 by each of the named
     executives in 1995.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                    AGGREGATED STOCK OPTION EXERCISES IN 1995 AND YEAR-END STOCK OPTION VALUES

                                                                     Number of Securities
                                   Shares                           Underlying Unexercised           Value of Unexercised in the
                                 Acquired on      Value                Stock Options at                 Money Stock Options
           Name                   Exercise       Realized              Year-End 1995 (1)                 at Year-End 1995
                                                                  Exercisable     Unexercisable    Exercisable        Unexercisable
<S>                                <C>           <C>                 <C>              <C>           <C>                 <C>     
Vernon W. Hill, II                 28,772        $124,757            83,768           33,075        $737,255           $106,534
C. Edward Jordan, Jr.              19,336         244,896            81,329           22,050         739,872             71,023
Peter M. Musumeci, Jr.              4,654          79,076            77,872           22,050         692,045             71,023
Robert D. Falese, Jr.                 -              -               19,281           39,741         151,470            208,591
Dennis M. DiFlorio                    -              -               46,505           22,050         455,819             71,023
<FN>
- -------------------------

(1)  The stock  options  reflected in this column have been adjusted for the 5%
     stock dividend declared on January 2, 1996.
</FN>
</TABLE>

                                       11

<PAGE>

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

     Effective January 1, 1989, the Company's Board of Directors established the
Commerce  Bancorp,  Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP") as a restatement
of the Company's Stock Bonus Plan. Employees of the Company and its subsidiaries
are eligible to participate in the ESOP if they are at least 21 years of age and
have  completed  at  least  1,000  hours  of  service  to  the  Company  or  its
subsidiaries  during the  twelve-month  period  beginning on the date of hire or
during any  subsequent  calendar  year.  Participants  are 100%  vested in their
accounts under the ESOP upon death, total disability,  a complete discontinuance
of  contributions  by the  Company,  termination  of  the  ESOP,  and a  partial
termination  of the ESOP where a  participant  is involved in that  termination.
Except as provided above,  generally,  participants are 20% vested after 3 years
of credited  service,  increasing  by 20% for each  additional  year of credited
service so that  participants  are 100% vested in their  accounts under the ESOP
after seven years of credited service with the Company or a subsidiary.

     Subject to limitations contained in the Code,  contributions by the Company
to the ESOP are deductible for federal income tax purposes.  Except as described
below,  such  contributions  are determined  annually by the Company's  Board of
Directors at its discretion.  Contributions  may consist either of shares of the
Company's  stock,  or cash,  which may be invested by the trustees of the ESOP's
trust in shares of the  Company's  stock or to provide funds to pay principal or
interest  on  any  indebtedness  incurred  by the  ESOP  in  purchasing  shares.
Contributions  by the  Company are  allocated  as of the close of each plan year
among  accounts  of  participants  in the ESOP.  Each  participant's  account is
credited with that portion of contributions by the Company as such participant's
compensation (as defined in the ESOP) bears to all participants' compensation.

     In January 1990, the ESOP Trust  purchased  417,000 shares of Series C ESOP
Preferred Stock ("ESOP Shares") from the Company for an aggregate purchase price
of  $7,500,000.  The ESOP Trust  borrowed the purchase price for the ESOP Shares
from an unaffiliated  bank, which loan was refinanced with another  unaffiliated
bank in 1994  (the  "Loan").  The  Loan is  guaranteed  by the  Company  and its
subsidiaries,  and is secured by the pledge of the ESOP Shares obtained with the
proceeds of the Loan.  The Company has agreed to  contribute to the ESOP amounts
sufficient  to permit the ESOP to make  principal  and interest  payments on the
Loan.  Pursuant to the loan agreement with the ESOP's bank lender,  a portion of
the ESOP Shares  pledged by the ESOP for  repayment of the Loan will be released
from the pledge  according to a formula  based on the portion of  principal  and
interest  which  has been  repaid  each  year.  As of  December  31,  1995,  the
outstanding principal balance on the Loan was $4,359,000.

     The  co-trustees  of the ESOP are Vernon W. Hill, II and C. Edward  Jordan,
Jr.  Each  participant  may direct the  trustees  of the ESOP's  trust as to the
manner in which shares of voting stock allocated to his account are to be voted.
Each participant in the ESOP is entitled to direct the trustees as to the voting
of the ESOP Shares which are released from the pledge and which are allocated to
his account under the ESOP.

                                       12
<PAGE>

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

     Effective January 1, 1992, the Company established a Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan ("SERP") for certain  designated  executives in order to provide
supplemental  retirement  income  if the  Company's  ESOP  and  Social  Security
retirement  benefits fall below sixty percent of average annual  compensation at
the time of retirement. Average annual compensation is defined as the average of
the actual annual  compensation  paid to the executive by the Company during the
period of three consecutive years which produces the highest such average during
the ten year period ending with termination of employment. The SERP is unfunded,
is not a qualified  plan under the Code and  benefits  are paid  directly by the
Company.  Messrs.  Hill,  Jordan,  Musumeci,   Falese  and  DiFlorio  have  been
designated to participate in the SERP.

Personnel Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

     The Personnel  Committee  members are Morton N. Kerr,  Daniel J. Ragone and
Jack R Bershad.

     Mr. Kerr, a director of the Company, is the President of  Markeim-Chalmers,
Inc. which in 1995 received  $220,500 in fees for real estate related  services,
primarily real estate appraisals.

     Mr. Bershad, a director of the Company, is a member of a law firm which the
Company and its subsidiaries have retained during the Company's last fiscal year
and which the Company and its  subsidiaries  intend to retain during its current
fiscal year. See "Certain Transactions."

ITEM 12.        SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
                MANAGEMENT.

Common Stock

     The following table sets forth, as of May 1, 1996, the beneficial ownership
of the Company  Common  Stock by each  director  and nominee for director of the
Company,  each of the  executive  officers of the  Company  named in the Summary
Compensation table and by the directors,  nominees for directors,  and executive
officers  of the  Company as a group.  No person is known by the  Company to own
beneficially  more than 5% of the Company's  outstanding  Common  Stock.  Unless
otherwise  specified,  all persons  listed below have sole voting and investment
power with respect to their shares.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                               COMMON STOCK

 Name of Beneficial                                        Number of Shares
      Owner or                                               Beneficially                         Percent of
  Identity of Group                                           Owned(1)(2)                          Class(2)
<S>                                                           <C>                               <C>      
David Baird, IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                     69,752 (3)                         *
Robert C. Beck. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                    113,445 (4)                         1.00%
Jack R Bershad. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                     42,814 (5)                         *
Vernon W. Hill, II. . . . . . . . . . . . .                    513,905 (6)                         4.48
C. Edward Jordan, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . .                    165,036 (7)                         1.44
Morton N. Kerr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                     85,729 (8)                         *

                                                       13

<PAGE>

Steven M. Lewis . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                    125,148 (9)                         1.10
Daniel J. Ragone. . . . . . . . . . . . . .                     54,379 (10)                        *
Joseph T. Tarquini, Jr. . . . . . . . . . .                    163,190 (11)                        1.44
Peter M. Musumeci, Jr . . . . . . . . . . .                    133,481 (12)                        1.17
Robert D. Falese, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . .                     33,828 (13)                        *
Dennis M. DiFlorio. . . . . . . . . . . . .                     81,201 (14)                        *
All Directors, Nominees for
Directors and Executive Officers
of the Company as a Group (13 Persons)                       1,558,401 (15)                       13.14%
<FN>
- -----------------------------
*less than 1%

     (1) The securities  "beneficially  owned" are determined in accordance with
the definitions of "beneficial ownership" as set forth in the regulations of the
Securities and Exchange  Commission  and,  accordingly,  may include  securities
owned by or for, among others,  the wife and/or minor children of the individual
and any other relative who has the same residence as such  individual as well as
other  securities as to which the  individual has or shares voting or investment
power or has the right to acquire under outstanding stock options within 60 days
after May 1, 1996.  Beneficial  ownership may be disclaimed as to certain of the
securities.

     (2) The figures in these  columns do not reflect the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon  conversion  of the Series C ESOP  Preferred  Stock.  As of May 1,
1996,  each share of Series C ESOP  cumulative  convertible  Preferred Stock was
convertible into 1.4071 shares of Common Stock.

     (3) Includes  5,801 shares of Common  Stock  issuable  upon the exercise of
stock  options   granted  under  the  Company's   1989  Stock  Option  Plan  for
Non-Employee Directors.

     (4) Includes  5,933 shares of Common  Stock  issuable  upon the exercise of
stock  options   granted  under  the  Company's   1989  Stock  Option  Plan  for
Non-Employee Directors.

     (5) Includes  17,226 shares of Common Stock held by Mr.  Bershad's wife and
8,547 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options granted
to Mr.  Bershad  under the  Company's  1989 Stock  Option Plan for  Non-Employee
Directors.

     (6) Includes  37,094 shares held by Site  Development  Inc.,  10,543 shares
held by the wife of Mr. Hill,  47,897 shares held by S. J. Dining,  Inc., 45,298
shares held by U.S.  Restaurants,  Inc., 48,739 shares held by J.V.  Properties,
11,766 shares held by Business  Interiors,  Inc., 31,128 shares held by the Hill
Family Trust and 4,363 shares  allocated to Mr. Hill by the Company's  ESOP. Mr.
Hill is the Chairman of the Board of Site Development, Inc., a shareholder of S.
J. Dining,  Inc., a  shareholder  of U.S.  Restaurants,  Inc., a partner in J.V.
Properties,  a  co-trustee  and  beneficiary  of the  Hill  Family  Trust  and a
co-trustee and beneficiary of the Company's ESOP Trust. Business Interiors, Inc.
is a company owned by Mr. Hill's wife. This amount also includes  116,843 shares
of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options  granted to Mr. Hill
under the  Company's  1984 and 1994 Stock  Option  Plans.  This  amount does not
include 2,737 shares of Series C ESOP  Cumulative  Convertible  Preferred  Stock
allocated to Mr. Hill by the Company's ESOP nor does it include any  unallocated
shares of Common Stock or Series C ESOP  Preferred  Stock held by the  Company's
ESOP.

                                       14
<PAGE>

     (7) Includes  103,379  shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
stock  options  granted to Mr.  Jordan under the  Company's  1984 and 1994 Stock
Option Plans,  3,172 shares  allocated to Mr.  Jordan by the Company's  ESOP, of
which Mr. Jordan is a co-trustee and  beneficiary,  and 484 shares held in trust
for Mr.  Jordan's minor  children.  This amount does not include 2,586 shares of
Series C ESOP Preferred  Stock allocated to Mr. Jordan by the Company's ESOP nor
does it  include  any  unallocated  shares  of  Common  Stock  or  Series C ESOP
Preferred Stock held by the Company's ESOP.

     (8)  Includes 140 shares of Common  Stock held by Mr.  Kerr's wife,  83,944
shares  held by the  Markeim-Chalmers,  Inc.  Pension  Plan and 1,050  shares of
Common Stock  issuable  upon the exercise of stock  options  granted to Mr. Kerr
under  the  Company's  1989  Stock  Option  Plan  for  Non-Employee   Directors.
Markeim-Chalmers, Inc. is a company owned by Mr. Kerr.

     (9) Includes 47,897 shares held by S. J. Dining,  Inc.,  45,298 shares held
by U.S.  Restaurants,  Inc. and 8,547 shares of Common Stock  issuable  upon the
exercise of stock options  granted to Mr. Lewis under the  Company's  1989 Stock
Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors.  Mr. Lewis is President of S. J. Dining,
Inc. and President of U.S.  Restaurants,  Inc.  This amount also includes  1,342
shares held in trust for Mr. Lewis' minor children.

     (10) Includes  13,883 shares held by Mr.  Ragone's wife and 2,152 shares of
Common Stock  issuable upon the exercise of stock options  granted to Mr. Ragone
under the Company's 1989 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors.

     (11)  Includes  14,907  shares  held by The  Tarquini  Organization  Profit
Sharing Plan,  2,205 shares held by The Tarquini  Foundation and 8,547 shares of
Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options granted to Mr. Tarquini
under the  Company's  1989 Stock  Option Plan for  Non-Employee  Directors.  Mr.
Tarquini is the President of The Tarquini Organization.

     (12) Includes  99,922 shares of Common Stock  issuable upon the exercise of
stock options  granted to Mr.  Musumeci  under the Company's 1984 and 1994 Stock
Option Plans,  2,747 shares of Common Stock  allocated to Mr. Musumeci under the
Company's  ESOP but does not include  2,586  shares of Series C ESOP  Cumulative
Convertible Preferred Stock allocated to Mr. Musumeci by the Company's ESOP.

     (13) Includes  30,306 shares of Common Stock  issuable upon the exercise of
stock  options  granted to Mr.  Falese under the  Company's  1984 and 1994 Stock
Option  Plans and 104 shares of Common Stock  allocated to Mr.  Falese under the
Company's  ESOP.  This amount also includes 69 shares held by Mr.  Falese's wife
and 2,427  shares  held by her in trust for their  minor  daughter.  It does not
include  835  shares of Series C ESOP  Cumulative  Convertible  Preferred  Stock
allocated to Mr. Falese under the Company's ESOP.

     (14) Includes  68,555 shares of Common Stock  issuable upon the exercise of
stock options  granted to Mr.  DiFlorio  under the Company's 1984 and 1994 Stock
Option Plans and 746 shares of Common Stock  allocated to Mr. DiFlorio under the
Company's  ESOP.  It does not include  1,718 shares of Series C ESOP  Cumulative
Convertible Preferred Stock allocated to Mr. DiFlorio under the Company's ESOP.

     (15) Includes an aggregate of 519,030  shares of Common Stock issuable upon
the  exercise  of stock  options  granted to  directors  and  certain  executive
officers of the Company under the Company's Stock Option Plans.
</FN>
</TABLE>

                                       15
<PAGE>

Series C ESOP Preferred Stock

     As of May 1, 1996, all of the 417,000 shares of the Series C ESOP Preferred
Stock outstanding were held of record by the Company's ESOP Trust. Additionally,
as of such date, the ESOP Trust held of record 69,637 shares of Common Stock. As
of May 1, 1996,  174,834  shares of Series C ESOP  Preferred  Stock,  and 69,637
shares of Common  Stock  held by the ESOP  Trust were  allocated  to  individual
participant  accounts.  See  "Employee  Stock  Ownership  Plan".  If  all of the
unallocated  shares of Series C ESOP Preferred  Stock held of record by the ESOP
Trust as of May 1, 1996,  were  converted  into Common  Stock,  the  unallocated
shares of Common Stock the ESOP Trust would hold of record would be 2.86% of the
Common Stock.

ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.

     Certain  directors  and  executive  officers of the  Company,  Commerce NJ,
Commerce PA and Commerce Shore,  certain of their  immediate  family members and
certain  corporations or  organizations  with which they are affiliated have had
and expect to continue to have loan and other banking transactions with Commerce
NJ,  Commerce  PA  and  Commerce  Shore.   All  such  loans  and  other  banking
transactions  were  made  in the  ordinary  course  of  business,  were  made on
substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral,  as those
prevailing at the time for comparable  transactions for unrelated  parties,  and
did not involve more than the normal risk of  uncollectibility  or present other
unfavorable features.

     The Board of Directors of the Company approves all transactions in which an
officer or director of the Company or any of its  subsidiaries  has an interest.
In the case of a transaction  involving a director of the Company, such director
does not vote on the transaction.

     Mr. Kerr, a director of the Company, is the President of  Markeim-Chalmers,
Inc. which in 1995 received  $222,500 in fees for real estate related  services,
primarily real estate appraisals.

     Messrs.  Beck and Bershad,  directors  of the  Company,  are members of law
firms which the Company and its subsidiaries  have retained during the Company's
last fiscal year and which the  Company  and its  subsidiaries  intend to retain
during its current fiscal year.

     Commerce NJ leases the ground for five of its branch  offices  from limited
partnerships  in which Mr. Hill is a partner or in which a corporation  owned by
Mr. Hill is a partner.  Pursuant to the terms of the ground leases,  Commerce NJ
has  constructed  its own buildings and pays annual rent from $24,000 to $60,000
per lease for the first five years increasing to $30,000 to $91,253 for the last
five years of each lease.  These leases which have  expiration  dates of 2004 to
2010, are each renewable for four additional terms of five years each.

     The Company leases land to a limited partnership partially comprised of the
directors of Commerce PA and the Company  including  Messrs.  Bershad,  Hill and
Lewis and a  corporation  owned by Mr. Hill.  The term of the lease is 25 years.
The minimum  annual lease payments to be received by the Company are $51,700 for
the first five years,  $53,300 for years 6-10, $55,300 for years 11-15,  $57,300
for years  16-20 and  $59,300  for years  21-25.  The  limited  partnership  has
constructed  an office  building on the site, and Commerce PA has leased part of
the building for 15 years for a branch  office,  with options to renew for three
successive  five-year periods.  The annual rent for that portion of the building
is $91,000 for years 1-5, $100,000 for years 6-10, and $110,000 for years 11-15.

     Management  believes  that  the  rental  paid or  received  for each of the
foregoing  leases is comparable to the rental which they would have to pay to or
would have  received  from,  as the case may be, and that the option  prices are
comparable to or more favorable than those that could have been obtained or

                                       16

<PAGE>

received from,  non-affiliated  parties in similar  commercial  transactions for
similar locations, assuming that such locations were available.

     During 1995,  Commerce NJ, Commerce PA and Commerce Shore obtained interior
design,  facilities  management and general contractor services in the amount of
$496,000 from a business  corporation  of which Shirley Hill,  wife of Vernon W.
Hill, II, is a principal  shareholder  and the president.  Additionally,  during
1995 the business  received  commissions  of $931,000 on furniture  and facility
purchases made directly by Commerce NJ,  Commerce PA and Commerce  Shore.  These
expenditures  related primarily to the furnishing and related design services of
the opening and/or  refurbishing  of certain  offices during the period.  In the
opinion of management, such expenses were substantially equivalent to those that
would  have  been paid to  unaffiliated  companies  for  similar  furniture  and
services.

                                       17
<PAGE>

                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant  to the  requirements  of  Section  13 or 15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to its
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December 31, 1995 to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                       COMMERCE BANCORP, INC.


Date:     May 13, 1996                          By:   /s/ C. Edward Jordan, Jr.
                                                     -------------------------
                                                     C. Edward Jordan, Jr.
                                                     Executive Vice President

                                       18


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