
<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. 5/31/97 Form 8-K and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   5-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-31-1997
<CASH>                                         742,346
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0<F1>
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               205,785
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                 7,857
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  2,647,005<F2>
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      5,722,906<F3>
<ALLOWANCE>                                    103,815
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               9,688,992
<DEPOSITS>                                   8,252,204
<SHORT-TERM>                                   414,498
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             76,911
<LONG-TERM>                                     13,531
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       187,827
<OTHER-SE>                                     744,021
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               9,688,992
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                199,130
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               68,361<F4>
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 6,978
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               274,610
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             106,837
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             115,792
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          158,818
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   12,329
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 305
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                137,911
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 78,074
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      50,527
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    50,527
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.34
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.55<F5>
<LOANS-NON>                                     13,898
<LOANS-PAST>                                    26,308
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                98,223
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   13,712
<RECOVERIES>                                     3,654
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              103,815
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           103,815
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
<FN>
<F1>Certificates of deposit of $297,000 are included in Investments-
Held-For-Sale
<F2>Excludes non-marketable investment securities of $41,622,000.
<F3>Gross of allowance for loan losses.
<F4>Excludes interest of $141,000 on trading account securities.
<F5>Yield is computed on a tax equivalent basis.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>
