-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 oEnVQ2U64IWjJ8sBjK/oxQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000022356-03-000022.txt : 20030121
<SEC-HEADER>0000022356-03-000022.hdr.sgml : 20030120
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030121170714
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000022356-03-000022
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030117
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030121

SUBJECT COMPANY:	

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COMMERCE BANCSHARES INC /MO/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000022356
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				430889454
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MO
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-02989
		FILM NUMBER:		03519877

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 WALNUT
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64106
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8162342000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 13686
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64199

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEADBEATER SETH M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001184689
		RELATIONSHIP:				OFFICER

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 13686
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64199-3686
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3143011700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 13686
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64199-3686
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>leadbeater.txt
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -- SETH LEADBEATER
<TEXT>
4
1
<SROS>NASD
<REPORTING-OWNER>
  0001184689
  Officer
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<SUBJECT-COMPANY>
  Commerce Bancshares, Inc.
  0000022356
  <IRS-NUMBER>430889454
</SUBJECT-COMPANY>
<PERIOD>01/17/03
4
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 4
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

[ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16.
    Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue.
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person(s)
   Leadbeater, Seth M.
   8000 Forsyth Blvd.


   Clayton, MO  63105
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
   Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (CBSH)
3. I.R.S. Identification Number of Reporting Person, if an entity (Voluntary)

4. Statement for Month/Day/Year
   1/17/2003
5. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Day/Year)
6. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)
   [ ] Director                   [ ] 10% Owner
   [X] Officer (give title below) [ ] Other (specify below)
   Executive Vice President
7. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
   [X] Form filed by One Reporting Person
   [ ] Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Table I   Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1)Title of Security                           2)Trans-    3.Trans- 4.Securities Acquired(A)      5)Amount of    6)  7)Nature of
                                              action      action   or Disposed of (D)            Securities         Indirect
                                              Date        Code                   A               Beneficially   D   Beneficial
                                              (Month/                            or              Owned at       or  Ownership
                                              Day/Year)   Code V   Amount        D  Price        End of Month   I
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                           <C>         <C>      <C>           <C><C>          <C>            <C><C>
Common Stock                                  01/17/03    S        3,436         D  $40.900000                  D  Direct
Common Stock                                  01/17/03    S        300           D  $41.010000                  D  Direct
Common Stock                                  01/17/03    S        5,800         D  $41.000000                  D  Direct
Common Stock                                  01/17/03    M        9,536         A  $13.429388   16,240         D  Direct
Common Stock                                                                                     3,968          I  Thrift Plan

<CAPTION>
Table II (PART 1)  Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned  (Columns 1 through 6)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1)Title of Derivative          2)Conversion    3)Trans-       4)Trans-  5)Number of Derivative            6)Date Exercisable and
Security                       or Exercise     action         action    Securities Acquired (A)           Expiration Date
                               Price of        Date           Code      or Disposed of (D)
                               Derivative
                               Security                       Code  V   A                D                Exercisable  Expiration
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                            <C>             <C>            <C>       <C>              <C>              <C>          <C>
Stock Option (right to buy)    $13.429388      01/17/03       M                          9,536                         02/03/04

<CAPTION>
Table II (PART 2)  Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned  (Columns 1,3 and 7 through 11)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1)Title of Derivative          3)Trans-  7)Title and Amount                           8)Price     9)Number of   10) 11)Nature of
Security                       action    of Underlying                                of Deri-    Derivative        Indirect
                               Date      Securities                                   vative      Securities    D   Beneficial
                                                                        Amount or     Security    Beneficially  or  Ownership
                                                                        Number of                 Owned at      I
                  -                      Title                          Shares                    End of Month
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                            <C>       <C>                            <C>           <C>         <C>           <C> <C>
Stock Option (right to buy)    01/17/03  Common Stock                   9,536                     6,978         D   Direct

<FN>
Explanation of Responses:

- -
Stock Holdings adjusted to include 5% Stock Dividend, record date 11/29/2002; payable 12/13/2002.

</FN>
</TABLE>
SIGNATURE OF REPORTING PERSON
/S/ By: Jeffery D. Aberdeen
    For: Seth M. Leadbeater
DATE 01/21/03


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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