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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 OLZtToVyZ9iEmyOsz4SmLg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000022356-03-000083.txt : 20030307
<SEC-HEADER>0000022356-03-000083.hdr.sgml : 20030307
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030307165421
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000022356-03-000083
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030307
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030307

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PETRIE MICHAEL J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001182113
		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:		8162342081

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:		03596641

	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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>petrie030603.txt
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 - MICHAEL J. PETRIE
<TEXT>
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)
   Petrie, Michael J.
   1000 Walnut Street
   Kansas City, MO  64106

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
   3/6/2003

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)
   Senior 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                                  03/06/03    A (1)    355           A  $0.000000    5,063          D  Direct
Common Stock                                                                                     14,351         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>
Non-Qualified Stock Option     $37.220000      03/06/03       A         5,000                             03/06/03 (2) 03/05/13
(right to buy)

<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>
Non-Qualified Stock Option     03/06/03  Common Stock                   5,000                     5,000         D   Direct
(right to buy)

<FN>
Explanation of Responses:

(1)
Award of stock pursuant to CBI Restricted Stock Plan.
(2)
The option vests in four equal annual installments beginning on March 6, 2003.

</FN>
</TABLE>

SIGNATURE OF REPORTING PERSON
/S/ By: Jeffery D. Aberdeen
    For: Michael J. Petrie

DATE 03/07/03

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