Consolidated Statements Of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2011
INTEREST INCOME
Interest and fees on loans	$ 111,756		$ 118,377
Interest and fees on loans held for sale	105		298
Interest on investment securities	53,758		54,889
Interest on short-term federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell	17		10
Interest on long-term securities purchased under agreements to resell	4,275		2,162
Interest on deposits with banks	55		90
Total interest income	169,966		175,826
INTEREST EXPENSE
Savings, interest checking and money market	5,081		6,900
Time open and C.D.'s of less than $100,000	2,106		3,743
Time open and C.D.'s of $100,000 and over	1,911		2,673
Interest on federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase	225		622
Interest on other borrowings	906		915
Total interest expense	10,229		14,853
Net interest income	159,737		160,973
Provision for loan losses	8,165		15,789
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	151,572		145,184
NON-INTEREST INCOME
Bank card transaction fees	34,733		37,462
Trust fees	22,814		21,572
Deposit account charges and other fees	19,336		19,300
Capital market fees	6,871		4,720
Consumer brokerage services	2,526		2,663
Loan fees and sales	1,561		1,824
Other	6,742		8,365
Total non-interest income	94,583		95,906
INVESTMENT SECURITIES GAINS (LOSSES), NET
Impairment reversals on debt securities	5,587		6,305
Noncredit-related reversals on securities not expected to be sold	(5,907)		(6,579)
Net impairment losses	(320)		(274)
Realized gains on sales and fair value adjustments	4,360		1,601
Investment securities gains, net	4,040	[1]	1,327	[1]
NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
Salaries and employee benefits	89,543		87,392
Net occupancy	11,260		12,037
Equipment	5,189		5,577
Supplies and communication	5,613		5,532
Data processing and software	17,469		16,467
Marketing	3,822		4,258
Deposit insurance	2,520		4,891
Indemnification obligation			(1,359)
Other	15,045		19,165
Total non-interest expense	150,461		153,960
Income before income taxes	99,734		88,457
Less income taxes	32,920		27,507
Net income	66,814		60,950
Less non-controlling interest expense	1,015		497
Net income attributable to Commerce Bancshares, Inc.	$ 65,799		$ 60,453
Net income per common share - basic	$ 0.74		$ 0.66
Net income per common share - diluted	$ 0.74		$ 0.66

[1] Available for sale and non-marketable securities