Consolidated Statements Of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
INTEREST INCOME
Interest and fees on loans	$ 107,786	$ 111,756
Interest and fees on loans held for sale	85	105
Interest on investment securities	44,959	53,758
Interest on short-term federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell	9	17
Interest on long-term securities purchased under agreements to resell	5,829	4,275
Interest on deposits with banks	77	55
Total interest income	158,745	169,966
INTEREST EXPENSE
Savings, interest checking and money market	3,924	5,081
Time open and C.D.'s of less than $100,000	1,749	2,106
Time open and C.D.'s of $100,000 and over	1,699	1,911
Interest on federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase	218	225
Interest on other borrowings	812	906
Total interest expense	8,402	10,229
Net interest income	150,343	159,737
Provision for loan losses	3,285	8,165
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	147,058	151,572
NON-INTEREST INCOME
Bank card transaction fees	38,550	34,733
Trust fees	25,169	22,814
Deposit account charges and other fees	18,712	19,336
Capital market fees	4,391	6,871
Consumer brokerage services	2,686	2,526
Loan fees and sales	1,473	1,561
Other	8,896	6,742
Total non-interest income	99,877	94,583
INVESTMENT SECURITIES GAINS (LOSSES), NET
Impairment (losses) reversals on debt securities	1,389	5,587
Noncredit-related losses (reversals) on securities not expected to be sold	(1,831)	(5,907)
Net impairment losses	(442)	(320)
Realized gains on sales and fair value adjustments	(1,723)	4,360
Investment securities gains, net	(2,165)	4,040
NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
Salaries and employee benefits	90,881	89,543
Net occupancy	11,235	11,260
Equipment	4,683	5,189
Supplies and communication	5,589	5,613
Data processing and software	18,951	17,469
Marketing	3,359	3,822
Deposit insurance	2,767	2,520
Other	17,572	15,045
Total non-interest expense	155,037	150,461
Income before income taxes	89,733	99,734
Less income taxes	28,925	32,920
Net income	60,808	66,814
Less non-controlling interest expense	(209)	1,015
Net income attributable to Commerce Bancshares, Inc.	$ 61,017	$ 65,799
Net income per common share - basic	$ 0.67	$ 0.70
Net income per common share - diluted	$ 0.67	$ 0.70