8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 24, 2009

Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Missouri	0-2989	43-0889454
(State of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

1000 Walnut, Kansas City, MO	64106
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(816) 234-2000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o      Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o      Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01 Other Events

Commerce Bancshares, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.24 per share on the company’s common stock payable September 25, 2009, to stockholders of record on the close of business of September 11, 2009. A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibits

99.1 Press Release dated July 24, 2009

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC.
By:	\s\ Jeffery D. Aberdeen
	Jeffery D. Aberdeen
	Controller (Chief Accounting Officer)

Date: July 27, 2009

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number	Description
99.1	Press Release dated July 24, 2009

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. DECLARES DIVIDEND

Kansas City, MO, July 24, 2009 — Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBSH) announced that its Board of Directors has approved a regular quarterly dividend of $0.24 per share on the company’s common stock payable September 25, 2009, to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 11, 2009.

About Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

Commerce Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ: CBSH) is a $17.7 billion regional bank holding company. For more than 140 years, Commerce has been meeting the financial services needs of individuals and businesses. Commerce provides a diversified line of financial services, including business and personal banking, wealth management and estate planning and investments through its affiliated companies. Commerce operates in the Midwest, primarily in Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Oklahoma and Colorado with more than 360 locations and also has operating subsidiaries involved in mortgage banking, credit related insurance, venture capital and real estate activities.

For more information contact:

Jeffery D. Aberdeen
Controller
(816) 234-2081
www.commercebank.com
mymoney@commercebank.com

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