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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Co9PqMMlQPJukHYo4bNvaB7arkf1XhOtE1fyWBmFOPBSlWkl7idH1M/Yxb+/RjXp
 FPiGGXQh3DH0By3c6vn0Ew==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950159-05-000280.txt : 20050310
<SEC-HEADER>0000950159-05-000280.hdr.sgml : 20050310
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050310122628
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950159-05-000280
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050308
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050310
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050310

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEWIS STEVEN M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001107004

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12069
		FILM NUMBER:		05671433

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8567519000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O US RESTAURANTS INC
		STREET 2:		1780 SWEDE ROAD
		CITY:			BLUE BELL
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19422

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COMMERCE BANCORP INC /NJ/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000715096
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				222433468
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		COMMERCE ATRIUM
		STREET 2:		1701 RTE 70 E
		CITY:			CHERRY HILL
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08034-5400
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8567519000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1701 ROUTE 70 EAST
		CITY:			CHERRY HILL
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08034-5400
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>lewisf4_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-03-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000715096</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COMMERCE BANCORP INC /NJ/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CBH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001107004</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEWIS STEVEN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>US RESTAURANTS INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1780 SWEDE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BLUE BELL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19401</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to Buy</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>31.38</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-03-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Granted under the Company's 1989 &amp; 1998 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plans, which are 16b-3 plans.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The stock options are exercisable in 25% increments on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th anniversaries of the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Steven M. Lewis</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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