Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Handy John K
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
02/01/2018
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
COMMERCE BANCSHARES INC /MO/ [CBSH]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
8000 FORSYTH BLVD
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Executive Vice President
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

ST. LOUIS, MO 63105
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 40,796
D
 
Common Stock 16,125
I
401(k)
Common Stock 6,779
I
By Spouse

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Appreciation Rights 04/17/2014(1) 04/17/2023 Common Stock 864 $ 30.5731 D  
Stock Appreciation Rights 03/05/2015(2) 03/05/2024 Common Stock 2,555 $ 36.6185 D  
Stock Appreciation Rights 03/03/2016(3) 03/03/2025 Common Stock 3,224 $ 36.2121 D  
Stock Appreciation Rights 03/01/2017(4) 03/01/2026 Common Stock 3,004 $ 39.8276 D  
Stock Appreciation Rights 03/02/2018(5) 03/02/2027 Common Stock 2,032 $ 56.0095 D  
Stock Appreciation Rights 01/24/2019(6) 01/24/2028 Common Stock 3,963 $ 58.95 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Handy John K
8000 FORSYTH BLVD
ST. LOUIS, MO 63105
      Executive Vice President  

Signatures

/s/ By: Jeffery D. Aberdeen For: John K. Handy 02/08/2018
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) This stock appreciation right vests in four equal annual installments beginning on April 17, 2014.
(2) The stock appreciation rights vest in four equal annual installments beginning on March 5, 2015.
(3) The stock appreciation rights vest in four equal annual installments beginning on March 3, 2016.
(4) The stock appreciation rights vest in four equal annual installments beginning on March 1, 2017.
(5) This stock appreciation right vests in four equal annual installments beginning on March 2, 2018.
(6) The stock appreciation right vests in four equal annual installments beginning January 24, 2019.

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