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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


Form 10-Q

     
(Mark One)
   
 
þ
  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
    For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2002
 
or
 
o
  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
    For the transition period from           to

Commission File No. 0-2989


Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Missouri
  43-0889454
(State of Incorporation)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)

1000 Walnut, Kansas City, MO 64106

(Address of principal executive offices and Zip Code)

(816) 234-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days     Yes þ          No o

      As of November 7, 2002, the registrant had outstanding 63,976,964 shares of its $5 par value common stock, registrant’s only class of common stock.




TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART 1: FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
FINANCIAL CONDITION
AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS -- AVERAGE RATES AND YIELDS
AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS -- AVERAGE RATES AND YIELDS
PART II: OTHER INFORMATION
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
SIGNATURES
CERTIFICATION
EX-99.1 Certification of CEO
EX-99.2 Certification of CFO


Table of Contents

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX

             
Page

PART I.
  FINANCIAL INFORMATION        
Item 1
  Financial Statements        
    Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001     2  
    Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002 and 2001     3  
    Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002 and 2001     4  
    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002 and 2001     5  
    Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements     6  
Item 2
  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition     12  
Item 3
  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk     25  
Item 4
  Controls and Procedures     25  
PART II.
  OTHER INFORMATION        
Item 6
  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K     26  
Signatures     26  
Certifications     27  

1


Table of Contents

PART 1: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                       
September 30 December 31
2002 2001


(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
ASSETS
Loans, net of unearned income
  $ 7,961,102     $ 7,638,482  
Allowance for loan losses
    (130,588 )     (129,973 )
     
     
 
     
Net loans
    7,830,514       7,508,509  
     
     
 
Investment securities:
               
 
Available for sale
    3,861,917       3,654,919  
 
Trading
    13,081       12,265  
 
Non-marketable
    62,850       65,073  
     
     
 
     
Total investment securities
    3,937,848       3,732,257  
     
     
 
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell
    107,265       375,060  
Cash and due from banks
    739,515       824,218  
Land, buildings and equipment, net
    334,215       313,383  
Goodwill
    43,224       43,968  
Other intangible assets, net
    4,390       6,842  
Other assets
    153,451       103,909  
     
     
 
     
Total assets
  $ 13,150,422     $ 12,908,146  
     
     
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Deposits:
               
 
Non-interest bearing demand
  $ 1,549,212     $ 1,579,679  
 
Savings and interest bearing demand
    5,758,260       5,652,715  
 
Time open and C.D.’s of less than $100,000
    1,978,268       2,188,448  
 
Time open and C.D.’s of $100,000 and over
    645,774       611,043  
     
     
 
     
Total deposits
    9,931,514       10,031,885  
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    1,244,937       1,087,402  
Long-term debt and other borrowings
    390,660       392,586  
Other liabilities
    188,320       123,790  
     
     
 
     
Total liabilities
    11,755,431       11,635,663  
     
     
 
Stockholders’ equity:
               
 
Preferred stock, $1 par value.
               
   
Authorized and unissued 2,000,000 shares
           
 
Common stock, $5 par value.
               
   
Authorized 100,000,000 shares; issued 65,643,792 shares in 2002 and 65,575,525 in 2001
    328,219       327,878  
 
Capital surplus
    210,219       213,888  
 
Retained earnings
    816,462       700,230  
 
Treasury stock of 1,437,619 shares in 2002 and 138,565 shares in 2001, at cost
    (60,725 )     (5,187 )
 
Other
    (1,939 )     (1,749 )
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    102,755       37,423  
     
     
 
     
Total stockholders’ equity
    1,394,991       1,272,483  
     
     
 
     
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 13,150,422     $ 12,908,146  
     
     
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

2


Table of Contents

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                     
For the Three Months For the Nine Months
Ended September 30 Ended September 30


2002 2001 2002 2001




(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share data)
INTEREST INCOME
                               
Interest and fees on loans
  $ 118,999     $ 143,447     $ 355,907     $ 461,415  
Interest on investment securities
    44,527       35,079       133,553       96,992  
Interest on federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell
    234       6,300       1,186       20,777  
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total interest income
    163,760       184,826       490,646       579,184  
     
     
     
     
 
INTEREST EXPENSE
                               
Interest on deposits:
                               
 
Savings and interest bearing demand
    11,660       22,872       35,753       86,035  
 
Time open and C.D.’s of less than $100,000
    16,044       30,495       55,165       93,959  
 
Time open and C.D.’s of $100,000 and over
    4,454       7,038       14,215       21,383  
Interest on federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    2,944       4,584       6,702       16,786  
Interest on long-term debt and other borrowings
    1,877       3,538       6,776       9,696  
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total interest expense
    36,979       68,527       118,611       227,859  
     
     
     
     
 
   
Net interest income
    126,781       116,299       372,035       351,325  
Provision for loan losses
    9,193       8,317       23,260       25,839  
     
     
     
     
 
   
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
    117,588       107,982       348,775       325,486  
     
     
     
     
 
NON-INTEREST INCOME
                               
Trust fees
    14,754       15,695       45,967       47,687  
Deposit account charges and other fees
    23,750       21,405       67,636       61,989  
Credit card transaction fees
    14,715       13,668       41,827       40,070  
Trading account profits and commissions
    4,067       3,871       11,938       11,301  
Mortgage banking revenue
    1,324       1,097       2,961       4,224  
Net gains on securities transactions
    1,426       708       586       2,777  
Other
    9,511       12,553       37,157       36,736  
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total non-interest income
    69,547       68,997       208,072       204,784  
     
     
     
     
 
NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
                               
Salaries and employee benefits
    63,203       59,415       187,904       176,100  
Net occupancy
    8,835       8,242       25,469       24,230  
Equipment
    5,619       5,461       16,733       16,616  
Supplies and communication
    8,326       8,353       24,490       24,963  
Data processing and software
    10,095       11,480       34,447       35,150  
Marketing
    3,838       3,460       10,834       9,848  
Goodwill amortization
          1,182             3,505  
Intangible assets amortization
    508       775       1,900       2,281  
Other
    10,585       11,451       36,064       35,709  
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total non-interest expense
    111,009       109,819       337,841       328,402  
     
     
     
     
 
Income before income taxes
    76,126       67,160       219,006       201,868  
Less income taxes
    25,111       21,642       70,973       66,690  
     
     
     
     
 
   
Net income
  $ 51,015     $ 45,518     $ 148,033     $ 135,178  
     
     
     
     
 
Net income per share — basic
  $ .79     $ .69     $ 2.27     $ 2.05  
     
     
     
     
 
Net income per share — diluted
  $ .78     $ .68     $ 2.24     $ 2.02  
     
     
     
     
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                                                                     
Accumulated
Number Other
of Shares Common Capital Retained Treasury Comprehensive
Issued Stock Surplus Earnings Stock Other Income Total








(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
Balance January 1, 2002
    65,575,525     $ 327,878     $ 213,888     $ 700,230     $ (5,187 )   $ (1,749 )   $ 37,423     $ 1,272,483  
 
Net income
                            148,033                               148,033  
 
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities
                                                    65,332       65,332  
                                                             
 
   
Total comprehensive income
                                                            213,365  
                                                             
 
 
Purchase of treasury stock
                                    (68,830 )                     (68,830 )
 
Issuance of stock under purchase, option and benefit plans
    68,267       341       (3,680 )             12,584                       9,245  
 
Issuance of stock under restricted stock award plan
                    11               708       (719 )              
 
Restricted stock award amortization
                                            529               529  
 
Cash dividends paid ($.488 per share)
                            (31,801 )                             (31,801 )
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Balance September 30, 2002
    65,643,792     $ 328,219     $ 210,219     $ 816,462     $ (60,725 )   $ (1,939 )   $ 102,755     $ 1,394,991  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Balance January 1, 2001
    62,655,891     $ 313,279     $ 147,436     $ 671,147     $ (2,895 )   $ (1,179 )   $ 15,967     $ 1,143,755  
 
Net income
                            135,178                               135,178  
 
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities
                                                    35,558       35,558  
                                                             
 
   
Total comprehensive income
                                                            170,736  
                                                             
 
 
Pooling acquisition
    876,750       4,384       5,414       5,198                       83       15,079  
 
Purchase of treasury stock
                                    (44,636 )                     (44,636 )
 
Issuance of stock under purchase, option and benefit plans
    2,982       15       (5,195 )             12,435                       7,255  
 
Issuance of stock under restricted stock award plan
    21,564       108       720               349       (1,177 )              
 
Restricted stock award amortization
                                            464               464  
 
Cash dividends paid ($.457 per share)
                            (30,268 )                             (30,268 )
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Balance September 30, 2001
    63,557,187     $ 317,786     $ 148,375     $ 781,255     $ (34,747 )   $ (1,892 )   $ 51,608     $ 1,262,385  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

4


Table of Contents

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                     
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30

2002 2001


(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
               
Net income
  $ 148,033     $ 135,178  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
 
Provision for loan losses
    23,260       25,839  
 
Provision for depreciation and amortization
    25,837       28,166  
 
Amortization of investment security premiums, net
    12,543       2,741  
 
Net gains on sales of investment securities (A)
    (586 )     (2,777 )
 
Net increase in trading securities
    (1,342 )     (12,960 )
 
(Increase) decrease in interest receivable
    (1,719 )     5,350  
 
Decrease in interest payable
    (13,745 )     (2,102 )
 
Increase in income taxes payable
    64       15,150  
 
Other changes, net
    (15,119 )     (30,911 )
     
     
 
   
Net cash provided by operating activities
    177,226       163,674  
     
     
 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
Cash received in acquisition
          15,035  
Cash paid in sale of branches
    (20,252 )      
Proceeds from sales of investment securities (A)
    260,349       325,774  
Proceeds from maturities of investment securities (A)
    1,049,050       1,347,523  
Purchases of investment securities (A)
    (1,421,399 )     (2,641,903 )
Net decrease in federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell
    267,795       11,435  
Net (increase) decrease in loans
    (354,415 )     275,393  
Purchases of land, buildings and equipment
    (46,357 )     (58,752 )
Sales of land, buildings and equipment
    2,907       2,214  
     
     
 
   
Net cash used in investing activities
    (262,322 )     (723,281 )
     
     
 
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
Net increase in non-interest bearing demand, savings, and interest bearing demand deposits
    88,992       206,170  
Net increase (decrease) in time open and C.D.’s
    (150,889 )     256,191  
Net increase in federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    157,535       176,049  
Repayment of long-term debt
    (51,781 )     (50,691 )
Additional borrowings
    50,000       250,000  
Purchases of treasury stock
    (68,830 )     (44,636 )
Issuance of stock under purchase, option and benefit plans
    7,167       5,200  
Cash dividends paid on common stock
    (31,801 )     (30,268 )
     
     
 
   
Net cash provided by financing activities
    393       768,015  
     
     
 
   
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (84,703 )     208,408  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    824,218       616,724  
     
     
 
Cash and cash equivalents at September 30
  $ 739,515     $ 825,132  
     
     
 
Net income tax payments
  $ 68,831     $ 47,809  
     
     
 
Interest paid on deposits and borrowings
  $ 132,356     $ 229,999  
     
     
 


(A)  Available for sale and non-marketable securities.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

5


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COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2002
(Unaudited)
 
1. Principles of Consolidation and Presentation

      The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. and all majority-owned subsidiaries (the Company). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Certain reclassifications were made to 2001 data to conform to current year presentation. Results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2002, are not necessarily indicative of results to be attained for any other period.

      The significant accounting policies followed in the preparation of the quarterly financial statements are the same as those disclosed in the 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 
2. Allowance for Loan Losses

      The following is a summary of the allowance for loan losses.

                                     
For the For the
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30 September 30


2002 2001 2002 2001




(In thousands)
Balance, beginning of period
  $ 129,973     $ 131,109     $ 129,973     $ 128,445  
     
     
     
     
 
Additions:
                               
 
Allowance for loan losses of acquired bank
                      2,519  
 
Provision for loan losses
    9,193       8,317       23,260       25,839  
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total additions
    9,193       8,317       23,260       28,358  
     
     
     
     
 
Deductions:
                               
 
Loan losses
    11,873       11,850       34,034       36,343  
 
Less recoveries on loans
    3,295       3,388       11,389       10,504  
     
     
     
     
 
   
Net loan losses
    8,578       8,462       22,645       25,839  
     
     
     
     
 
Balance, September 30
  $ 130,588     $ 130,964     $ 130,588     $ 130,964  
     
     
     
     
 

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COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

3.     Investment Securities

      Investment securities, at fair value, consist of the following at September 30, 2002, and December 31, 2001.

                     
September 30 December 31
2002 2001


(In thousands)
Available for sale:
               
 
U.S. government and federal agency obligations
  $ 1,503,005     $ 1,147,615  
 
State and municipal obligations
    37,557       43,209  
 
CMO’s and asset-backed securities
    2,226,467       2,176,551  
 
Other debt securities
    18,925       66,054  
 
Equity securities
    75,963       221,490  
Trading
    13,081       12,265  
Non-marketable
    62,850       65,073  
     
     
 
   
Total investment securities
  $ 3,937,848     $ 3,732,257  
     
     
 

      Equity securities included short term investments in mutual funds of $33,437,000 at September 30, 2002, and $176,067,000 at December 31, 2001.

4.     Intangible Assets and Goodwill

      The following table presents information about the Company’s intangible assets which are being amortized in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 142, discussed in note 9 below.

                                     
September 30, 2002 December 31, 2001


Gross Gross
Carrying Accumulated Carrying Accumulated
Amount Amortization Amount Amortization




(In thousands)
Amortized intangible assets:
                               
 
Core deposit premium
  $ 47,930     $ (43,708 )   $ 50,676     $ (44,064 )
 
Mortgage servicing rights
    1,174       (1,006 )     1,170       (940 )
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total
  $ 49,104     $ (44,714 )   $ 51,846     $ (45,004 )
     
     
     
     
 

      Aggregate amortization expense was $508,000 and $775,000, respectively, for the three month periods ended September 30, 2002 and 2001, and $1,900,000 and $2,281,000, respectively, for the corresponding nine month periods.

         
Estimated annual amortization expense for the years ending: (In thousands)
2002
  $ 2,319  
2003
    1,818  
2004
    1,776  
2005
    543  
2006
    100  

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COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

      As required by SFAS 142, the Company discontinued recording goodwill amortization effective January 1, 2002. The following table compares results of operations as if no goodwill amortization had been recorded in 2001.

                                   
For the Three Months For the Nine Months
Ended September 30 Ended September 30


2002 2001 2002 2001




(In thousands, except per share data)
Reported net income
  $ 51,015     $ 45,518     $ 148,033     $ 135,178  
 
Add back goodwill amortization
          1,182             3,505  
     
     
     
     
 
 
Adjusted net income
  $ 51,015     $ 46,700     $ 148,033     $ 138,683  
     
     
     
     
 
Basic earnings per share:
                               
Reported net income
  $ .79     $ .69     $ 2.27     $ 2.05  
 
Add back goodwill amortization
          .02             .05  
     
     
     
     
 
 
Adjusted net income
  $ .79     $ .71     $ 2.27     $ 2.10  
     
     
     
     
 
Diluted earnings per share:
                               
Reported net income
  $ .78     $ .68     $ 2.24     $ 2.02  
 
Add back goodwill amortization
          .02             .05  
     
     
     
     
 
 
Adjusted net income
  $ .78     $ .70     $ 2.24     $ 2.07  
     
     
     
     
 

      During the second quarter of 2002, the Company sold several bank branches. Goodwill and other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization, amounting to $1,300,000 were written off in these transactions.

5.     Common Stock

      The shares used in the calculation of basic and diluted income per share are shown below.

                                 
For the Three For the Nine
Months Ended Months Ended
September 30 September 30


2002 2001 2002 2001




(In thousands)
Weighted average common shares outstanding
    64,781       65,935       65,266       66,051  
Net effect of the assumed exercise of stock options — based on the treasury stock method using average market price for the respective periods
    730       780       827       802  
     
     
     
     
 
      65,511       66,715       66,093       66,853  
     
     
     
     
 

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COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

6.     Other Comprehensive Income

      The Company’s only component of other comprehensive income during the periods presented below was the unrealized holding gains and losses on available for sale investment securities.

                                 
For the Three Months For the Nine Months
Ended September 30 Ended September 30


2002 2001 2002 2001




(In thousands)
Unrealized holding gains
  $ 51,587     $ 36,456     $ 108,345     $ 64,253  
Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income
    (2,588 )     (2,089 )     (2,973 )     (6,909 )
     
     
     
     
 
Net unrealized gains on securities
    48,999       34,367       105,372       57,344  
Income tax expense (benefit)
    18,618       13,059       40,040       21,786  
     
     
     
     
 
Other comprehensive income
  $ 30,381     $ 21,308     $ 65,332     $ 35,558  
     
     
     
     
 

7.     Segments

      The Company segregates financial information for use in assessing its performance and allocating resources among three operating segments. The Consumer segment includes the retail branch network, consumer finance, bankcard, student loans and discount brokerage services. The Commercial segment provides corporate lending, leasing, and international services, as well as business, government deposit and cash management services. The Money Management segment provides traditional trust and estate tax planning services, and advisory and discretionary investment management services.

      The following table presents selected financial information by segment and reconciliations of combined segment totals to consolidated totals. There were no material intersegment revenues between the three segments.

                                                 
Money Segment Other/ Consolidated
Consumer Commercial Management Totals Elimination Totals






(In thousands)
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002
                                               

                                               
Net interest income after loan loss expense
  $ 69,302     $ 163,189     $ (6,019 )   $ 226,472     $ 122,303     $ 348,775  
Cost of funds allocation
    119,259       (38,115 )     12,371       93,515       (93,515 )      
Non-interest income
    110,695       30,940       61,378       203,013       5,059       208,072  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total net revenue
    299,256       156,014       67,730       523,000       33,847       556,847  
Non-interest expense
    200,687       71,441       44,789       316,917       20,924       337,841  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Income before income taxes
  $ 98,569     $ 84,573     $ 22,941     $ 206,083     $ 12,923     $ 219,006  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2001
                                               

                                               
Net interest income after loan loss expense
  $ 13,432     $ 223,904     $ (9,395 )   $ 227,941     $ 97,545     $ 325,486  
Cost of funds allocation
    201,523       (103,039 )     15,028       113,512       (113,512 )      
Non-interest income
    108,498       26,736       61,970       197,204       7,580       204,784  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total net revenue
    323,453       147,601       67,603       538,657       (8,387 )     530,270  
Non-interest expense
    200,594       68,839       43,076       312,509       15,893       328,402  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Income before income taxes
  $ 122,859     $ 78,762     $ 24,527     $ 226,148     $ (24,280 )   $ 201,868  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

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COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

                                                 
Money Segment Other/ Consolidated
Consumer Commercial Management Totals Elimination Totals






(In thousands)
Three Months Ended September 30, 2002
                                               

                                               
Net interest income after loan loss expense
  $ 25,765     $ 53,943     $ (2,117 )   $ 77,591     $ 39,997     $ 117,588  
Cost of funds allocation
    39,002       (11,309 )     4,097       31,790       (31,790 )      
Non-interest income
    36,957       10,439       19,948       67,344       2,203       69,547  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total net revenue
    101,724       53,073       21,928       176,725       10,410       187,135  
Non-interest expense
    67,124       23,626       15,095       105,845       5,164       111,009  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Income before income taxes
  $ 34,600     $ 29,447     $ 6,833     $ 70,880     $ 5,246     $ 76,126  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2001
                                               

                                               
Net interest income after loan loss expense
  $ 6,811     $ 68,746     $ (2,748 )   $ 72,809     $ 35,173     $ 107,982  
Cost of funds allocation
    70,794       (27,688 )     4,622       47,728       (47,728 )      
Non-interest income
    36,793       10,145       20,544       67,482       1,515       68,997  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total net revenue
    114,398       51,203       22,418       188,019       (11,040 )     176,979  
Non-interest expense
    67,438       22,346       14,225       104,009       5,810       109,819  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Income before income taxes
  $ 46,960     $ 28,857     $ 8,193     $ 84,010     $ (16,850 )   $ 67,160  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

      Beginning in 2002, the Company implemented a new funds transfer pricing method to value funds used (e.g., loans, fixed assets, cash, etc.) and funds provided (deposits, borrowings, and equity) by the business segments and their components. This new process assigns a specific value to each new source or use of funds with a maturity, based on current LIBOR interest rates, thus determining an interest spread at the time of the transaction. Non-maturity assets and liabilities are assigned to LIBOR based funding pools. Previous methodology used funding pools based on average rates to assign and determine value. The new method provides a more accurate means of valuing fund sources and uses in a varying interest rate environment. The change in profitability methods mainly affected the Consumer segment and had the effect of lowering the cost of funds allocation to the Consumer segment by $27.4 million and $89.6 million, respectively, in the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2002. The effect on the other segments was not significant. Segment results for the prior periods in the table above were not restated for the change in the profitability measurement method.

8.     Derivative Instruments

      The Company uses derivative instruments, on a limited basis, primarily to hedge the variability in interest payments or protect the value of certain assets and liabilities recorded in its balance sheet from changes in interest rates. The Company has three interest rate swaps which were designated as fair value hedges of certain fixed rate loans. Through its International Department, the Company enters into foreign exchange contracts consisting mainly of contracts to purchase or deliver foreign currency transactions for customers at a specific future date. Also, mortgage loan commitments and forward sales contracts are derived from the Company’s mortgage banking operation in which fixed rate personal real estate loans are originated and sold to other institutions.

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COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

      The Company’s use of derivative instruments is detailed below.

                                                   
September 30, 2002 December 31, 2001


Positive Negative Positive Negative
Notional Fair Fair Notional Fair Fair
Amount Value Value Amount Value Value






(In thousands)
Interest rate swaps
  $ 23,730     $     $ (2,147 )   $ 24,912     $     $ (551 )
Foreign exchange contracts:
                                               
 
Forward contracts
    153,997       5,594       (5,569 )     99,232       3,373       (3,349 )
 
Options written/purchased
    1,970       12       (12 )     1,950       2       (2 )
Mortgage loan commitments
    41,612       274       (8 )     18,679       79       (162 )
Mortgage loan forward sale contracts
    41,438       140       (12 )     43,758       921       (1 )
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Total
  $ 262,747     $ 6,020     $ (7,748 )   $ 188,531     $ 4,375     $ (4,065 )
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

9.     Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards

      Effective January 1, 2002, the Company adopted Statement of Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”. SFAS 142 requires that goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives no longer be amortized, but instead tested for impairment at least annually. It also requires that intangible assets with estimable useful lives be amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and reviewed for impairment.

      The Statement requires the Company to perform an assessment of whether there is an indication that goodwill is impaired as of January 1, 2002. To accomplish this, the Company must identify its reporting units and determine the carrying value of each reporting unit by assigning the assets and liabilities, including the existing goodwill and intangible assets, to those reporting units as of January 1, 2002. The Statement allows until June 30, 2002, to determine the fair value of each reporting unit and compare it to the carrying amount of the reporting unit. To the extent the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, an indication exists that the reporting unit goodwill may be impaired and the Company must perform the second step of the transitional impairment test. In the second step, the Company must compare the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of the reporting unit goodwill, both of which would be measured as of January 1, 2002. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined by allocating the fair value of the reporting unit to all of the assets (recognized and unrecognized) and liabilities of the reporting unit in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation. The residual fair value after this allocation is the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill. This second step is required to be completed as soon as possible, but no later than the end of 2002. Any transitional impairment loss must be recognized as the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle in the Company’s 2002 consolidated statement of income.

      The Company identified its reporting units as its three reportable segments of Consumer, Commercial, and Money Management. It completed the first step in the transitional goodwill impairment valuation, which was to compare the fair value of its reporting units with the carrying amount of the reporting units. Because the fair value of the reporting units exceeded the carrying value of the units, no indication of reporting unit goodwill impairment existed. As a result, performance of the second step of the transitional impairment test described above was not necessary, and no impairment loss will be recognized as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle in the Company’s 2002 consolidated statement of income.

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Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

September 30, 2002

(Unaudited)

      The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes and with the statistical information and financial data appearing in this report as well as the Company’s 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2002, are not necessarily indicative of results to be attained for any other period.

Forward Looking Information

      This report may contain “forward-looking statements” that are subject to risks and uncertainties and include information about possible or assumed future results of operations. Many possible events or factors could affect the future financial results and performance of the Company. This could cause results or performance to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “estimates”, variations of such words and other similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Readers should not rely solely on the forward-looking statements and should consider all uncertainties and risks discussed throughout this report. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Such possible events or factors include: changes in economic conditions in the Company’s market area, changes in policies by regulatory agencies, governmental legislation and regulation, fluctuations in interest rates, changes in liquidity requirements, demand for loans in the Company’s market area, and competition with other entities that offer financial services.

Critical Accounting Policies

      Critical accounting policies are those which are both most important to the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and results, and require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. The Company’s critical accounting policies relate to the allowance for loan losses, the valuation of certain non-marketable investments, and accounting for income taxes, all of which involve significant judgment by management.

      The Company performs periodic and systematic detailed reviews of its lending portfolio to assess overall collectability. The level of the allowance for loan losses reflects the Company’s estimate of the collectability of the loan portfolio. Further discussion of the methodologies used in establishing this reserve is contained in the Provision and Allowance for Loan Losses section of this discussion.

      The Company, through its Small Business Investment subsidiaries, has investments in venture capital securities. These non-marketable venture capital securities are reported at estimated fair values in the absence of readily ascertainable fair values. Management believes that the cost of an investment is initially the best indication of estimated fair value unless there have been significant subsequent positive or negative developments that justify an adjustment to the fair value estimate. The values assigned to these securities where no market quotations exist are based upon available information and may not necessarily represent amounts that will ultimately be realized. Although management believes its estimates of fair value reasonably reflect the fair value of these securities, key assumptions regarding the projected financial performance of these companies, the evaluation of the investee company’s management team and other economic and market factors may not necessarily reflect those of an active market for these investments.

      The objectives of accounting for income taxes are to recognize the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have

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been recognized in an entity’s financial statements or tax returns. Judgment is required in assessing the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns. Fluctuations in the actual outcome of these future tax consequences could materially impact the Company’s financial position and its results of operations.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

                                   
Three Months Nine Months
Ended September 30 Ended September 30


2002 2001 2002 2001




Per Share Data
                               
 
Net income — basic
  $ .79     $ .69     $ 2.27     $ 2.05  
 
Net income — diluted
    .78       .68       2.24       2.02  
 
Cash dividends
    .163       .152       .488       .457  
 
Book value
                    21.75       19.22  
 
Market price
                    39.07       35.83  
Selected Ratios
                               
(Based on average balance sheets)
                               
 
Loans to deposits
    79.74 %     81.18 %     78.66 %     83.66 %
 
Non-interest bearing deposits to total deposits
    10.21       9.57       9.83       12.25  
 
Equity to loans
    17.82       15.90       17.42       15.34  
 
Equity to deposits
    14.21       12.90       13.70       12.83  
 
Equity to total assets
    11.10       10.37       10.90       10.40  
 
Return on total assets
    1.62       1.52       1.61       1.56  
 
Return on realized stockholders’ equity*
    15.59       15.03       15.48       15.36  
 
Return on total stockholders’ equity
    14.59       14.64       14.76       15.02  
(Based on end-of-period data)
                               
 
Efficiency ratio
    56.70       58.43       57.97       58.30  
 
Tier I capital ratio
                    12.63       12.56  
 
Total capital ratio
                    14.02       13.92  
 
Leverage ratio
                    10.13       9.84  


Excludes net unrealized holding gains on available for sale securities from average stockholders’ equity.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Summary

                                                   
Three Months Nine Months
Ended September 30 Ended September 30


2002 2001 % Change 2002 2001 % Change






(Dollars in thousands)
Net interest income
  $ 126,781     $ 116,299       9.0 %   $ 372,035     $ 351,325       5.9 %
Provision for loan losses
    (9,193 )     (8,317 )     10.5       (23,260 )     (25,839 )     (10.0 )
Non-interest income
    69,547       68,997       .8       208,072       204,784       1.6  
Non-interest expense
    (111,009 )     (109,819 )     1.1       (337,841 )     (328,402 )     2.9  
Income taxes
    (25,111 )     (21,642 )     16.0       (70,973 )     (66,690 )     6.4  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Net income
  $ 51,015     $ 45,518       12.1 %   $ 148,033     $ 135,178       9.5 %
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

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      Consolidated net income for the third quarter of 2002 was $51.0 million, a $5.5 million, or 12.1%, increase over the third quarter of 2001. Diluted earnings per share increased 14.7% to $.78 for the third quarter of 2002, compared to $.68 for the third quarter of 2001. The increase in net income resulted mainly from growth in net interest income, partly offset by increases in non-interest expense and the provision for loan losses. The growth in net interest income resulted from the continued re-pricing of certificate of deposit accounts and lower rates paid on money market accounts, coupled with higher investment securities balances and some loan growth. For the current quarter, net interest income increased 9.0% over the same quarter in 2001. Non-interest income increased .8% in the current quarter compared to the third quarter in the prior year, while non-interest expense increased 1.1%. The return on average assets for the current quarter was 1.62% compared to 1.52% for the third quarter of 2001. The return on average realized stockholders’ equity was 15.59% compared to 15.03% in the same quarter of last year. The Company’s efficiency ratio declined to 56.70% in the third quarter of 2002 from 58.43% in the third quarter of 2001.

      Consolidated net income for the first nine months of 2002 was $148.0 million, a 9.5% increase over the first nine months of 2001. Diluted earnings per share was $2.24 compared to $2.02 for the first nine months of last year, an increase of 10.9%. Net interest income rose $20.7 million, or 5.9%, while the provision for loan losses declined $2.6 million. Non-interest income, excluding gains and losses on securities transactions, grew 2.7%, and non-interest expense, excluding goodwill amortization, increased 4.0%. The efficiency ratio for the first nine months of 2002 was 57.97% compared to 58.30% in 2001.

      Effective September 30, 2002, the Company’s investment in a venture capital limited partnership, previously accounted for on the equity method, was reclassified as a consolidated entity. Financial statements for prior periods were also reclassified. At September 30, 2002, the partnership had assets of $10.6 million and no outstanding debt. Limited partnership interests of 47% are held by outside investors. The effect of the reclassification on the income statement for the nine months ended September 30, 2002, was to increase net interest income $448 thousand, decrease non-interest income $1.048 million, and decrease other non-interest expense $600 thousand.

      The Company’s most recent bank acquisition was effective March 1, 2001, when Centennial Bank was acquired. The bank was located in the metropolitan St. Louis area, and at acquisition had assets of $254 million, loans of $189 million, and deposits of $216 million. The Company issued common stock valued at $34.4 million as consideration in the transaction. The acquisition was accounted for as a pooling of interests; however, the Company’s financial statements were not restated since restated amounts did not differ materially from the Company’s historical results.

Net Interest Income

      The following table summarizes the changes in net interest income on a fully tax equivalent basis, by major category of interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities, identifying changes related to volumes and rates. Changes not solely due to volume or rate changes are allocated to rate. Management believes this allocation method, applied on a consistent basis, provides meaningful comparisons between the respective periods.

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Analysis of Changes in Net Interest Income

                                                       
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2002 vs. 2001 September 30, 2002 vs. 2001


Change due to Change due to


Average Average Average Average
Volume Rate Total Volume Rate Total






(In thousands)
Interest income, fully taxable equivalent basis:
                                               
 
Loans
  $ 970     $ (25,453 )   $ (24,483 )   $ (7,341 )   $ (98,206 )   $ (105,547 )
 
Investment securities:
                                               
   
U.S. government and federal agency securities
    5,053       (2,930 )     2,123       15,083       (10,383 )     4,700  
   
State and municipal obligations
    (354 )     (11 )     (365 )     (1,107 )     92       (1,015 )
   
CMO’s and asset-backed securities
    12,746       (4,189 )     8,557       46,666       (11,923 )     34,743  
   
Other securities
    (785 )     (172 )     (957 )     117       (2,250 )     (2,133 )
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
     
Total interest on investment securities
    16,660       (7,302 )     9,358       60,759       (24,464 )     36,295  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Federal funds sold and securities
purchased under agreements to resell
    (5,880 )     (186 )     (6,066 )     (17,891 )     (1,700 )     (19,591 )
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
     
Total interest income
    11,750       (32,941 )     (21,191 )     35,527       (124,370 )     (88,843 )
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Interest expense:
                                               
 
Deposits:
                                               
   
Savings
    64       (218 )     (154 )     285       (1,387 )     (1,102 )
   
Interest bearing demand
    381       (11,439 )     (11,058 )     4,559       (53,739 )     (49,180 )
   
Time open & C.D.’s of less than $100,000
    (4,220 )     (10,231 )     (14,451 )     (8,213 )     (30,581 )     (38,794 )
   
Time open & C.D.’s of $100,000 and over
    1,214       (3,798 )     (2,584 )     5,407       (12,575 )     (7,168 )
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
     
Total interest on deposits
    (2,561 )     (25,686 )     (28,247 )     2,038       (98,282 )     (96,244 )
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    1,719       (3,359 )     (1,640 )     2,612       (12,696 )     (10,084 )
 
Long-term debt and other borrowings
    332       (1,996 )     (1,664 )     4,514       (7,522 )     (3,008 )
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
     
Total interest expense
    (510 )     (31,041 )     (31,551 )     9,164       (118,500 )     (109,336 )
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Net interest income, fully taxable equivalent basis
  $ 12,260     $ (1,900 )   $ 10,360     $ 26,363     $ (5,870 )   $ 20,493  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

      Net interest income for the third quarter of 2002 was $126.8 million, a 9.0% increase over the third quarter of 2001, and for the first nine months was $372.0 million, a 5.9% increase over last year. For the quarter, the net interest margin was 4.40% compared with 4.22% last year, while the nine month margin was 4.40% in 2002 and 4.42% in 2001.

      Total interest income in the current quarter decreased $21.1 million, or 11.4%, compared to the third quarter of 2001. Much of this decline was the result of lower rates earned on loans and investment securities

15


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and lower balances of federal funds sold, but offset by increased interest earned on higher balances of investment securities. Since September 2001, the overall quarterly yield on the loan portfolio declined 127 basis points while the yield on the investment portfolio declined 73 basis points. Interest rates on large sections of the Company’s loan portfolio adjust with various indices, including the prime rate, and have re-priced downward since September 2001 in conjunction with actions taken by the Federal Reserve to reduce overall interest rates. Over the last 12 months, the Company has increased average investment securities by $1.14 billion and this growth in balances has created additional interest income, thus partly offsetting the effects of interest rate reductions. This increase in investment securities has been funded mainly from growth in deposits and overnight borrowings, coupled with a decline in overnight investments. The average tax equivalent yield on total interest earning assets was 5.68% for the third quarter of 2002 compared to 6.71% last year.

      Compared to the first nine months of 2001, total interest income decreased $88.5 million, or 15.3%. The decline in interest income occurred as a result of many of the same trends noted above in the quarterly comparison. Interest on loans declined $105.5 million due mainly to lower rates earned on all loan categories, combined with lower average balances on business and personal real estate loans. Interest on investment securities increased $36.6 million due mainly to an increase of $1.35 billion in average balances outstanding, but partly offset by lower rates earned on these investments of 89 basis points. Also, interest on federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell declined $19.6 million, mainly as a result of a $536.8 million decrease in average balances coupled with lower rates earned (down 262 basis points). The average tax equivalent yield on total interest earning assets for the nine months was 5.81% in 2002 and 7.28% in 2001.

      For the three months ended September 30, 2002, total interest expense decreased $31.5 million compared with the same quarter last year. The decrease resulted mainly from lower interest rates paid on all deposit products and borrowings plus lower balances in long term certificates of deposit under $100,000, but was offset by higher balances of federal funds purchased. The average rates paid on interest bearing deposits was 1.46% for the third quarter of 2002, a decline of 131 basis points from the same period last year. The decline included not only lower rates on the re-pricing of certificates of deposit as they matured, but also lower rates on interest bearing deposits which incurred large adjustments downward in late 2001 and in the third quarter of 2002. Also, rates paid on other borrowings, which include both overnight funds purchased and advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), declined 179 basis points compared to the same period last year. Much of the Company’s other borrowings are variably priced. Certificates of deposit under $100,000, which are mostly held by retail bank customers, declined $300.3 million on average while certificates of deposit of $100,000 and over, held mainly by commercial customers, increased $121.1 million. During the same period, average balances of federal funds purchased increased $241.0 million.

      Total interest expense for the first nine months of 2002 decreased $109.2 million compared with the same period last year. Average rates paid on deposit balances declined 168 basis points and rates on other borrowings declined 248 basis points. Much of the decrease in rates was the result of the Company’s certificate of deposit portfolio re-pricing downward as maturities came due. This coupled with a decline in rates on interest bearing demand accounts in the third quarter were the main causes of the overall lower deposit rates. The reduction in rates paid on other borrowings was mainly the result of lower rates paid on federal funds purchased, repurchase agreements and FHLB advances, all of which re-price rapidly with interest rate changes. Partly offsetting these effects was growth in average interest bearing demand deposits of $591.2 million, which was partly offset by declining retail certificates of deposit balances, which were down $179.5 million.

      Summaries of average assets and liabilities and the corresponding average rates earned/ paid are located at the end of this discussion.

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Non-Interest Income

                                                   
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30 September 30


2002 2001 % Change 2002 2001 % Change






(Dollars in thousands)
Trust fees
  $ 14,754     $ 15,695       (6.0 )%   $ 45,967     $ 47,687       (3.6 )%
Deposit account charges and other fees
    23,750       21,405       11.0       67,636       61,989       9.1  
Credit card transaction fees
    14,715       13,668       7.7       41,827       40,070       4.4  
Trading account profits and commissions
    4,067       3,871       5.1       11,938       11,301       5.6  
Mortgage banking revenue
    1,324       1,097       20.7       2,961       4,224       (29.9 )
Net gains on securities transactions
    1,426       708       101.4       586       2,777       (78.9 )
Other
    9,511       12,553       (24.2 )     37,157       36,736       1.1  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Total non-interest income
  $ 69,547     $ 68,997       .8 %   $ 208,072     $ 204,784       1.6 %
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
As a % of operating income (net interest income plus non-interest income)
    35.4 %     37.2 %             35.9 %     36.8%          
     
     
             
     
         

      Total non-interest income for the third quarter of 2002 totaled $69.5 million compared with $69.0 million in the same quarter of last year, resulting in an increase of $550 thousand, or .8%. Deposit account charges and other fees increased $2.3 million, or 11.0%, over the third quarter of 2001. This increase was mainly due to growth in overdraft and commercial cash management fees, which were higher by a combined $1.9 million. Credit card transaction fees rose $1.0 million, or 7.7%, largely because of higher cardholder transaction and debit card fees. Merchant fees for the current quarter remained at similar levels as last year, mainly as a result of lower profit margins, partly offset by higher transaction volumes. Debit card and credit cardholder transaction fees grew by 11.8% and 9.9%, respectively, over the same quarter in 2001. Trading revenue rose by 5.1% over the third quarter of last year due to continued strong sales of fixed income products to correspondent banking customers. Trust fees for the current quarter decreased 6.0% from the same quarter last year, mainly due to lower trust asset valuations on which fees are based. Mortgage banking revenue was up 20.7% mainly due to higher origination activity as a result of lower mortgage rates. Securities transactions for the third quarter of 2002 included gains of $2.6 million on sales of bank investment securities, partly offset by a net loss of $1.2 million on venture capital investments held by the Company’s 53%-owned affiliate. Other non-interest income declined $3.0 million in the third quarter of 2002 compared to the same quarter in the previous year, mainly because of lower sales of student loans in the current quarter.

      Non-interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2002, increased $3.3 million, or 1.6%, over 2001. Most of the increase was due to higher deposit account charges, which rose $5.6 million, or 9.1%, due to increases in overdraft and corporate cash management fees. Credit card transaction fees rose $1.8 million, or 4.4%, mainly in debit card fees. Trust fees declined $1.7 million partly due to large, one-time probate fees received in 2001 and declining asset valuations. Mortgage banking revenue declined $1.3 million, resulting from lower sales of mortgage loans to the secondary market earlier in the year, in addition to fair value adjustments on related sales contracts. Securities transactions for the first nine months of 2002 included $3.0 million in gains on sales from the banks’ investment portfolios, partly offset by venture capital investment losses of $1.7 million recorded by the Company’s 53%-owned affiliate and $700 thousand recorded by the Parent company. In comparison, the 2001 nine month period included bank securities gains of $7.0 million, offset by venture capital investment losses of $4.4 million. During the first nine months of 2002, other non-interest income included the sale of minority interest in a community bank, sales of bank branches and facilities, and sales of student loans for gains of $1.5 million, $2.4 million, and $3.4 million, respectively. During the same period in 2001, a banking facility was sold for a gain of $1.5 million, and student loan gains amounted to $5.0 million.

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Non-Interest Expense

                                                   
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30 September 30


2002 2001 % Change 2002 2001 % Change






(Dollars in thousands)
Salaries and employee benefits
  $ 63,203     $ 59,415       6.4 %   $ 187,904     $ 176,100       6.7 %
Net occupancy
    8,835       8,242       7.2       25,469       24,230       5.1  
Equipment
    5,619       5,461       2.9       16,733       16,616       .7  
Supplies and communication
    8,326       8,353       (.3 )     24,490       24,963       (1.9 )
Data processing and software
    10,095       11,480       (12.1 )     34,447       35,150       (2.0 )
Marketing
    3,838       3,460       10.9       10,834       9,848       10.0  
Goodwill amortization
          1,182       N.M.             3,505       N.M.  
Intangible assets amortization
    508       775       (34.5 )     1,900       2,281       (16.7 )
Other
    10,585       11,451       (7.6 )     36,064       35,709       1.0  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Total non-interest expense
  $ 111,009     $ 109,819       1.1 %   $ 337,841     $ 328,402       2.9 %
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

      Non-interest expense for the third quarter of 2002 amounted to $111.0 million, an increase of 1.1% over amounts recorded in the same quarter last year. The largest increase occurred in salaries and employee benefits, which rose $3.8 million, or 6.4%, mainly due to higher costs for salaries, incentives, medical insurance and retirement plan expense. Full-time equivalent employees totaled 5,017 and 5,119 at September 30, 2002 and 2001, respectively. Excluding salaries and benefits, non-interest expense declined 5.2% compared with the third quarter of 2001. Much of this decline was the result of lower data processing costs from the internalization of the mainframe computer operation, which was completed in the second quarter of 2002. Also, goodwill amortization, which amounted to $1.2 million in the third quarter of last year, was discontinued in 2002, as required by a recent accounting pronouncement.

      Non-interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2002, was $337.8 million, an increase of $9.4 million, or 2.9%, over 2001. Salaries and employee benefits rose $11.8 million, with the same expense trends noted above in the quarterly comparison. Net occupancy expense increased $1.2 million mainly because of higher depreciation expense on new bank branches and remodeling projects, in addition to rent expense on new telemarketing and disaster recovery centers. Data processing and software costs declined $703 thousand due to the mainframe internalization project, and is reflective of a $1.7 million contract termination payment in the second quarter of 2002 but lower expenses for the data center in the third quarter of 2002. Marketing expense rose $986 thousand, offset by a net decline in other expense categories. Among these was a $3.5 million decline in goodwill amortization, which was discontinued in 2002 as noted above.

      The efficiency ratio improved to 56.70% in the third quarter of 2002, compared with 58.43% in the third quarter of 2001 and 57.51% in the second quarter of 2002.

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Provision and Allowance for Loan Losses

                                             
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended

September 30
September 30 September 30 June 30
2002 2001 2002 2002 2001





(Dollars in thousands)
Provision for loan losses
  $ 9,193     $ 8,317     $ 6,668     $ 23,260     $ 25,839  
     
     
     
     
     
 
Net loan charge-offs (recoveries):
                                       
 
Business
    2,831       1,888       1,118       5,310       5,222  
 
Credit card
    4,173       4,173       4,309       12,774       14,352  
 
Personal banking
    1,611       2,321       1,472       4,752       6,338  
 
Real estate
    (37 )     80       (231 )     (191 )     (73 )
     
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total net loan charge-offs
  $ 8,578     $ 8,462     $ 6,668     $ 22,645     $ 25,839  
     
     
     
     
     
 
Annualized total net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans
    .44 %     .43 %     .35 %     .39 %     .44 %
     
     
     
     
     
 

      The Company has a process to evaluate the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, which assesses the risks and losses inherent in its portfolio. This process provides an allowance consisting of an allocated and an unallocated component. To determine the allocated component of the allowance, the Company combines estimates of the reserves needed for loans evaluated on an individual basis with estimates of reserves needed for pools of loans with similar risk characteristics. This process uses tools such as the “watch loan list”, loss experience, and migration models. To mitigate the imprecision in the estimation of the allocated component, specifically calculated reserve amounts are supplemented by an unallocated component. The unallocated component includes management’s determination of the amounts necessary to offset credit risk issues associated with loan concentrations, economic uncertainties, industry concerns, adverse market changes in estimated or appraised collateral values, and other subjective factors.

      The Company’s estimate of the allowance for loan losses and the corresponding provision for loan losses rests upon various judgments and assumptions made by management. Factors that influence these judgments include past loan loss experience, current loan portfolio composition and characteristics, trends in portfolio risk ratings, levels of non-performing assets, prevailing regional and national economic conditions, and the Company’s ongoing specific loan evaluation process, including that of its regulators.

      Net loan charge-offs were $22.6 million in the first nine months of 2002, a $3.2 million decrease from the same period in the prior year. The decline resulted from lower charge-offs on credit card and personal banking loans, in addition to higher recoveries on credit card loans. Total net charge-offs for the first nine months of 2002 were .39% of total average loans, compared to .44% for the same period in 2001.

      Net loan charge-offs in the third quarter of 2002 were $8.6 million compared to $6.7 million in the second quarter of 2002 and $8.5 million in the third quarter of 2001. The ratio of net charge-offs to average loans was .44% in the current quarter compared with .35% in the second quarter of 2002 and .43% in the third quarter of 2001. The increase in net charge-offs in the current quarter compared to the second quarter of this year resulted principally from the additional charge-down of $1.5 million of two business loans, which had previously been placed on non-accrual status and mentioned in an earlier report. Compared to the third quarter of 2001, net charge-offs were up slightly due to higher business loan net charge-offs, partly offset by lower net charge-offs on personal banking loans.

      For the third quarter of 2002, net charge-offs on average credit card loans amounted to 3.35% compared with 3.60% in the second quarter of this year and 3.42% in the third quarter of 2001. Personal banking loan net charge-offs amounted to .38% of average personal loans this quarter compared to .37% in the second quarter of this year and .56% in the third quarter of 2001.

      The provision for loan losses was $23.3 million in the first nine months of 2002 compared to $25.8 million in the same period in 2001. The provision for loan losses for the third quarter of 2002 totaled $9.2 million, up from $6.7 million in the second quarter of 2002 and $8.3 million in the third quarter of 2001.

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      The allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2002, was $130.6 million, or 1.68% of average quarterly loans, and represented 460% of total non-performing assets. The Company considers the allowance for loan losses adequate to cover losses inherent in the loan portfolio at September 30, 2002.

Risk Elements of Loan Portfolio

      The following table presents non-performing assets and loans which are past due 90 days and still accruing interest. Non-performing assets include non-accruing loans and foreclosed real estate. Loans are placed on non-accrual status when management does not expect to collect payments consistent with acceptable and agreed upon terms of repayment. These generally are loans that are 90 days past due as to principal and/or interest payments, unless both well-secured and in the process of collection, or are 1-4 family first mortgage loans or consumer loans that are exempt under regulatory rules from being classified as non-accrual. Those loans, anticipated to be collected, are included in the totals below for loans past due 90 days and still accruing interest.

                   
September 30 December 31
2002 2001


(Dollars in thousands)
Non-accrual loans
  $ 26,701     $ 28,819  
Foreclosed real estate
    1,679       1,949  
     
     
 
 
Total non-performing assets
  $ 28,380     $ 30,768  
     
     
 
Non-performing assets to total loans
    .36 %     .40 %
Non-performing assets to total assets
    .22 %     .24 %
Loans past due 90 days and still accruing interest
  $ 23,435     $ 19,699  
     
     
 

Income Taxes

      The Company’s income tax expense was $71.0 million in the first nine months of 2002 and $66.7 million in the first nine months of 2001, resulting in effective tax rates of 32.4% and 33.0%, respectively. The lower effective tax rate in the first nine months of 2002 compared with 2001 was impacted by both the elimination of non-deductible goodwill amortization, and the additional accrual of state and Federal rehabilitation credits to be received on the renovation of a downtown Kansas City office building. The effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2002 was 33.0% compared with 32.8% in the second quarter of 2002 and 32.2% in the third quarter of 2001.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

Balance Sheet

      Total assets of the Company were $13.2 billion at September 30, 2002 compared to $12.9 billion at December 31, 2001, an increase of 1.9%. Earning assets at September 30, 2002 totaled $12.0 billion, composed of loans (66%), investment securities (33%) and short term investments in federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell (1%).

      During the first nine months of 2002, loans increased $322.6 million, or 4.2%, over balances at December 31, 2001. The increase was the result of higher personal banking, construction, and business loans, but partly offset by lower personal real estate loans. Personal real estate loans decreased $60.4 million from the year end balance, continuing the trend whereby principal amortization, coupled with lower origination of variable rate loans, resulted in lower loan balances. Longer term fixed rate personal real estate loans originated by the Company are routinely sold to the secondary market. During the first nine months of 2002, personal loans, mainly student and automobile loans, grew $240.2 million. The Company has been successful in attracting new auto loans even with existing incentives offered by the auto companies by emphasizing used car products and differing terms. Although the region’s economy remained sluggish, business loans increased

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$79.8 million over year end as a result of seasonal line of credit usage and new lending opportunities occurring mainly in the third quarter of 2002.

      Available for sale investment securities at September 30, 2002, were $207.0 million higher than at December 31, 2001. Most of the increase resulted from higher investments in U.S. government securities, particularly in purchases of treasury inflation indexed bonds, which were partly offset by smaller holdings of mutual funds. The growth in investment securities since December 31, 2001, occurred mainly from liquidity arising from increases in short term borrowings of federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase. The total investment securities portfolio amounted to $3.94 billion at September 30, 2002, and was comprised mainly of U.S. government and agencies (38%), mortgage-backed (35%), and other asset-backed (22%) investment securities.

      Total deposits decreased $100.4 million at September 30, 2002, compared to December 31, 2001, mainly due to a decline of $157.3 million in long term retail certificates of deposit, which was partly offset by growth in money market accounts and short term certificates of deposit of $100,000 and over.

      Compared to 2001 year end balances, borrowings at September 30, 2002, increased $155.6 million. The Company’s short term borrowings of federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase vary depending on daily liquidity requirements. These borrowings rose $157.5 million during the first nine months of 2002 to a balance of $1.24 billion at September 30, 2002. Longer term borrowings, consisting mainly of FHLB borrowings, remained stable at $390.7 million outstanding at September 30, 2002.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

      Liquidity represents the Company’s ability to obtain cost-effective funding to meet the needs of customers as well as the Company’s financial obligations. Liquidity can be provided through the subsidiary banks’ sale and maturity of federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell, in addition to their available for sale investment securities portfolio. These liquid assets had a fair value of $3.74 billion at September 30, 2002, which included $648.3 million pledged to secure public deposits, discount window borrowings, and other purposes as required by law. Within the next twelve months, approximately $312.2 million, or 9%, of the banks’ available for sale portfolio will mature. The available for sale bank portfolio included an unrealized net gain in fair value of $137.1 million at September 30, 2002 compared to an unrealized net gain of $29.4 million at December 31, 2001. Liquidity can also be obtained through secured advances from the FHLB, of which certain subsidiary banks are members. These borrowings are generally secured by residential mortgages and mortgage-backed securities. Advances outstanding approximated $375 million at December 31, 2001 and September 30, 2002. Most of the advances are payable during 2002 and 2003. An additional $123.6 million is available under the FHLB lines of credit.

      The liquid assets of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. holding company (the Parent) consist primarily of U.S. federal agency securities, commercial paper, securities purchased under agreements to resell, and marketable corporate stock, including investments in mutual funds. The fair value of these assets was $205.4 million at September 30, 2002 compared to $175.2 million at December 31, 2001. Included in the fair values were unrealized net gains of $29.7 million at September 30, 2002, and $32.6 million at December 31, 2001. The Parent’s liabilities totaled $64.0 million at September 30, 2002, compared to $13.4 million at December 31, 2001. Liabilities at September 30, 2002, included $53.1 million advanced mainly from subsidiary bank holding companies in order to combine resources for short term investment in liquid assets. The funds advanced from the subsidiary bank holding companies consist mainly of subsidiary bank dividends. The Parent had no short term borrowings from affiliate banks or long term debt during 2002. The Parent’s commercial paper, which management believes is readily marketable, has a P1 rating from Moody’s and an A1 rating from Standard & Poor’s. The Company’s commercial paper is unissued, however, this credit availability should provide adequate funds to meet any outstanding or future commitments of the Parent.

      In February 2002, the Board of Directors re-approved a plan to authorize the Company to purchase up to 3,000,000 shares of common stock. During the first nine months of 2002, the Company purchased approximately 1,626,153 shares at an average cost of $42.33. The Company has routinely used these reacquired shares to fund annual stock dividends and various stock option programs.

21


Table of Contents

      The Company had an equity to asset ratio of 10.90% based on 2002 average balances. As shown in the following table, the Company’s capital exceeded the minimum risk-based capital and leverage requirements of the regulatory agencies.

                         
Minimum
Ratios for
September 30 December 31 Well-Capitalized
2002 2001 Banks



(Dollars in thousands)
Risk-Adjusted Assets
  $ 9,857,568     $ 9,634,566          
Tier I Capital
    1,245,263       1,182,661          
Total Capital
    1,381,925       1,313,857          
Tier I Capital Ratio
    12.63 %     12.28 %     6.00 %
Total Capital Ratio
    14.02 %     13.64 %     10.00 %
Leverage Ratio
    10.13 %     9.81 %     5.00 %

      The following is a discussion of cash flows; these amounts are based on cash flows that exclude changes resulting from bank acquisitions and branch dispositions. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents (defined as “Cash and due from banks” on the accompanying balance sheets) were $739.5 million at September 30, 2002, a decrease of $84.7 million from December 31, 2001. Contributing to the net cash outflow were an increase in loan balances (net of repayments) of $354.4 million and an increase of $112.0 million in investment securities (net of maturities and sales). Additional cash outflows resulted from a decline of $61.9 million in total deposits. Net cash inflows of $177.2 million were generated from the operating activities of the Company, along with a decline of $267.8 million in short term investments and an increase of $157.5 million in overnight borrowings.

      The Company has various commitments and contingent liabilities which are properly not reflected on the balance sheet. Loan commitments (excluding derivative instruments and lines of credit related to credit cards) totaled approximately $3.05 billion, standby letters of credit totaled $301.1 million, and commercial letters of credit totaled $35.4 million at September 30, 2002.

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Table of Contents

AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS — AVERAGE RATES AND YIELDS

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002 and 2001

                                                       
Nine Months 2002 Nine Months 2001


Interest Avg. Rates Interest Avg. Rates
Average Income/ Earned/ Average Income/ Earned/
Balance Expense Paid Balance Expense Paid






(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
ASSETS:
Loans:
                                               
 
Business (A)
  $ 2,406,591     $ 87,222       4.85 %   $ 2,599,407     $ 136,665       7.03 %
 
Real estate — construction
    468,358       17,918       5.12       407,961       23,500       7.70  
 
Real estate — business
    1,467,945       66,505       6.06       1,376,225       79,269       7.70  
 
Real estate — personal
    1,250,564       62,875       6.72       1,354,568       75,401       7.44  
 
Personal banking
    1,615,597       82,915       6.86       1,618,173       98,947       8.18  
 
Credit card
    486,972       39,373       10.81       491,205       48,573       13.22  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total loans
    7,696,027       356,808       6.20       7,847,539       462,355       7.88  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Investment securities:
                                               
 
U.S. government & federal agency
    1,200,297       41,323       4.60       850,191       36,623       5.76  
 
State & municipal obligations (A)
    38,748       2,287       7.89       58,247       3,302       7.58  
 
CMO’s and asset-backed securities
    2,112,496       85,253       5.40       1,097,994       50,510       6.15  
 
Trading securities
    10,607       402       5.07       16,745       741       5.92  
 
Other marketable securities (A)
    132,382       3,229       3.26       119,118       4,293       4.82  
 
Non-marketable securities
    65,744       2,047       4.16       68,375       2,777       5.43  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total investment securities
    3,560,274       134,541       5.05       2,210,670       98,246       5.94  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell
    86,273       1,186       1.84       623,101       20,777       4.46  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total interest earning assets
    11,342,574       492,535       5.81       10,681,310       581,378       7.28  
             
     
             
     
 
Less allowance for loan losses
    (129,680 )                     (129,980 )                
Unrealized gain on investment securities
    101,489                       44,656                  
Cash and due from banks
    510,109                       533,564                  
Land, buildings and equipment, net
    327,481                       279,288                  
Other assets
    146,358                       166,770                  
     
                     
                 
   
Total assets
  $ 12,298,331                     $ 11,575,608                  
     
                     
                 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Interest bearing deposits:
                                               
 
Savings
  $ 353,767       1,700       .64     $ 321,240       2,802       1.17  
 
Interest bearing demand
    5,734,276       34,053       .79       5,143,069       83,233       2.16  
 
Time open & C.D.’s of less than $100,000
    2,072,633       55,165       3.56       2,252,089       93,959       5.58  
 
Time open & C.D.’s of $100,000 and over
    662,030       14,215       2.87       514,635       21,383       5.56  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total interest bearing deposits
    8,822,706       105,133       1.59       8,231,033       201,377       3.27  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Borrowings:
                                               
 
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    683,235       6,702       1.31       594,981       16,786       3.77  
 
Long-term debt and other borrowings (B)
    369,523       7,269       2.63       256,339       10,277       5.36  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total borrowings
    1,052,758       13,971       1.77       851,320       27,063       4.25  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
     
Total interest bearing liabilities
    9,875,464       119,104       1.61 %     9,082,353       228,440       3.36 %
             
     
             
     
 
Non-interest bearing demand deposits
    961,579                       1,149,358                  
Other liabilities
    120,388                       140,280                  
Stockholders’ equity
    1,340,900                       1,203,617                  
     
                     
                 
   
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 12,298,331                     $ 11,575,608                  
     
                     
                 
Net interest margin (T/E)
          $ 373,431                     $ 352,938          
             
                     
         
Net yield on interest earning assets
                    4.40 %                     4.42 %
                     
                     
 


(A)  Stated on a tax equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 35%.

(B)  Interest expense capitalized on construction projects is not deducted from the interest expense shown above.

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AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS — AVERAGE RATES AND YIELDS

Three Months Ended September 30, 2002 and 2001

                                                       
Third Quarter 2002 Third Quarter 2001


Interest Avg. Rates Interest Avg. Rates
Average Income/ Earned/ Average Income/ Earned/
Balance Expense Paid Balance Expense Paid






(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
ASSETS:
Loans:
                                               
 
Business (A)
  $ 2,404,059     $ 29,298       4.84 %   $ 2,476,368     $ 39,459       6.32 %
 
Real estate — construction
    486,704       6,131       5.00       414,146       7,552       7.23  
 
Real estate — business
    1,476,920       22,242       5.97       1,421,017       26,147       7.30  
 
Real estate — personal
    1,228,342       20,172       6.52       1,319,655       23,987       7.21  
 
Personal banking
    1,693,411       27,824       6.52       1,644,963       31,874       7.69  
 
Credit card
    494,171       13,623       10.94       483,560       14,754       12.10  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total loans
    7,783,607       119,290       6.08       7,759,709       143,773       7.35  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Investment securities:
                                               
 
U.S. government & federal agency
    1,338,146       14,503       4.30       950,412       12,380       5.17  
 
State & municipal obligations (A)
    37,184       717       7.65       55,355       1,082       7.75  
 
CMO’s and asset-backed securities
    2,125,855       27,903       5.21       1,281,636       19,346       5.99  
 
Trading securities
    10,627       131       4.89       15,305       227       5.88  
 
Other marketable securities (A)
    74,204       861       4.60       143,159       1,327       3.68  
 
Non-marketable securities
    65,763       736       4.44       70,839       1,131       6.33  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total investment securities
    3,651,779       44,851       4.87       2,516,706       35,493       5.60  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell
    45,194       234       2.05       697,730       6,300       3.58  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total interest earning assets
    11,480,580       164,375       5.68       10,974,145       185,566       6.71  
             
     
             
     
 
Less allowance for loan losses
    (129,629 )                     (130,356 )                
Unrealized gain on investment securities
    145,638                       53,267                  
Cash and due from banks
    510,322                       531,982                  
Land, buildings and equipment, net
    333,991                       297,544                  
Other assets
    149,269                       166,859                  
     
                     
                 
   
Total assets
  $ 12,490,171                     $ 11,893,441                  
     
                     
                 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Interest bearing deposits:
                                               
 
Savings
  $ 358,990       581       .64     $ 330,514       735       .88  
 
Interest bearing demand
    5,739,434       11,079       .77       5,468,739       22,137       1.61  
 
Time open & C.D.’s of less than $100,000
    1,999,354       16,044       3.18       2,299,700       30,495       5.26  
 
Time open & C.D.’s of $100,000 and over
    666,333       4,454       2.65       545,203       7,038       5.12  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total interest bearing deposits
    8,764,111       32,158       1.46       8,644,156       60,405       2.77  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Borrowings:
                                               
 
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    843,392       2,944       1.38       629,371       4,584       2.89  
 
Long-term debt and other borrowings (B)
    355,842       2,058       2.29       326,138       3,722       4.53  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total borrowings
    1,199,234       5,002       1.65       955,509       8,306       3.45  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
     
Total interest bearing liabilities
    9,963,345       37,160       1.48 %     9,599,665       68,711       2.84 %
             
     
             
     
 
Non-interest bearing demand deposits
    997,069                       914,871                  
Other liabilities
    142,800                       145,376                  
Stockholders’ equity
    1,386,957                       1,233,529                  
     
                     
                 
   
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 12,490,171                     $ 11,893,441                  
     
                     
                 
Net interest margin (T/E)
          $ 127,215                     $ 116,855          
             
                     
         
Net yield on interest earning assets
                    4.40 %                     4.22 %
                     
                     
 


(A)  Stated on a tax equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 35%.

(B)  Interest expense capitalized on construction projects is not deducted from the interest expense shown above.

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Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

      Interest rate risk management focuses on maintaining consistent growth in net interest income within Board-approved policy limits. The Company mainly uses earnings simulation models to analyze net interest sensitivity to movement in interest rates. Simulation models are run at least quarterly, calculating interest sensitivity. The table below shows the effect, at both September 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001, that gradual rising and/or falling interest rates over a twelve month period would have on the Company’s net interest income, given a static balance sheet.

                                 
September 30, 2002 December 31, 2001


$ Change % Change $ Change % Change
in Net in Net in Net in Net
Interest Interest Interest Interest
Scenario Income Income Income Income





(Dollars in millions)
200 basis points rising
  $ 1.4       .27 %   $ (7.6 )     (1.5 )%
100 basis points rising
    2.4       .48       (3.6 )     (.7 )
100 basis points falling
    (.9 )     (.19 )     2.3       .5  

      Since December 2001, the Company has continued to reduce its interest rate risk for all of the above scenarios of changes in interest levels. Over the last nine months, general interest rate levels, as monitored by the Federal Reserve, have remained relatively constant. During this period the Company’s certificates of deposit have re-priced downward as maturities have occurred and the average balances of all certificates of deposit have declined. Also, rates on interest bearing demand deposits have declined while balances have grown. Modeling assumptions have used these facts and further assumptions on the extent to which interest bearing deposit rates could decline further to reduce the impact to net interest income should rates fall an added 100 basis points.

      Changes in the mix of earning assets during the year, combined with fewer certificates of deposit balances with fixed rates, also changed simulation models assuming rising interest rates. Growth in certain consumer loan products this year with rates tied to various indices provide improved results under rising rate environments. Student loan products, which have rates that recently were reset by governmental rules, will now show growth in interest if rates begin to rise. Under rising assumptions personal real estate loan run-off should slow. Also, the Company’s commercial loan portfolio with recent growth in the third quarter is now comprised of a greater proportion of variable rate loans which will re-price with upward rate movements. The growth over the last 12 months in the Company’s investment securities portfolio, coupled with higher short term borrowings that are used as part of the assumptions, partly offset the impact of loan and deposit changes. However, taken as a whole, simulation models used on rising rate environments indicated improved results over models prepared in December 2001.

      For further discussion of the Company’s market risk, see the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Interest Rate Sensitivity included in the Company’s 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

      Within the 90 days prior to the filing of this report, the Company carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-14(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective. There were not any significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

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PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.     Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

      (a) Exhibits:

     
99.1
  Certification of CEO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
99.2
  Certification of CFO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

      (b) No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter ended September 30, 2002.

SIGNATURES

      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 thereunto duly authorized.

  COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC.

  By  /s/ J. DANIEL STINNETT
 
  J. Daniel Stinnett
  Vice President & Secretary

Date: November 12, 2002

  By  /s/ JEFFERY D. ABERDEEN
 
  Jeffery D. Aberdeen
  Controller (Chief Accounting Officer)

Date: November 12, 2002

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CERTIFICATION

      I, David W. Kemper, certify that:

        1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Commerce Bancshares, Inc.;
 
        2. Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;
 
        3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;
 
        4. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

        (a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;
 
        (b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and
 
        (c) presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

        5. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors:

        (a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
 
        (b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

        6. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

  /s/ DAVID W. KEMPER
 
  David W. Kemper
  Chairman, President and
  Chief Executive Officer

November 12, 2002

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CERTIFICATION

      I, A. Bayard Clark, certify that:

        1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Commerce Bancshares, Inc.;
 
        2. Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;
 
        3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;
 
        4. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

        (a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;
 
        (b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and
 
        (c) presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

        5. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors:

        (a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
 
        (b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

        6. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

  /s/ A. BAYARD CLARK
 
  A. Bayard Clark
  Executive Vice President,
  Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

November 12, 2002

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