UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
__________________________
Form 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 24, 2012
Commerce Bancshares, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Missouri | 0-2989 | 43-0889454 | ||
(State of Incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||
1000 Walnut, | ||
Kansas City, MO | 64106 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |
(816) 234-2000 | ||||
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) | ||||
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report) | ||||
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
The Corporate Governance Guidelines of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) state that Directors should volunteer to resign from the Board upon a change in position from that held when they were elected to the Board. In the spirit of that guideline, due to changes in the company of which he is president, on January 24, 2012, Mr. Dan C. Simons indicated his willingness not to stand for re-election at the expiration of his current term. Mr. Simons will continue to serve his current term of office which expires on the date of the next annual shareholders' meeting on April 18, 2012.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC.
By: \s\ Jeffery D. Aberdeen
Jeffery D. Aberdeen
Controller
(Chief Accounting Officer)
Date: January 26, 2012