Commerce Bancshares
Commerce Bancshares is a Missouri-based regional bank holding company whose principal subsidiary, Commerce Bank, provides commercial banking, consumer banking, payments, wealth management and institutional financial services.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Commerce Bancshares is a regional financial-services holding company headquartered in Missouri and centered on the Commerce Bank brand. Its principal offices are in Kansas City and St. Louis. Through Commerce Bank and affiliated operating companies, the group serves businesses, households, institutions and high-net-worth clients with commercial banking, consumer banking, payments, mortgage finance, trust administration, investment management, private banking and related financial services. The organization traces its origins to 1865, when Francis Reid Long established the Kansas City Savings Association with $10,000 in capital during the post-Civil War rebuilding period. In 1881, Dr. William Stone Woods acquired the institution and renamed it the National Bank of Commerce. Under Woods, the Kansas City bank developed into a significant Midwestern financial institution. It adopted the Commerce Bank name in 1903, with William Thornton Kemper Sr. becoming its first president. The Kemper family subsequently became closely associated with Commerce and with Missouri banking and philanthropy more broadly. Commerce's history includes several examples of early adoption and regional involvement. In 1928, it opened what is described as the first 24-hour banking transit department in the United States, allowing checks drawn on out-of-town banks to be processed continuously. During the postwar expansion of the Midwest, the bank financed businesses and entrepreneurs, including companies associated with H&R Block, Sprint's predecessor United Utilities and Trans World Airlines. Commerce Trust also provided Walt Disney and Lillian Disney with a $60,000 loan secured by Walt Disney's life insurance policy in 1954, helping support development of the theme-park project that became Disneyland. From the 1960s through the 1990s, Commerce expanded its presence across Missouri, Kansas and Illinois while broadening its product range. It entered the credit-card business in 1968 and continued to develop commercial lending, payments and investment capabilities. The bank also maintained relationships with prominent regional enterprises, including the Kansas City Royals, Bass Pro Shops and other growing businesses. During the 2008 financial crisis, Commerce was notable for declining assistance from the U.S. Treasury's Troubled Asset Relief Program, distinguishing it from many larger American banks that accepted government capital. Today, Commerce Bank combines a regional branch network with digital channels and specialized commercial and wealth platforms. Consumer banking reaches more than 800,000 households through more than 140 branches and approximately 250 automated teller machines in its core states, supplemented by online and mobile banking. Commercial banking serves more than 12,000 businesses with lending, deposits, treasury management, payment processing, cards, leasing and international services. Commerce Trust provides investment management, trust administration, tax and financial planning, private banking and family-office services to affluent individuals, families and institutions. The group has also extended its geographic and wealth-management reach. It added Colorado and Oklahoma to its banking footprint and operates commercial offices and payments capabilities beyond its branch states. Commerce Bank Tower, a 15-story building near the bank's St. Louis offices, was completed in 2023. On January 1, 2026, Commerce acquired FineMark Holdings, parent of FineMark National Bank & Trust, in an all-stock transaction reported at approximately $528.5 million. The transaction expanded Commerce's private-banking and wealth-management operations in Florida and added locations in Arizona and South Carolina. Former FineMark branches operate as FineMark Bank & Trust, a division of Commerce Bank.
History
Commerce Bancshares originated in Kansas City in 1865 as the Kansas City Savings Association, founded by Francis Reid Long with $10,000 in capital. The institution was created during the Reconstruction era, when Midwestern communities were rebuilding their commercial and civic infrastructure. In 1881, Dr. William Stone Woods acquired the bank and renamed it the National Bank of Commerce. Woods expanded the institution's scale and ambition, and it presented itself at the time as the largest bank west of Chicago. The bank's early history included associations with nationally prominent figures. Harry Truman worked there as a clerk and cashier in the early 1900s, while Arthur Eisenhower, brother of Dwight D. Eisenhower, spent more than five decades with the institution. In 1903, the bank became Commerce Bank, and William Thornton Kemper Sr. became its first president. The Kemper family later maintained a significant role in Commerce and in Missouri's banking and philanthropic life. Commerce developed a reputation for operational innovation. In 1928, it opened a 24-hour banking transit department for clearing and collecting checks drawn on banks outside Kansas City. The bank also promoted modern customer facilities, including electrically powered escalators installed in its Kansas City headquarters in 1955. After World War II, it supported the growth of Midwestern companies and industries through lending and banking relationships. Its customers and borrowers included businesses associated with H&R Block, Sprint's predecessor United Utilities and Trans World Airlines. Commerce Trust, the group's trust and wealth-management operation, was involved in financing Walt Disney's early theme-park plans. In 1954, it arranged a $60,000 loan to Walt and Lillian Disney secured by Walt Disney's life insurance policy. Disneyland opened in California the following year. Commerce also supported other entrepreneurs who became prominent in the region. In 1969, it helped Ewing Kauffman acquire the Kansas City Royals. In 1974, it extended credit to Johnny Morris, enabling him to open a second bait-and-tackle store; that business developed into Bass Pro Shops. From the 1960s through the 1990s, Commerce expanded throughout Missouri, Kansas and Illinois and diversified beyond conventional deposit-taking and lending. It became the first Missouri bank to enter the credit-card business in 1968. Its affiliated activities later included mortgage banking, credit-related insurance, venture capital and real estate, alongside commercial lending, consumer banking and trust services. The 2008 financial crisis tested the institution's capital and strategic posture. Commerce declined Treasury support under the Troubled Asset Relief Program, a decision that became a notable part of its public identity during the crisis. In later years, it extended its banking footprint into Colorado and Oklahoma, while commercial offices and payment services allowed it to serve customers across a wider portion of the United States. The modern organization operates through Commerce Bank and related businesses. Its consumer platform serves more than 800,000 households through over 140 branches, approximately 250 ATMs and digital banking channels. Its commercial platform serves more than 12,000 businesses with lending, deposits, cards, payments, treasury management, leasing and international services. Commerce Trust and Commerce Family Office provide investment, fiduciary, tax, planning, family-governance and philanthropic services to wealthy families and institutions. Commerce completed a 15-story Commerce Bank Tower in St. Louis in 2023. On January 1, 2026, it acquired FineMark Holdings in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $528.5 million. FineMark National Bank & Trust became FineMark Bank & Trust, a division of Commerce Bank, giving Commerce additional wealth-management and private-banking locations in Florida, Arizona and South Carolina. As of September 30, 2025, Commerce Bank was reported by the Federal Reserve Bank as the 64th-largest commercial bank in the United States.
- 2026
FineMark Holdings acquired
[1]Commerce completed its all-stock acquisition of FineMark Holdings, parent of FineMark National Bank & Trust.
- 2023
Commerce Bank Tower completed
[1]The company completed a 15-story tower near its St. Louis office complex.
- 2008
Declined TARP assistance
[1]Commerce declined financial assistance offered through the U.S. Treasury's Troubled Asset Relief Program.
- 1974
Credit extended to Johnny Morris
[1]Commerce provided the line of credit that helped Johnny Morris open a second retail location, an early step in the development of Bass Pro Shops.
- 1969
Financing for Kansas City Royals acquisition
[1]Commerce helped Ewing Kauffman acquire the Kansas City Royals and has remained associated with the club as its bank.
- 1968
Entry into credit cards
[1]Commerce became the first bank in Missouri to enter the credit-card business.
- 1954
Loan supporting Walt Disney's theme-park plans
[1]Commerce Trust arranged a $60,000 loan to Walt and Lillian Disney secured by Walt Disney's life insurance policy.
- 1928
24-hour transit department introduced
[1]Commerce opened a continuous-operation banking transit department for processing checks drawn on out-of-town banks.
- 1903
Commerce Bank name adopted
[1]The institution became Commerce Bank, with William Thornton Kemper Sr. as its first president.
- 1881
Acquisition and renaming as National Bank of Commerce
[1]Dr. William Stone Woods acquired the bank and changed its name to National Bank of Commerce.
Products and positioning
A relationship-oriented regional banking group combining commercial-banking depth, consumer banking, payments and wealth-management capabilities across the Midwest and selected additional U.S. markets.
Commercial banking
Commercial Banking
Commerce Bank's commercial platform serves businesses and government customers with corporate lending, commercial deposits, treasury and cash-management services, merchant acquiring, commercial and corporate cards, payment solutions, leasing and international banking. The platform is designed for companies ranging from established regional businesses to larger organizations requiring integrated financing and payments support.
Retail banking
Consumer Banking
Consumer banking includes checking and savings accounts, personal installment loans, residential mortgages, debit cards, credit cards and digital banking through online and mobile channels. Commerce delivers these services through a regional branch and ATM network concentrated in Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Oklahoma and Colorado.
Wealth and institutional asset management
Commerce Trust
Commerce Trust provides investment portfolio management, trust administration, private banking, tax planning and broader financial planning for high-net-worth individuals, families and institutions. Its services extend beyond traditional banking into fiduciary administration and long-term wealth structuring.
Family-office services
Commerce Family Office
Commerce Family Office supports ultra-high-net-worth families with financial and tax planning, investment consulting, trust administration, philanthropy and family-governance advice. The unit is positioned as an integrated advisory resource for complex family wealth and multigenerational planning.
Private banking and wealth management · 2026
FineMark Bank & Trust
Following Commerce's acquisition of FineMark Holdings, former FineMark branches operate as FineMark Bank & Trust, a division of Commerce Bank. The business extends Commerce's private-banking and wealth-management capabilities in Florida and adds locations in Arizona and South Carolina.
Brand decisions
2026
Acquisition of FineMark HoldingsM&ABackground
Commerce sought to expand its private-banking and wealth-management platform and strengthen its presence outside its traditional Midwestern footprint.
Action taken
Commerce acquired FineMark Holdings, parent of FineMark National Bank & Trust, in an all-stock transaction. The acquired branches were rebranded as FineMark Bank & Trust, a division of Commerce Bank.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded Commerce's wealth-management presence in Florida and added locations in Arizona and South Carolina.
Reported transaction value. Approximately $528.5 million (Transaction completed January 1, 2026)
2008
Declining Troubled Asset Relief Program assistanceStrategyBackground
The decision occurred during the U.S. financial crisis, when the Treasury offered capital assistance to qualifying financial institutions through TARP.
Action taken
Commerce declined the offered government financial assistance rather than participating in the TARP capital program.
Aftermath
The decision became a notable example of Commerce's conservative balance-sheet and capital-management stance during the crisis.
Recent events
- 2026
Commerce Bancshares completes acquisition of FineMark Holdings[1]
M&A
Commerce Bancshares acquired FineMark Holdings, the parent of FineMark National Bank & Trust, in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $528.5 million. The transaction broadened Commerce's private-banking and wealth-management presence in Florida and added operations in Arizona and South Carolina.
- 2023
Commerce Bank Tower completed in St. Louis[1]
Other
Commerce completed a 15-story office tower near its St. Louis offices at 8000 Forsyth Boulevard, strengthening its physical presence in the region.
- 2008
Commerce declines Troubled Asset Relief Program assistance[1]
Other
During the global financial crisis, Commerce was identified as the sixth-largest U.S. bank to decline financial assistance from the U.S. Treasury's Troubled Asset Relief Program.
Sources1 sources
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