BUSINESS MEMO: COMMERCE BANK EARNINGS

Commerce Bancshares Inc. announced record earnings of $41.8 million for the quarter ending June 30, an increase of 11 percent from the $37.5 million during the same period in 1998. Per-share earnings were 68 cents, up 13 percent from the 60 cents of last year. The return on equity was 16 percent.

Commerce Bancshares, with assets of $11.1 billion, is a registered bank holding company operating at more than 300 sites in Missouri, Illinois and Kansas. The company has loans of $7.2 billion and deposits of $9.2 billion.