Memo 3/16/09

Commerce bank ranked 7th in Top 150

Commerce Bancshares Inc. was ranked seventh among the Top 150 publicly traded bank companies in Bank Director magazine's 2008 Bank Performance Scorecard. The ranking measures each institution across three categories: profitability, capital adequacy and asset quality for the period of July 2007 to June 2008. Results for 2008 were released in the magazine's first quarter 2009 issue.

"Commerce's earnings, capital and liquidity are strong and sufficient to grow our business and take advantage of new opportunities," said David W. Kemper, chairman and chief executive officer of Commerce Bancshares Inc.

Community impact award goes to WSIU

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has presented WSIU with a My Source Community Impact Award for Education for testimonials showcasing two of its education projects.

My Source is a national initiative created by the Corporations for Public Broadcasting to start a dialogue about the effect of public broadcasting on public life.

CPB's My Source Community Impact Awards are designed to recognize the educational services provided by public broadcasting stations and to highlight the local connection between stations and the communities they serve.

My Source showcases people from communities including Cape Girardeau who share their stories about the station's effect on their lives and community.

The station's award-winning entries can be viewed at www.wsiu.org/mysource.html.

-- From staff reports