FOUR LOCAL BANKS OPERATIONS ON ST. LOUIS `NOTABLES' LIST

Boatmen's Bancshares Inc., one of the 40 largest bank holding companies in the U.S., is the largest commercial banking organization in Missouri, operating from more than 200 locations in Missouri, Illinois and Tennessee, including Boatmen's National Bank of Cape Girardeau.

Mercantile Bancorporation, which operates Mercantile Bank of Cape Girardeau, was listed second on a recent list of the largest St. Louis area banks and bank holding companies, which appeared in the St. Louis Business Journal.

Two other Cape Girardeau banks were included on the top 20 list Capital Bancorporation, which was 12th, and First Exchange Bank of Cape Girardeau, 14th on the list.

According to figures which appeared in the St. Louis business publication, the top 20 banks which have operations in the St. Louis metropolitan area, have operations in a total of 926 locations; employ almost 30,000 (29,732) in their total operation; and have a combined total of $52.6 billion.

All figures were based on the 1990 year-end reports, and was researched by Leslie Smart.

Boatmen's Bancshares reported a 6.6 percent increase in income for the first quarter of 1991, from $32.5 million to $34.6 million.

Assets of March 31 totaled $16.3 billion, up from the $14.9 billion of a year ago.

Boatmen's Chairman Andrew Craig attributed the quarter increase to the 16 percent rise in net interest income and 10 percent increase in non-interest income.

Provisions for loan losses went from $14.4 million to $20.5 million. Non-performing assets rose from $222 million, or 2.45 percent of loans and foreclosed property a year ago to $293 million, or 3.18 percent.

"This increase was not unexpected in view of the soft economic conditions in our primary markets," Craig said. Net loan charge-offs were $13.5 million, compared to $11.6 for 1990

Boatmen's earnings per share for 1989 1990 figures were not immediately available was $3.90.

Boatmen's has the largest overall employment, with 8,600 workers.

Mercantile Bancorporation also reported an increase in net income the first quarter of 1991, going from $12 million a year ago, to the $15.2 million figure during the first three months this year, for a 26.8 percent increase.

Mercantile Bancorporation, headquartered in St. Louis owns 26 banks in Missouri and western Illinois and a total of 115 nationally, with assets of $7.6 billion. The firm employs a total of 4,430 people. The 1989 earnings per share was $3.50.

Capital Bancorporation, headquartered at Cape Girardeau, has a total of 19 locations including Clayton in St. Louis, Columbia, and Bonne Terre with assets of $590,910,000. The firm employs 325 people.

Earnings per share in 1989 was $2.01.

First Exchange Bank, headquartered in Cape Girardeau, operates a total of 21 locations, including in the St. Louis area, employs 194 people, and reports assets of $494,134,000. First Exchange employs 194. The bank's earnings per share for 1989 was $2.25.

Completing the list of the top 20 bank operations in the St. Louis area are:

3. Commerce Bancshares, headquartered in St. Louis, with assets of $6.7 billion.

4. United Missouri Bancshares, headquartered in Kansas City, with assets of about $4.3 billion.

5. Magna Group, headquartered at Belleville, Ill., $2.3 billion.

6. Mark Twain Bancshares, St. Louis, $2.1 billion.

7. First Banks, St. Louis, $2 billion.

8. Central Bancompany, Jefferson City, $1.9 billion.

9. Landmark Bancshares, St. Louis, $1.9 billion.

10. Ameribanc, St. Joseph, $1.2 billion.

11. First Bank of Illinois, Springfield, $1.2 billion.

13. Southside Bancshares, St. Louis, $590,365,000.

15. Mississippi Valley Bancshares, St. Louis, $472,518,000.

16. Cass Commercial Bank, St. Louis, $373,695,000.

17. Lemay Bank & Trust, St. Louis, $372,359,000.

18. Central Bank System, Fairview Heights, Ill., $307,800,000.

19. The BAnk of Edwardsville, Edwardsville, Ill., $285,500,000.

20. Delta Bancshares, St. Louis, $247,184,000.