Overview
Commerce Bancshares Inc., based in St. Louis, is the largest bank holding company based in Missouri. The bank provides retail, corporate, investment, trust, and asset management products and services to individuals and businesses. Other businesses include underwriting credit life, credit accident and health insurance, selling property and casualty insurance, venture capital investment, securities brokerage and leasing.
The bank is on its fifth generation of family management. Chief executive David W. Kemper is cousin to J. Mariner Kemper, chief executive of crosstown rival bank UMB Financial. Commerce's most famous ex-employee was Harrry Truman, who was a young clerk there, along with his brother.
You won't find the flavor of the month or a quick-buck scheme here. You will find a lean operation, where decision-making is pushed down from the top, employees wear multiple hats and impromptu meetings are commonplace. The bank has been a force of revitalization in downtown St. Louis, especially in historic building renovation. The bank's new O'Fallon, Mo., branch is a “green” building, registered to be LEED certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.