BUSINESS MEMO: COMMERCE BANCSHARES REPORTS RECORD EARNINGS

Commerce Bancshares Inc. reported record earnings of $79.4 million for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 1995.

Nine-months earnings were up 10.5 percent compared to $71.8 million for the same period a year ago. Per-share earnings for the nine months were $2.21, compared to $2.13 during the same period in 1994.

Third-quarter income was $27.6 million, up 9.5 percent from the $25.2 million of the same period in 1994. Per-share earnings for the quarter were 76 cents compared to 75 cents in 1994.

Total assets Sept. 30 were $9.2 billion compared to $7.9 billion a year ago. Total loans were $5.5 billion, compared to $4.3 billion in 1994, and deposits totaled $7.7 billion, up from the $6.8 billion of year ago.

Commerce Bancshares operates 220 facilities in Illinois, Kansas and Missouri, including Cape Girardeau.