First Commerce Corporation
                                 CERTIFICATIONS

I, Wesley W. Sturges, certify that:

1.    I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-QSB of First Commerce
      Corporation;

2.    Based on my knowledge,  this quarterly  report does not contain any untrue
      statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to
      make the statements made, in light of the  circumstances  under which such
      statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by
      this quarterly report;

3.    Based on my  knowledge,  the  financial  statements,  and other  financial
      information  included  in this  quarterly  report,  fairly  present in all
      material respects the financial condition,  results of operations and cash
      flows of the  registrant's  as of, and for, the periods  presented in this
      quarterly report;

4.    The  registrant's  other  certifying  officer  and I are  responsible  for
      establishing  and  maintaining  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  (as
      defined in Exchange  Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the  registrant  and
      have:

      a)    Designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that
            material information relating to the registrant, including its
            consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within
            those entities, particularly during the period in which this
            quarterly report is being prepared;

      b)    Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls
            and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date
            of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

      c)    Presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the
            effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our
            evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.    The registrant's other certifying  officer and I have disclosed,  based on
      our most recent  evaluation,  to the  registrant's  auditors and the audit
      committee of  registrant's  Board of Directors (or persons  performing the
      equivalent functions):

      a)    All significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal
            controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to
            record, process, summarize and report financial data and have
            identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in
            internal controls; and

      b)    Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
            other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
            internal controls; and

6.    The registrant's other certifying officer and I have indicated in this
      quarterly report whether or not here were significant changes in internal
      controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal
      controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including
      any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and
      material weaknesses.

Dated: May 13, 2003                 /s/ Wesley W. Sturges
                                    -------------------------------------
                                    Wesley W. Sturges
                                    Chief Executive Officer and President