<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                          9
<CIK>                                              0000768532
<NAME>                                           First Commerce Bancshares, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                                  1000
       
<S>                                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      6-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  Dec-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                     Jan-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                       Jun-30-1998
<CASH>                                                     142,428
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<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                         31,849
<LONG-TERM>                                                 13,669
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<PREFERRED>                                                      0
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<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                  0
<CHANGES>                                                        0
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<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                    1.16
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                    1.16
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                                   0
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<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                        22,691
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                              0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                          0
        

</TABLE>