Document:

exv10w1

Exhibit 10.1

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC.

EXECUTIVE INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT AS OF JANUARY 1, 2009

	1.	 	PURPOSE

     The policy of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (“Commerce”) is to compensate its officers based on
performance. The purpose of this Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (“Plan”) is to provide
incentive compensation awards to those individuals whose management efforts reflect a desire to
meet commonly agreed upon objectives or to those who by their superior performance directly
contribute to the profitability of Commerce and to encourage the retention of outstanding
contributors.

     This Plan is intended to comply with Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”)
so that awards made under the Plan to individuals who are covered employees within the meaning of
Code Section 162(m)(3) (“Covered Employees”) will qualify as performance-based compensation within
the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and the regulations thereunder (“Performance-Based
Compensation”).

	2.	 	ADMINISTRATION

     The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation and Benefits Committee (“Committee”) of the
Board of Directors (“Board”) of Commerce, which shall consist solely of two or more directors who
are “non-employee directors” under Rule 16b-3(b)(3) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, or any successor provision thereto, and “outside directors” within the meaning
of Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(e)(3)(i). The Committee shall have authority in its sole
discretion to interpret the Plan, establish rules and procedures thereunder, and make all
determinations, including the determination of incentive compensation awards eligible to be
deferred under the Plan. All determinations made by the Committee shall be final and binding.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Retirement Committee shall administer the “Deferral
Options” set forth in section 6 of this Plan in accordance with the terms of such section. The
co-chairpersons of the “Retirement Committee” shall be the Company’s Controller and Retirement
Committee. The co-chairpersons shall appoint and remove the other members of the Retirement
Committee. The Retirement Committee shall consist of a minimum of three members. The Retirement
Committee shall act by a majority of its members at the time in office, but such action may be
taken by a vote at a meeting or in writing (including e-mail) without a meeting. The members of
the Retirement Committee shall receive no compensation for their services as such. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Retirement Committee may choose to delegate its administrative functions
hereunder. Decisions of the Retirement Committee may be reflected in the terms of administrative
forms provided to participants.

 

 

	3.	 	ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS

     All chief executive officers, Chairman of the Board, Presidents, and Vice Presidents of
Commerce or any of its affiliated banks or subsidiary companies shall be eligible to participate in
the Plan, together with such other officers of Commerce and its affiliated banks and subsidiary
companies as the Committee shall determine. Directors who are not officers or employees of
Commerce, an affiliated bank, or a subsidiary company, are not eligible to participate in the Plan.

	4.	 	DETERMINATION OF AWARD

     The Board of Commerce in its sole discretion shall approve the amount of the aggregate
incentive compensation awards to be granted based on the recommendation of the Committee.
Individual incentive compensation awards shall be granted in the following manner:

	 	a.	 	With respect to Covered Employees, individual incentive compensation awards
shall qualify as Performance-Based Compensation. In so qualifying awards, the
Committee, in its sole discretion, may set restrictions based upon the achievement of
objective performance goals within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and the
regulations thereunder (“Performance Goals”). Each award to a Covered Employee shall
meet the following requirements:

	 	(i)	 	Performance Goals for the award shall be
established by the Committee based on one or more of the following
criteria: revenue, earnings, earnings per share, pre-tax earnings and
net profits, stock price, market share, costs, return on equity,
efficiency ratio (non-interest expense, divided by total revenue) asset
management, asset quality, asset growth and budget achievement.
Performance Goals need not be the same with respect to all Covered
Employees and may be established separately for Commerce as a whole or
for its various groups, divisions, subsidiaries and affiliates.
	 
	 	(ii)	 	Each Performance Goal shall be specifically
defined in advance by the Committee and may include or exclude
specified items of an unusual, non-recurring or extraordinary nature.
	 
	 	(iii)	 	Each Performance Goal must be sufficiently
objective that a third party having knowledge of the relevant facts
could determine whether the Performance Goal has been met.
	 
	 	(iv)	 	Different awards may be set by the Committee
based on achievement of certain Performance Goals or specified levels
of achieving the Performance Goals. However, no award shall be paid to
any Covered Employee if the applicable minimum Performance Goal(s) are
not achieved.
	 
	 	(v)	 	Performance Goals shall be set by the Committee
before the end of the period that constitutes the earlier of the first
ninety (90) days

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of, or the first twenty-five percent (25%) of the
period of service to which the Performance Goal relates, provided that
the outcome is substantially uncertain at the time the Committee
actually establishes the Performance Goal.

	 	(vi)	 	The Committee shall have no discretion to
increase the amount of compensation that otherwise would be due upon
attainment of a Performance Goal, although the Committee may have
discretion to deny an award or to adjust downward the compensation
payable pursuant to an award, as, in the Committee’s sole judgment, is
prudent based upon the Committee’s assessment of the Covered Employee’s
performance and Commerce’s performance during the Fiscal Year.
	 
	 	(vii)	 	In granting awards, the Committee shall follow
any additional procedures determined by it in its sole discretion from
time to time to be necessary, advisable or appropriate to ensure
qualification of the awards as Performance-Based Compensation.

	 	b.	 	With respect to individuals who are not Covered Employees, individual incentive
compensation awards shall be determined with reference to performance during the
preceding year. The incentive compensation awards to be made to the Chairman of the
Board or the President (if such persons are not Covered Employees) shall be determined
by the Committee. All other awards to be made under this Plan may be determined by the
Committee, or should the Committee so direct, by a committee consisting of the Chief
Executive Officer, a Vice-Chairman designated by the Chief Executive Officer, and the
chief human resource officer.

	5.	 	PAYMENT OF INCENTIVE AWARD

     Incentive compensation awards are generally determined and made on or before the date of the
annual meeting of the shareholders of Commerce. The normal method of payment will be in the form
of cash and awards will be paid as soon as practicable after the awards are determined, provided,
that the recipient of an award shall not have elected to defer receipt of the incentive
compensation award as hereinafter provided. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except for amounts
deferred in accordance with Section 6, incentive compensation awards will be paid no later than the
date 2 1/2 months following the end of the calendar year during which the performance period for the
incentive compensation award ends.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, no incentive compensation award shall be paid to a Covered
Employee before the Committee certifies that such Covered Employee met the requirements of the
applicable Performance Goal and satisfied any other material terms applicable to the incentive
compensation award.

     The maximum bonus that may be paid to any employee pursuant to the Plan for any calendar year
shall not exceed $1,500,000.

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	6.	 	DEFERRAL OPTIONS

	 	a.	 	Eligible employees who are members of a select group of management or highly
compensated employees, as selected by the Retirement Committee, in its discretion, may
elect to defer all or a portion of an incentive compensation award until the earlier to
occur of the eligible employee’s Disability or Separation from Service. Anyone who has
made a deferral shall be referred to as a “participant” until such individual has
received payment of all of his or her accounts under this Plan. A deferral must be
expressed either as “all” or as a specified dollar amount. Any incentive compensation
award above the specified amount will be paid in cash, and if the award is less than
the amount deferred, the total award will be deferred. The granting of an incentive
compensation award is discretionary and neither delivery of deferral election materials
nor an election to defer shall affect entitlement to such an award. All deferral
elections made under the Plan are irrevocable. It is intended that this arrangement
qualify as, and shall be administered to qualify as being unfunded and being primarily
for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or
highly compensated employees.
	 
	 	b.	 	In order to ensure that elections to defer incentive compensation awards are
effective under applicable tax laws, all persons eligible to participate in this Plan
will be given the opportunity to defer payment of all or a portion of an incentive
compensation award. An election to defer must be made in a written form satisfactory
to Commerce and must be received by the Commerce Retirement Committee on or before the
last business day of the year preceding the year for which performance is measured to
determine the granting of an incentive compensation award. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the case of any incentive compensation award that qualifies as being
“performance based” within the meaning of 409A and that is attributable to a
performance period that is at least 12 months in duration and is based on performance
criteria established no later than the date 90 days after the commencement of the
performance period (a “Performance Award”), the Retirement Committee may permit an
election with regard to a Performance Award to be received by the Committee no later
than 6 months prior to the expiration of such performance period (no later than June
30th for a performance period ending December 31), provided that the
employee was employed by Commerce continuously from the date the performance criteria
was established through the date of the election and that the payment of the
Performance Award is not substantially certain or readily ascertainable at the time the
election is received by the Retirement Committee. An election to defer any incentive
compensation awards (including any Performance Award) shall become irrevocable as of
the deadline for making such election.
	 
	 	c.	 	An eligible employee in electing a deferred payment shall also elect the
accounts, from among the accounts that Commerce makes available to the participating
employee, to which the relevant portion of the award deferral will be credited.
Credits to available accounts for deferral of an incentive compensation award shall be
determined from time to time based upon hypothetical measuring

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investments (the
“Measuring Investments”) for each account; one of which shall consist of a Company
Stock Account and there shall be such other accounts determined from time to time by
the Retirement Committee in its discretion. Such accounts are bookkeeping accounts
only and are maintained for the sole purpose of determining the amount payable by
Commerce to the eligible employee based upon the hypothetical performance of the
Measuring Investments for each such account, determined as if the account had assets
invested in the Measuring Investments of such account. No assets shall be segregated
for the benefit of an eligible employee and the bookkeeping account shall not represent
assets set aside for the benefit of an eligible employee.

With the exception of the Commerce Stock Account, a participant may elect to
transfer credits between accounts, and the amount credited to all such accounts
shall be determined from time to time, all pursuant to non-discriminatory rules,
procedures and deadlines set by the Commerce Retirement Committee, which rules,
procedures, and deadlines may be amended from time to time in such committee’s
discretion (the “Administrative Rules”). Except as set forth in the following
paragraph, however, a participant may elect to transfer credits into the Commerce
Stock Account, but not out of the Commerce Stock Account. Any election to transfer
a credit to the Commerce Stock Account or among the other accounts (a “Transfer
Election”) must be received by the Commerce Retirement Committee by the date set by
the Commerce Retirement Committee and must be in a written form satisfactory to such
committee, in each case pursuant to the Administrative Rules. Any transfer to the
Commerce Stock Account shall be based upon the last sale price of Commerce Stock as
reported by the National Association of Security Dealers National Market System on
the trading day determined in accordance with the Administrative Rules. The
credit transferred from any other account shall be based upon the amount credited to
such account as of the date determined in accordance with the Administrative Rules.

Notwithstanding the above, an eligible employee may make a one-time election to
remove any or all amounts out of the Commerce Stock Account (a “Diversification
Election”) as of February 17, 2000. Such Diversification Election must be made at
the time and in the manner determined pursuant to the Administrative Rules. Any
transfer from the Commerce Stock Account shall be based upon the last sale price of
Commerce Stock as reported by the National Association of Security Dealers National
Market System on the trading day determined in accordance with the Administrative
Rules. The amount transferred from the Commerce Stock Account pursuant to the
Diversification Election shall be based upon the number of units credited to such
account as of the date determined in accordance with the Administrative Rules.

	 	d.	 	The accounts made available for the deferral of incentive compensation awards
are bookkeeping accounts. The amount credited to each account, including any
hypothetical earnings, gains or losses, will be determined in accordance with the
Administrative Rules, based on the investment performance of the Measuring Investments
for such Account. The timing and manner of making credits or debits to each account
shall be determined in accordance with the Administrative Rules.

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	 	e.	 	Commerce shall provide periodically to each participant (but not less
frequently than once per calendar year) a statement setting forth the balance to the
credit of such participant in each of the accounts.
	 
	 	f.	 	Amounts deferred under the provisions of this Plan will be disbursed to
participants in accordance with the following:

	 	(1)	 	The default time of payment of all accounts
shall be during the calendar year following the calendar year in which
a participant experiences the earlier of a Separation from Service or
Disability. However, a Participant may elect in accordance with this
Section to instead commence payment during the ninety (90) days
following the earlier Separation from Service or Disability. In
addition, if the sum of a Participant’s accounts under the Plan and the
present value of such participant’s accrued benefit under the Commerce
Executive Retirement Plan together are greater than $1,000,000 as of
December 31, 2007, such participant has the additional alternative to
elect in accordance with this Section to commence payment during the
earlier of ninety (90) days following death or during the calendar year
specified in the election that is 2010 or later.

The default form of payment will be in a single lump sum. However, a
participant may elect in accordance with this Section that payment
shall be made in installments over a period elected by the
participant that is not less than 1 or more than 10 years or a
participant may elect to receive a specified percentage of the amount
in a single lump sum with the remainder of the amount paid in
installments over a period elected by the participant that is not
less than 1 or more than 10 years. Each installment payment will be
made in an amount, less applicable withholding taxes, determined by
multiplying the balance in the accounts by a fraction, the numerator
of which is 1 and the denominator of which is a number equal to the
remaining unpaid annual installments (including the installment being
calculated).

For purposes of application of Code Section 409A to this provision,
installments shall be treated as a single payment.

A participant’s payment election, from among the alternatives
permitted by the Plan, must be received by the Retirement Committee
no later than the date the participant’s first election to defer
incentive compensation awards becomes irrevocable. If a payment
election is not timely received by the Retirement

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Committee, payment
shall be made in the default form and time of payment as if no
election has been made. The payment election shall become
irrevocable as of the deadline for making such election.

Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary,
pursuant to IRS Notice 2005-1, IRS Notice 2006-79, IRS Notice
2007-86, and Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iv)
under Code Section 409A, form and time of payment elections
(from among the alternatives permitted by the Plan) by
participants shall be permitted without violating the
subsequent deferral and anti-acceleration rules of 409A.
Accordingly, each participant who has not received and does
not receive all of his or her payments under this Plan before
January 1, 2009, may elect to change the form and time of
payment under this Plan, if such election is received by the
Retirement Committee on or before December 31, 2008. An
election made on or after January 1, 2006 and on or before
December 31, 2006 may change the form and time of payment
only with respect to amounts that otherwise would not be
payable in 2006, and may not cause an amount to be paid in
2006 that otherwise would not be payable in 2006. An
election made on or after January 1, 2007 and on or before
December 31, 2007 may change the form and time of payment
only with respect to amounts that otherwise would not be
payable in 2007, and may not cause an amount to be paid in
2007 that otherwise would not be payable in 2007. With
respect to an election made on or after January 1, 2008 and
on or before December 31, 2008, to change the form or time of
payment, the election may apply only to amounts that
otherwise would not be payable in 2008, and may not cause an
amount to be paid in 2008 that would not otherwise be payable
in 2008. If a form and time of payment election has not been
timely received by the Retirement Committee or its
predecessor on or before December 31, 2008, payment shall be
made in the default form and time of payment. All elections
under this Section must be made on a written form approved by
the Retirement Committee. The most recent election form
received by the Retirement Committee on or before December
31,2008 shall become irrevocable on December 31, 2008.

The dates as of which the amount credited to any
participant’s accounts is to be determined, and the amount of
the accounts, in both cases for purposes determining any
payment, shall be determined by the Retirement Committee in
its discretion.

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	 	(2)	 	If a participant dies after the commencement of
payments from such participant’s accounts other than the Commerce Stock
Account, the designated beneficiary shall receive the remaining
installments over the elected installment period.
	 
	 	(3)	 	With respect to a participant’s Commerce Stock
Account, distribution shall be made by transferring to such participant
a number of shares of Commerce stock, and cash for any fractional
            shares, equal to the portion of the units credited to the participant’s
Commerce Stock Account being distributed. All other distributions
shall be in cash. The participant must make arrangements satisfactory
to Commerce to provide for payment to Commerce of federal, state,
local, and payroll withholding taxes attributable to payment of a
participant’s Commerce Stock Account.
	 
	 	(4)	 	Each participant shall have the right at any
time to designate any person or persons as beneficiary or beneficiaries
(both principal as well as contingent) to whom payment under this Plan
shall be made in the event of death prior to complete distribution to
the participant of the amounts due under this Plan. Any beneficiary
designation may be changed by a participant by the filing of such
change in writing on a form prescribed by Commerce. The filing of a
new beneficiary designation form will cancel all beneficiary
designations previously filed and will apply to all deferrals in the
account. If a beneficiary has not been designated or if all designated
beneficiaries predecease the participant, then any amounts payable to
the beneficiary shall be paid to the participant’s estate in one lump
sum.
	 
	 	(5)	 	If there is any change in the number or class
of shares of Commerce stock through the declaration of stock dividend
or other extraordinary dividends or recapitalization resulting in stock
splits or combinations or exchanges of such shares or in the event of
similar corporate transactions, each participant’s Commerce Stock
Account shall be equitably adjusted to reflect any such change in the
number or class of issued shares of common stock of Commerce or to
reflect such similar corporate transaction.
	 
	 	(6)	 	Notwithstanding anything contained in this Plan
to the contrary, if the Participant is a “specified employee”
(determined in accordance with 409A) as of the date of the
Participant’s termination of employment (other than due to the
Participant’s death), then any payment, benefit or entitlement provided
for in this Agreement that constitutes “deferred compensation” within
the meaning of 409A and that is payable during the first six months
following the date of the Participant’s termination of employment

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shall
be paid or provided to the Participant in a lump sum cash payment to be
made on the earlier of (a) the Participant’s death or (b) the first
business day (or within 30 days after such first business day) of the
seventh calendar month immediately following the month in which the
date the Participant’s termination of employment occurs. Amounts that
would have been paid during the delay will be adjusted for earnings and
losses in the manner determined by the Retirement Committee in its
discretion and shall be included in the delayed payment.

	 	(7)	 	Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, participants whose entire interest under the Plan (including
any interest under all agreements, methods, programs, or other
arrangements which are treated with this Plan as being a single
nonqualified deferred compensation plan pursuant to Treasury Regulation
section 1.409A-1(c)(2)) at any time payment of installments is due is
equal to or less than the applicable dollar amount under Code Section
402(g)(1)(B) ($16,500 for 2009), the Retirement Committee may direct
that the remaining amount due be paid in a single lump sum payment.
	 
	 	(8)	 	The terms “Separation from Service”,
“termination of employment” and similar terms mean the date that the
Participant separates from service within the meaning of 409A.
Generally, a Participant separates from service if the Participant
dies, retires, or otherwise has a termination of employment with the
Company, determined in accordance with the following:

(i) Leaves of Absence. The employment relationship
is treated as continuing intact while the participant is on
military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of
absence if the period of such leave does not exceed 6 months,
or, if longer, so long as the participant retains a right to
reemployment with Commerce under an applicable statute or by
contract. A leave of absence constitutes a bona fide leave
of absence only if there is a reasonable expectation that the
participant will return to perform services for Commerce. If
the period of leave exceeds 6 months and the participant does
not retain a right to reemployment under an applicable
statute or by contract, the employment relationship is deemed
to terminate on the first date immediately following such 6
month period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, where a leave of
absence is due to any medically determinable physical or
mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or
can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less
than 6 months, where such impairment causes the participant
to be unable to perform the duties of his or her position of

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employment or any substantially similar position of
employment, a 29 month period of absence shall be substituted
for such 6 month period.

(ii) Dual Status. Generally, if a participant
performs services both as an employee and an independent
contractor, such participant must separate from service both
as an employee, and as an independent contractor pursuant to
standards set forth in Treasury Regulations, to be treated as
having a separation from service. However, if a participant
provides services to Commerce as an employee and as a member
of the Board, and if any plan in which such person
participates as a Board member is not aggregated with this
Plan pursuant to Treasury Regulation section
1.409A-1(c)(2)(ii), then the services provided as a director
are not taken into account in determining whether the
participant has a separation from service as an employee for
purposes of this Plan.

(iii) Termination of Employment. Whether a
termination of employment has occurred is determined based on
whether the facts and circumstances indicate that Commerce
and the participant reasonably anticipated that no further
services would be performed after a certain date or that the
level of bona fide services the participant would perform
after such date (whether as an employee or as an independent
contractor except as provided in section paragraph (ii))
would permanently decrease to no more than 20% of the average
level of bona fide services performed (whether as an employee
or an independent contractor, except as provided in section
paragraph (ii)) over the immediately preceding 36 month
period (or the full period of services to Commerce if the
participant has been providing services to Commerce less than
36 months). For periods during which a participant is on a
paid bona fide leave of absence and has not otherwise
terminated employment as described above, for purposes of
this paragraph (iii) the participant is treated as providing
bona fide services at a level equal to the level of services
that the participant would have been required to perform to
receive the compensation paid with respect to such leave of
absence. Periods during which a participant is on an unpaid
bona fide leave of absence and has not otherwise terminated
employment are disregarded for purposes of this paragraph
(iii) (including for purposes of determining the applicable
36 month (or shorter) period).

(iv) Service with Related Companies. For purposes of
determining whether a separation from service has occurred

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under the above provisions, “Commerce” shall include Commerce
and all Related Companies.

	 	(9)	 	The term “Related Companies” shall mean:

(i) any corporation that is a member of a controlled group of
corporations (as defined in Code Section 414(b) that includes
Commerce); and

(ii) any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that
is under common control (as defined in Code Section 414(c))
with Commerce. For purposes of applying Code Sections 414(b)
and (c), fifty percent (50%) is substituted for the eighty
percent (80%) ownership level.

	 	(10)	 	A participant has a “Disability” or shall be
considered “Disabled” if the participant is, by reason of any medically
determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to
result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of
not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits
for a period of not less than three (3) months under the Commerce
long-term disability plan.

	 	(11)	 	The term “409A” shall mean Internal Revenue
Code Section 409A and the regulations and other guidance issued with
respect thereto.

	7.	 	AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF PLAN

     The Board of Directors may at its discretion and at any time amend the Plan in whole or in
part. The Committee may terminate the Plan in its entirety at any time, and, upon such termination
or such later date or dates, each participant shall: receive, in a single distribution, the shares
and cash for the fractions thereof of Commerce Stock credited to the Commerce Stock Account; and
shall be paid, in a single distribution or over such period of time as determined by the Committee,
an amount equal to the then remaining amount credited to such participant’s accounts other than the
Commerce Stock Account.

     Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Board may, at any time, amend the Plan to
allow any acceleration or delay of payment permitted by 409A and may apply such acceleration or
delay to any participant’s accounts without the consent of the affected participant. The Board
may, without the consent of any participant, terminate all or part of this Plan and direct that all
or part of the accounts be paid during the period permitted by 409A, provided that all conditions
of 409A are and will be satisfied.

	8.	 	MISCELLANEOUS

	 	a.	 	A participant under this Plan is merely a general unsecured creditor and
nothing contained in this Plan shall create a trust of any kind or a fiduciary
relationship between Commerce and the participant or the participant’s estate. Nothing

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contained herein shall be construed as conferring upon the participant the right to
continued employment with Commerce or its subsidiaries or to an incentive compensation
award. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, benefits payable under this
Plan may not be assigned or hypothecated, and no such benefits shall be subject to
legal process or attachment for the payment of any claim of any person entitled to
receive the same.

	 	b.	 	The amendment of the Plan to allow a Commerce Stock deferral option shall
become effective on the date the shareholders of Commerce approve the same. Subject to
such approval, an employee having a deferred option may elect (but prior to June 30,
1994) to transfer his balance in the Treasury Bill account and/or the Treasury Note
Account as of April 1, 1994 to the Commerce Stock Account with the number of units
credited to his account determined as provided in Section 6d hereof but based on the
last sale price as of the last day in March 1994 on which a trade of Commerce Stock is
reported. An employee who in 1993 deferred a potential incentive compensation award
with respect to performance in 1994 and elected either a Treasury Bill Account or a
Treasury Note Account may elect prior to June 30, 1994 to defer such award for 1994 to
the Common Stock Account.
	 
	 	c.	 	Notwithstanding any other provision herein, Commerce may establish a trust
subject to the claims of the general creditors of Commerce (a “rabbi trust”) and
deposit amounts into the rabbi trust. Although any payments from the rabbi trust to a
participant shall discharge Commerce’s obligation to the extent of payment made, this
plan is unfunded and no participant shall have an interest in any rabbi trust asset.
	 
	 	d.	 	Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, incentive
compensation awards shall not be paid to Covered Employees unless and until the
material terms under which the remuneration is to be paid, including the Performance
Goals, are (1) disclosed to shareholders and (2) subsequently approved by a majority of
the vote in a separate shareholder vote before the payment of such remuneration.
	 
	 	e.	 	Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan to the contrary, this Plan shall be
interpreted, construed and conformed in accordance with 409A. It is intended that all
compensation and benefits payable or provided under this Plan shall fully comply with
the provisions of 409A so as not to subject any participant to the additional tax,
interest or penalties which may be imposed under 409A. However, it is understood that
409A is ambiguous in certain respects. Commerce, the Board, the Committee and the
Retirement Committee will attempt in good faith not to take any action, and will
attempt in good faith to refrain from taking any action, that would result in the
imposition of tax, interest and/or penalties upon any participant under 409A. To the
extent Commerce, the Board, the Committee and the Retirement Committee have acted or
refrained from acting in good faith as required by this Section, neither they nor any
of their members, employees, contractors or agents will be responsible for any
consequences of failure to

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comply with 409A, and no participant shall be entitled to
any damages related to any such failure even though this Plan requires certain actions
to be taken in conformance with 409A.

     This restatement is adopted pursuant to the authority conferred upon Commerce’s officers at
the Board’s October 31, 2008 meeting.

13exv10w2

Exhibit 10.2

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC.

1987 NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN

AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF JULY 24, 2009

          Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”), hereby establishes this Non-Qualified Stock Option
Plan, (the “Plan”), for key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Plan is designed to
meet the criteria of performance-based compensation under Section 162 of the Internal Revenue Code,
as amended.

	1.	 	Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to aid the Company and its subsidiaries in
obtaining and retaining qualified and competent management personnel and to encourage
significant contributions by such personnel to the success of the Company and its subsidiaries
by providing additional, long-term incentive to those employees who contribute conspicuously
to the successful and profitable operations of the Company and its subsidiaries. It is
believed that this purpose will be furthered through the granting to key employees of options
to purchase shares of the common stock of the Company (“options”), as provided herein, so that
such employees (“optionees”) will be encouraged and enabled to acquire a larger personal
interest in the continued success of the Company and its subsidiaries, thereby providing
additional incentive to such employees to operate the Company and its subsidiaries in a manner
to benefit all shareholders.
	 
	2.	 	Administration.

	 	(a)	 	Grants of Options. All grants of options shall be made by the
Compensation and Benefits Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of the
Company (the “Board of Directors”). The Board of Directors may from time to time
remove from or add members to the Committee. The Committee shall consist solely of two
or more directors who are both (a) “non-employee directors” under Rule 16b-3(b)(3)
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor
provision thereto and (b) “outside directors” under Section 162(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor provision thereto.
	 
	 	(b)	 	General Administration. The Committee shall have full power and
authority to administer and interpret the Plan, subject to the provisions of the Plan
and as to such matters as are reserved under the Plan to the Board of Directors. Any
interpretation of the Plan or other act of the Committee in administering the Plan
shall be final and binding on all employees. The Committee may adopt such procedures
as it deems necessary or helpful in administering the Plan. No member of the
Committee shall be liable for action or determination made in good faith with respect
to the Plan or any option granted under the Plan.

1

 

	3.	 	Eligibility. Officers and other key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries
who are making, and who are expected to continue to make, substantial contributions to the
success of the Company and its subsidiaries shall be eligible to receive grants of options.
An option may not be granted to a member of the Board of Directors who is not also an employee
of the Company or a subsidiary.
	 
	4.	 	Shares Subject to the Plan. Not more than 1,500,000 shares of the common stock, $5
par value, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) shall be issuable in respect of options granted
under the Plan. Shares reserved under the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted as provided in
Section 7 in the event of a change in the corporate structure or the shares of Common Stock of
the Company. Shares subject to option under the Plan may be either authorized and unissued
shares or issued shares which are reacquired by the Company and held in its treasury. Shares
of common stock subject to an option shall, upon the expiration or termination of such option,
to the extent unexercised, again be available for grant under the Plan.
	 
	5.	 	Grants to Employees. Options may be granted to eligible employees with respect to
such number of shares of common stock and at such times during the term of this Plan as the
Committee shall determine; provided, however, that not more than .5 percent of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
as of the preceding December 31 may be awarded in any one year to any one person. The
granting of options pursuant to the Plan shall occur when the Committee by resolution,
written consent or other appropriate action determines to grant such option to a particular
employee. An optionee may be granted additional options under the Plan without regard to
whether any option previously granted to such optionee has been exercised in whole or in
part.
	 
	6.	 	Terms and Conditions of Options. Each option shall be evidenced by a written grant
(the “option grant”) in a form approved by the Committee, to be duly executed and delivered by
or on behalf of the Company to the optionee. The option grant shall contain provisions not
inconsistent with the following:

	 	(a)	 	Price. The purchase price per share of common stock deliverable upon
the exercise of an option shall be the last sale price as reported by the Automated
Quotation System of the National Association of Securities Dealers on the date the
option is granted. In the event a sale shall not have been effected on the date of the
grant, the last sale price first reported prior to the date of grant shall be the
purchase price per share.
	 
	 	(b)	 	Number of Shares. The option grant shall specify the number of shares
of common stock to which it pertains.
	 
	 	(c)	 	Waiting Period and Duration of Options. Options shall be exercisable
at such times and under such conditions as may be set forth in the option grant but in
no event shall any option be exercised subsequent to the tenth annual anniversary of
such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall have the authority to
accelerate or waive any condition on exercise of the option.

2

 

	 	(d)	 	Exercise of Options. To the extent that the right to purchase shares
has accrued under the option grant, options may be exercised by written notice to the
Company. Such notice shall be in such form and directed to such person as the
Committee shall determine. An option may be exercised without regard to whether any
option previously granted to the same optionee has been exercised in whole or in part.
	 
	 	(e)	 	Payment and Delivery. Shares of common stock purchased pursuant to an
option grant shall be paid for in full at the time of exercise, either (i) in cash
(including check, bank draft or money order), (ii) by delivering common stock of the
Company (including stock acquired in a “cashless exercise”), or (iii) a combination of
common stock and cash. The fair market value of the common stock so delivered shall be
the last sale price as reported by the Automated Quotation System of the National
Association of Securities Dealers on the date of exercise. No shares shall be issued
or delivered until full payment therefor has been made.
	 
	 	(f)	 	Non-Transferability. The Committee may make and include in the option
grant such provisions regarding the transferability of options as it shall in its
discretion determine.
	 
	 	(g)	 	Prior to Exercise. An optionee shall have none of the rights of a
stockholder with respect to shares subject to the option until such shares of common
stock have been purchased by the optionee.
	 
	 	(h)	 	Adjustments for Stock Splits, Etc. The number of shares of
common stock subject to an option and the option price shall be appropriately adjusted
as provided in Section 7 in the event of a change in the corporation structure or
shares of the Company.
	 
	 	(i)	 	Investment Purpose. The Committee may require any optionee to furnish
to the Company at the time of any exercise of the option a written representation (in
form satisfactory to the Committee) that he is acquiring the shares resulting from such
exercise with the intention of holding the same for investment and not for public
distribution.
	 
	 	(j)	 	Continued Employment. Nothing contained in the Plan, or in any option
granted pursuant to the Plan, shall confer upon any optionee any right with respect to
continuance of employment by the Company, or a subsidiary of the Company, or interfere
in any way with the right of the Company, or a subsidiary of the Company, to terminate
the optionee’s employment at any time, with or without cause.
	 
	 	(k)	 	Employment Status at Exercise. Except as provided in Section 6(1), no
option may be exercised unless the optionee is in the employ of the Company, or a

3

 

	 	 	 	subsidiary of the Company, at the time of such exercise. The Committee may make such
provision as it deems appropriate with respect to optionees on leave of absence.

	(l)	 	Termination of Employment. Each option shall be subject to the
following provisions in the case of the termination of the optionee’s employment the
term of the option:

	 	(i)	 	Retirement. If an optionee shall cease to be employed
by the Company, or a subsidiary of the Company, by reason of retirement
pursuant to a pension or retirement plan of the Company, or of a subsidiary of
the Company, the optionee may within a period of not more than thirty-six (36)
months next succeeding such cessation of employment (but in no event after the
expiration of the option period), exercise any and all of the optionee’s
options with respect to all or any part of the shares as to which such options
remain unexercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall have
the authority to provide in any option grant, or to amend any option grant to
provide, that in the event an optionee’s employment ceases by reason of
retirement, the optionee may exercise any and all of the optionee’s options
which remain unexercised until the expiration of the original option period.
	 
	 	(ii)	 	Disability. If an optionee shall cease to be employed
by the Company, or a subsidiary of the Company, by reason of permanent
disability as determined by the optionee establishing the optionee’s
eligibility to receive Social Security disability benefits, the optionee may
within a period of not more than thirty-six (36) months next succeeding such
cessation of employment (but in no event after the expiration of the option
period), exercise the optionee’s option with respect to all or any part of the
shares as to which such option remains unexercised.
	 
	 	(iii)	 	Death of Optionee. In the event of the death of an
optionee while in the employ of the Company, or a subsidiary of the Company, or
within twelve (12) months after the date of termination of such employment
under “(i) Retirement,” or under “(ii) Disability,” any option granted to the
optionee shall be exercisable with respect to all or any part of the shares as
to which such option remains unexercised by the optionee’s legal representative
or other person or persons to whom the optionee’s rights under the option shall
pass by the optionee’s will or the laws of descent and distribution, but only
before the expiration of the option period or of the twelve (12) month period
next succeeding the optionee’s termination of employment, whichever first
occurs.
	 
	 	(iv)	 	Other Reasons. If an optionee shall cease to be
employed by the Company, or a subsidiary of the Company, for any reason other
than those provided above under “(i) Retirement,” “(ii) Disability,” or “(iii)
Death of

4

 

	 	 	 	Optionee,” the optionee (or, in the event of the optionee’s death,
such optionee’s legal representative) may within a period of not more than
three (3) months next succeeding such cessation of employment (but in no event
after the expiration of the option period) exercise the optionee’s option if
and to the extent it was exercisable at the date of such cessation of
employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an optionee’s employment is
terminated voluntarily by the optionee or is terminated due to the optionee’s
theft, embezzlement, willful violation of any rules of the Company pertaining
to the conduct of employees or the commission of a willful felonious act while
an employee, then any option or unexercised portion thereof granted to the
optionee shall immediately expire upon termination of employment.

	 	(m)	 	Withholding for Taxes. At the time of exercise of an option granted
under this Plan, the optionee shall provide for the payment to the Company of federal,
state, local and payroll withholding taxes attributable to such exercise. The optionee
shall advise the Company at the time of exercise of the amount of desired withholding
but such withholding may not be less than the minimum required by law, which minimum
amount shall be withheld in the absence of other instruction from the optionee. The
optionee may direct the Company to withhold from the exercise of the option that number
of whole shares of common stock as shall equal in value the nearest whole share
equivalent of the indicated tax withholding requirement. Stock to be used for
withholding shall be valued at the last sale price as reported by the Automated
Quotation System of the National Association of Securities Dealers on the date of
exercise. To the extent the withholding amount is not satisfied in stock, the optionee
shall satisfy the remaining amount to be withheld by remitting such amount in cash to
the Company.

	7.1.	 	Change in Stock, Adjustments, Etc. If the shares of common stock of the Company
shall be changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares of stock or other
securities of the Company or of another corporation (whether by reason of merger,
consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, split-up, combination of shares, or
otherwise), or if the number of such shares of common stock shall be increased through the
payment of a stock dividend or stock split, there shall be substituted for or added to each
share of common stock of the Company theretofore reserved for the purposes of the Plan,
whether or not such shares are at the time subjects to outstanding options, the number and
kind of shares of stock or other securities into which each outstanding share of common stock
of the Company shall be so changed or for which it shall be so exchanged, or to which each
such share shall be entitled, as the case may be. Outstanding options shall also be
considered to be appropriately amended as to price and other terms as may be necessary or
appropriate to reflect the foregoing events. If there shall be any other change in the number
or kind of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company, or of any stock or other
securities into which such common stock shall have been changed, or for which it shall have
been exchanged, then if the Board of Directors shall in its sole discretion determine that
such change equitably requires an adjustment in the number or kind or option price of the
shares then reserved for the

5

 

	 	 	purposes of the Plan, or in any option theretofore granted or
which may be granted under the Plan, such adjustment shall be made by the Board of Directors
and shall be effective and binding for all purposes of the Plan. In making any such
substitution or adjustment, pursuant to this Section 7.1, fractional shares shall be ignored.
	 
	7.2	 	Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event of a Change in
Control, Options outstanding as of the date of such Change in Control and not then exercisable
and vested shall become fully exercisable and vested.
	 
	 	 	For purposes of the Plan, a “Change in Control” shall mean the happening of any of the
following events:

	 	(a)	 	any Person is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rule
13d-3 promulgated under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
“Exchange Act”)), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including
in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly
from the Company or its affiliates other than in connection with the acquisition by the
Company or its affiliates of a business) representing 20% or more of either the then
outstanding shares of common stock of the Company or the combined voting power of the
Company’s then outstanding securities; or
	 
	 	(b)	 	the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the
number of directors then serving: individuals who, on August 2, 1996, constitute the
Board and any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is
in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including but not limited
to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose
appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s
stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then
still in office who either were directors on August 2, 1996 or whose appointment,
election or nomination for election was previously so approved; or
	 
	 	(c)	 	there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Company (or any direct or
indirect subsidiary of the Company) with any other corporation, other than (i) a merger
or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding
immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by
remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving
entity or any parent thereof), in combination with the ownership of any trustee or
other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, at
least 80% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such
surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding immediately after such merger or
consolidation, or (ii) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a
recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person is or
becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not
including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired
directly from 

6

 

	 	 	 	the Company or its subsidiaries other than in connection with the
acquisition by the Company or its subsidiaries of a business) representing 20% or more
of either the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company or the combined
voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; or
	 
	 	(d)	 	the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company or there is consummated a sale or disposition by the Company
of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than a sale or disposition
by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity, at
least 80% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by
Persons in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company
immediately prior to such sale.

For purposes of the above definition of Change in Control, “Person” shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d) thereof, except that such term shall not include (i) the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit
plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding
securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation owned, directly
or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as
their ownership of stock of the Company.

	8.	 	Duration; Amendment; Termination. The Plan shall be effective if approved by the
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company present or represented and
voting thereon at the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of the Company scheduled for April
19, 1995, or at any adjournment thereof and, if approved, shall continue until December 31,
2005, unless terminated before that time by the Board of Directors. Options shall not be
awarded or granted after the end of such period or the earlier termination of the Plan, but
options theretofore granted shall continue after that date unless terminated in accordance
with the terms of the Plan. The Board of Directors may at any time terminate the Plan, and
may from time to time alter or amend the Plan or any part thereof provided that, except as
permitted by Sections 6 and 7, no amendment shall (a) increase the total number of shares of
common stock issuable upon the exercise of options granted under the Plan, (b) reduce the
minimum option price, or (c) impair any outstanding option.
	 
	9.	 	Construction. The Plan shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of Missouri.

7

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