Commerce Bancshares, Inc. Reports First Quarter Earnings Per Share of $.96

Commerce Bancshares, Inc. announced earnings of $.96 per share for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to $.93 per share in the same quarter last year and $1.01 per share in the fourth quarter of 2025. Net income for the first quarter of 2026 amounted to $141.6 million, compared to $131.6 million in the first quarter of 2025 and $140.7 million in the prior quarter.

In making this announcement, John Kemper, Chief Executive Officer, said, "We delivered a strong first quarter highlighted by solid profitability and continued momentum across our diversified fee businesses. This was also our first full quarter incorporating FineMark, a strategic investment that meaningfully enhances our private banking and wealth management capabilities and expands our presence in highly attractive growth markets. Our overall performance reflected the strength of our franchise, supported by resilient net interest income, continued trust fee growth, and solid returns across our core profitability measures.

Mr. Kemper continued, "Our return on average assets remained solid at 1.62% while maintaining excellent credit quality, with non-accrual loans at just .05% of total loans. Non-interest income was $175.9 million and comprised 37% of total revenue."

"We also remained focused on thoughtful capital deployment, returning excess capital to shareholders through the repurchase of more than $84 million of common stock this quarter while maintaining a conservative capital posture that underpins our long‑term strength and flexibility. As we look ahead, Commerce is well positioned to navigate an uncertain economic environment with discipline and confidence, balancing near‑term conditions with continued investment in long‑term growth. Our strategy remains centered on delivering consistent performance and creating durable, long‑term value for our shareholders."

First Quarter 2026 Financial Highlights:

• On January 1, 2026, Commerce Bancshares, Inc. completed its acquisition of FineMark Holdings, Inc.

• Net interest income was $299.8 million, a $16.7 million increase over the prior quarter. The net yield on interest earning assets decreased one basis point to 3.59%.

• Non-interest income totaled $175.9 million, an increase of $16.9 million, or 10.6%, over the same quarter last year.

• Trust fees grew $14.5 million, or 25.5%, over the same period last year, mostly due to higher private client fees.

• Non-interest expense totaled $291.1 million and included $14.0 million in acquisition-related expense.

• Assets under administration grew $14.9 billion, or 19.5%, over the same period last year.

• Average loan balances totaled $20.3 billion, an increase of $2.7 billion, or 15.2%, over the prior quarter.

• Total average available for sale debt securities decreased $269.0 million from the prior quarter to $8.9 billion, at fair value.

• Total average deposits increased $2.1 billion, or 8.2%, over the prior quarter to $27.7 billion.

• The ratio of annualized net loan charge-offs to average loans was .30% in the current quarter compared to .22% in the prior quarter.

• The allowance for credit losses on loans increased $19.1 million during the first quarter of 2026 to $198.6 million, and the ratio of the allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans was .97% at March 31, 2026, compared to 1.01% at December 31, 2025.

• Total assets on March 31, 2026 were $35.7 billion, an increase of $2.8 billion over the prior quarter.

• For the quarter, the return on average assets was 1.62%, the return on average equity was 13.22%, and the efficiency ratio was 60.0%. Quarterly profitability metrics reflected elevated acquisition-related expenses of approximately $14 million, which temporarily pressured the efficiency ratio and return on average assets.

Commerce Bancshares, Inc. is a regional bank holding company offering a full line of banking services through its subsidiaries, including payment solutions, wealth management and securities brokerage. Commerce Bank, its primary subsidiary, brings over 160 years of experience helping individuals and businesses through high-touch service and sophisticated, personalized financial solutions. Commerce maintains an extensive network of banking centers, wealth offices, and ATMs throughout the Midwest, as well as commercial offices in 11 states and offers payment solutions nationwide. With the acquisition of FineMark Holdings, Inc., Commerce builds on its existing private banking and wealth management presence in Florida and adds wealth offices in Arizona and South Carolina. Customers can conveniently access their account 24/7 using mobile and online platforms, as well as a customer service line.

This financial news release and the supplementary Earnings Highlights presentation are available on the Company's website at https://investor.commercebank.com/news-info/financial-news-releases/default.aspx.

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Management Discussion of First Quarter Results

March 31, 2026

For the quarter ended March 31, 2026, net income amounted to $141.6 million, compared to $140.7 million in the previous quarter and $131.6 million in the same quarter last year. The increase in net income over the previous quarter was primarily the result of higher net interest income, non-interest income, gains on investment securities, and a decrease in the provision for credit losses, partly offset by higher non-interest expense. The net yield on interest earning assets decreased one basis point from the previous quarter to 3.59%. Average loans and deposits increased $2.7 billion and $2.1 billion, respectively, while available for sale investment securities, at fair value, decreased $269.0 million compared to the prior quarter. For the quarter, the return on average assets was 1.62%, the return on average equity was 13.22%, and the efficiency ratio was 60.0%.

On January 1, 2026, the Company closed on its previously announced acquisition of FineMark Holdings, Inc. ("FineMark"), Ft. Meyers, Florida, with 13 banking locations in Florida, Arizona, and South Carolina. The acquisition added total assets of approximately $3.9 billion, including loans of $2.7 billion, total deposits of $3.1 billion and assets under administration of $8.7 billion.

Balance Sheet Review

During the 1^st quarter of 2026, average loans totaled $20.3 billion, an increase of $2.7 billion over the prior quarter, and an increase of $3.1 billion over the same quarter last year. The increase in average balances over both periods was primarily due to the acquisition of FineMark, which added $2.7 billion in loan balances. Compared to the previous quarter, average balances of personal real estate, business, business real estate, revolving home equity and consumer loans grew $1.4 billion, $369.3 million, $315.0 million, $238.9 million and $221.0 million, respectively. During the current quarter, the Company sold certain fixed rate personal real estate loans totaling $26.2 million, compared to $27.0 million in the prior quarter.

Total average available for sale debt securities decreased $269.0 million from the previous quarter to $8.9 billion, at fair value. The decrease in available for sale debt securities was mainly the result of lower average balances of mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. During the 1^st quarter of 2026, the unrealized loss on available for sale debt securities increased $40.7 million to $687.5 million, at period end. Also, during the 1^st quarter of 2026, maturities and pay downs of available for sale debt securities were $410.7 million. On March 31, 2026, the duration of the available for sale investment portfolio was 4.2 years, and maturities and pay downs of approximately $1.2 billion are expected to occur during the next 12 months.

Average interest earning deposits with banks increased $210.4 million over average balances in the previous quarter, and the average balances within other assets increased $374.4 million mainly due to increases in goodwill, intangible assets, and premises and equipment related to the Company's acquisition of FineMark.

Total average deposits increased $2.1 billion this quarter over the previous quarter. The increase in average balances was primarily due to the acquisition of FineMark, which added $2.7 billion of interest bearing and $425 million of non-interest bearing deposit balances. Shortly after the acquisition, the Company moved $1.0 billion of FineMark's high-cost, money market deposit balances off-balance sheet. Compared to the prior quarter, average interest checking and money market deposits and demand deposits increased $1.7 billion and $282.1 million, respectively. Additionally, average balances of certificates of deposit of $100,000 and over increased $76.0 million compared to the prior quarter, mainly due to deposit balances acquired from FineMark. Compared to the previous quarter, total average wealth and retail banking deposits grew $2.3 billion and $251.0 million, respectively, while commercial deposits declined $408.3 million. The average loans to deposits ratio was 73.4% in the current quarter and 69.0% in the prior quarter. The Company's average borrowings, which included average customer repurchase agreements of $2.7 billion, increased $345.7 million to $2.9 billion in the 1^st quarter of 2026. Federal Home Loan Bank advances of $350.0 million, which the Company acquired from the FineMark acquisition, were paid off in January 2026.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income in the 1^st quarter of 2026 amounted to $299.8 million, an increase of $16.7 million over the previous quarter. On a fully taxable-equivalent (FTE) basis, net interest income for the current quarter increased $16.4 million over the previous quarter to $302.2 million. The increase in net interest income was mostly due to the acquisition of FineMark on January 1, 2026. Accretion income on FineMark's loans resulting from purchase accounting adjustments totaled $6.9 million. The net yield (FTE) on earning assets decreased to 3.59%, from 3.60% in the prior quarter.

Compared to the previous quarter, interest income on loans (FTE) increased $30.4 million, mostly due to higher average balances in all loan categories, except consumer credit cards, and higher average rates earned on personal real estate loans, partly offset by lower average rates earned on business, construction, and business real estate loans. The average yield (FTE) on the loan portfolio decreased five basis points to 5.79% this quarter.

Interest income on investment securities (FTE) decreased $7.3 million compared to the prior quarter, mostly due to lower average rates earned on U.S. government and federal agency obligations and other securities and lower average balances of asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities. Interest income earned on U.S. government and federal agency obligations included the impact of a $3.8 million decrease in inflation income from Treasury inflation-protected securities compared to the previous quarter. In the prior quarter, interest on other securities included dividend income of $2.1 million related to a private equity investment that did not reoccur in the current quarter. Additionally, the Company recorded a $940 thousand adjustment to premium amortization on March 31, 2026, which increased interest income to reflect slower forward prepayment speed estimates on mortgage-backed securities. This increase was higher than the $731 thousand adjustment that increased interest income in the prior quarter. The average yield (FTE) on total investment securities was 2.97% in the current quarter, compared to 3.12% in the previous quarter.

Compared to the previous quarter, interest income on deposits with banks decreased $401 thousand as lower average rates more than offset higher average balances. Interest expense increased $6.2 million over the previous quarter, mainly due to higher average interest bearing deposit balances, partly offset by lower average rates paid on interest bearing deposit balances. Interest expense on deposits increased $5.1 million mostly due to higher average interest checking and money market deposit account balances. The average rate paid on interest bearing deposits totaled 1.61% in the current quarter compared to 1.62% in the prior quarter. The overall rate paid on interest bearing liabilities was 1.72% in the current quarter and 1.75% in the prior quarter.

Non-Interest Income

In the 1^st quarter of 2026, total non-interest income amounted to $175.9 million, an increase of $16.9 million, or 10.6%, over the same period last year and an increase of $9.6 million over the prior quarter. The increase in non-interest income compared to the same period last year was mainly due to higher trust fees and deposit account fees. The increase in non-interest income compared to the prior quarter was mainly due to higher trust fees.

Total net bank card fees in the current quarter were flat compared to the same period last year and decreased $1.2 million compared to the prior quarter. Net corporate card fees were flat compared to the same quarter last year. Net merchant fees decreased $184 thousand, or 3.2%, while net debit card fees increased $301 thousand, or 2.9%, mainly due to higher interchange income. Net credit card fees decreased $173 thousand, or 4.8%, mostly due to higher rewards expense. Total net bank card fees this quarter were comprised of fees on corporate card ($26.0 million), debit card ($10.6 million), merchant ($5.6 million) and credit card ($3.4 million) transactions.

In the current quarter, trust fees increased $14.5 million, or 25.5%, over the same period last year, and increased $8.9 million, or 14.4%, over the prior quarter, mostly resulting from higher private client fees. Compared to the same period last year, deposit account fees increased $2.0 million, or 7.3%, mostly due to higher corporate cash management fees.

For the 1^st quarter of 2026, non-interest income comprised 37.0% of the Company's total revenue.

Investment Securities Gains and Losses

The Company recorded net securities gains of $11.6 million in the current quarter, compared to net gains of $2.9 million in the prior quarter and net securities losses of $7.6 million in the 1^st quarter of 2025. Net securities gains in the current quarter mostly resulted from net fair value adjustments of $10.9 million on the Company's portfolio of private equity investments.

Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense for the current quarter amounted to $291.1 million, compared to $238.4 million in the same period last year and $253.0 million in the prior quarter. The current quarter included $14.0 million in acquisition-related expense, compared to $2.8 million in the previous quarter, as well as acquisition-related intangible amortization expense of $5.4 million. The increase in non-interest expense over the same period last year was mainly due to higher salaries and benefits expense, data processing and software expense, professional and other services expense, and intangible amortization expense. The increase in non-interest expense over the prior quarter was mainly due to higher salaries and benefits expense, data processing and software expense, professional and other services expense, intangible amortization expense and deposit insurance expense.

Compared to the 1^st quarter of 2025, salaries and employee benefits expense increased $27.7 million, or 18.1%, mostly due to an accrual for retention bonuses, acquisition-related compensation payments and the onboarding of FineMark's team members. Acquisition-related salaries and benefits expense was $6.6 million in the current quarter. Full-time equivalent employees totaled 4,960 and 4,662 at March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively.

Compared to the same period last year, data processing and software expense increased $6.1 million due to higher costs for service providers and software. Professional and other services, which increased $8.8 million compared to the 1^st quarter of 2025, included $4.7 million in acquisition-related legal and professional services expense. The increase in other non-interest expense was mainly due to increases of $5.4 million in intangible amortization expense related to the FineMark acquisition and $2.0 million in other acquisition-related expense. Compared to the prior quarter, deposit insurance expense increased $4.0 million due to a $3.9 million accrual adjustment to the FDIC's special assessment, recorded in the 4^th quarter of 2025.

Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the Company was 22.4% in the current quarter, 22.4% in the prior quarter, and 21.9% in the 1^st quarter of 2025.

Credit Quality

Net loan charge-offs in the 1^st quarter of 2026 amounted to $15.0 million, compared to $9.9 million in the prior quarter, and $10.8 million in the same period last year. The ratio of annualized net charge-offs to total average loans was .30% in the current quarter, .22% in the previous quarter, and .25% in the same quarter of last year. Compared to the prior quarter, net charge-offs on business real estate loans and consumer credit card loans increased $5.4 million and $651 thousand, respectively, while net charge-offs on consumer loans decreased $730 thousand. The increase in business real estate loan net charge-offs was mainly due to a charge-off on a senior living non-accrual loan.

In the 1^st quarter of 2026, annualized net charge-offs on average consumer credit card loans were 5.21%, compared to 4.55% in the previous quarter and 5.04% in the same quarter last year. Consumer loan net charge-offs were .30% of average consumer loans in the current quarter, .45% in the prior quarter, and .56% in the same quarter last year.

At March 31, 2026, the allowance for credit losses on loans totaled $198.6 million, or .97% of total loans, and increased $19.1 million compared to the prior quarter. The increase was mostly attributed to the acquisition of FineMark, which added $22.8 million to the allowance for credit losses on January 1, 2026. Additionally, the liability for unfunded lending commitments on March 31, 2026 was $17.7 million, flat compared to the liability on December 31, 2025.

At March 31, 2026, total non-accrual loans amounted to $10.9 million, a decrease of $4.8 million compared to the previous quarter. At March 31, 2026, the balance of non-accrual loans, which represented .05% of loans outstanding, included business real estate loans of $9.4 million, personal real estate loans of $1.3 million and business loans of $201 thousand. Loans more than 90 days past due and still accruing interest totaled $22.8 million at March 31, 2026.

Other

During the 1^st quarter of 2026, the Company paid a cash dividend of $.275 per common share, representing a 5% increase over the same period last year. The Company purchased approximately 1.6 million shares of treasury stock during the current quarter at an average price of $51.57.

Forward Looking Information

This information contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include future financial and operating results, expectations, intentions, and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based on current beliefs and expectations of the Company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Additional information about risks and uncertainties is included in the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections within the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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For additional information, contact

Matt Burkemper, Investor Relations

(314) 746-7485

www.commercebank.com

[email protected]