Executive Change

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 __________________________ Form  8-K CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 7, 2026 Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Missouri     001-36502   43-0889454 (State of Incorporation)   (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.) 1000 Walnut,     Kansas City, MO   64106 (Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code) ( 816 ) 234-2000 (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:       ☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)       ☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)       ☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))       ☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of class Trading symbol(s) Name of exchange on which registered $5 Par Value Common Stock CBSH NASDAQ Global Select Market Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Emerging growth company ☐ If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐ Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Officers; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers (b) Mr. Benjamin F. Rassieur, III retired from the Board of Directors of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (“Company”) effective May 7th, 2026, due to the mandatory retirement requirements of the Company. Mr. Rassieur had been a Board member since 1997 and was a member and former committee chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.   COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC.   By:   /s/ Paul A. Steiner       Paul A. Steiner     Controller (Chief Accounting Officer)  Date: May 7, 2026