COMMERCE BANCSHARES INC MO

Previous wording

•While the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be over, the impact on businesses is still uncertain. During the pandemic, there was a shift from in-office work to remote work. This shift appears to be permanent for some businesses and partial for others. As a result, businesses are reevaluating their office space needs and, in some cases, reducing their leased office space, selling commercial office buildings, or leasing space no longer needed. The impact of this shift is not fully known and could result in reduced demand for office space, lower lease rates for office space, and lower values of office buildings. These factors may contribute to higher delinquencies and net charge-offs for commercial office real estate loans. Additionally, businesses that cater to or are located near dense areas of office buildings may be adversely impacted, which could result in higher delinquencies and net charge-offs for certain commercial borrowers.

Current wording

•During recent years, there was a shift from in-office work to remote work. As a result, businesses continue to reevaluate their office space needs and, in some cases, reduce their leased office space, selling commercial office buildings, or leasing space no longer needed. The impact of this shift continues to be seen but could result in reduced demand for office space, lower lease rates for office space, and lower values of office buildings. These factors may contribute to higher delinquencies and net charge-offs for commercial office real estate loans. Additionally, businesses that cater to or are located near dense areas of office buildings may be adversely impacted, which could result in higher delinquencies and net charge-offs for certain commercial borrowers.

Previous wording

The Company’s success is heavily influenced by the general economic conditions of the specific markets in which it operates. Unlike larger national or other regional banks that are more geographically diversified, the Company provides financial services primarily throughout the states of Missouri, Kansas, central Illinois, Oklahoma, and Colorado. It also has a growing presence in additional states through its offices in: Texas, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Florida, and Tennessee that serve commercial or trust customers. As the Company does not have a significant banking presence in other parts of the country, a prolonged economic downturn in these markets could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

Current wording

The Company’s success is heavily influenced by the general economic conditions of the specific markets in which it operates. Unlike larger national or other regional banks that are more geographically diversified, the Company provides financial services primarily throughout the states of Missouri, Kansas, central Illinois, Oklahoma, and Colorado. It also has a growing presence in additional states through its offices in: Texas, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Florida, and Tennessee that serve commercial or trust customers. As the Company does not have a significant banking presence in other parts of the country, a prolonged economic downturn in the markets where the Company has a primary or growing presence could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

Previous wording

As part of the financial services industry, the Company is subject to extensive federal and state regulation and supervision. Banking regulations are primarily intended to protect depositors’ funds, federal deposit insurance funds, and the banking system, not shareholders. These regulations affect the Company’s lending practices, capital structure, investment practices, dividend policy, and growth, among other things. Congress and federal regulatory agencies continually review banking laws, regulations, and policies for possible changes. Changes to statutes, regulations, or regulatory policies, including changes in interpretation or implementation of statutes, regulations, or policies, could affect the Company in substantial and unpredictable ways. Such changes could subject the Company to additional costs, limit the types of financial services and products it may offer, restrict the Company's ability to pay dividends, subject the Company to higher capital requirements, and/or increase the ability of non-banks to offer competing financial services and products, among other things. During November 2023, the FDIC approved a final rule implementing a one-time special assessment to recover the loss to the DIF associated with protecting uninsured depositors following the closures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank earlier in 2023. The Company accrued $16.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 for the special assessment. Assessments driven by regulation, such as these, increased the Company's expenses in 2023 and additional assessments could further increase the Company's expenses.

Current wording

As part of the financial services industry, the Company is subject to extensive federal and state regulation and supervision. Banking regulations are primarily intended to protect depositors’ funds, federal deposit insurance funds, and the banking system, not shareholders. These regulations affect the Company’s lending practices, capital structure, investment practices, dividend policy, and growth, among other things. Congress and federal regulatory agencies continually review banking laws, regulations, and policies for possible changes. Changes to statutes, regulations, or regulatory policies, including changes in interpretation or implementation of statutes, regulations, or policies, could affect the Company in substantial and unpredictable ways. Such changes could subject the Company to additional costs, limit the types of financial services and products it may offer, restrict the Company's ability to pay dividends, subject the Company to higher capital requirements, and/or increase the ability of non-banks to offer competing financial services and products, among other things. During November 2023, the FDIC approved a final rule implementing a one-time special assessment to recover the loss to the DIF associated with protecting uninsured depositors following the closures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in 2023. Largely as a result of the FDIC's approval of its final rule, the Company's deposit insurance expense was $33.2 million in 2023, compared to $10.6 million in 2022. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company's deposit insurance expense was $16.5 million. Assessments driven by regulation, such as these, increased the Company's expenses in 2023 and additional assessments could further increase the Company's expenses.

Previous wording

In recent years, federal, state and international lawmakers and regulators have increased their focus on financial institutions' and other companies' risk oversight, disclosures and practices in connection with climate change and other ESG matters. For example, in March 2022, the SEC issued a proposed rule on the enhancement and standardization of climate-related disclosures for investors. The proposed rule would require public issuers, including the Company, to significantly expand the scope of climate-related disclosures in their SEC filings. The SEC has also announced plans to propose rules to require enhanced disclosure regarding human capital management and board diversity for public issuers.

Current wording

In recent years, federal, state and international lawmakers and regulators have increased their focus on financial institutions' and other companies' risk oversight, disclosures and practices in connection with climate change and other ESG matters. For example, the state of California, in which the Company does business, has enacted bills that would require the Company and other entities to report climate-related information such as greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related risks. The SEC has also announced plans to propose rules to require enhanced disclosure regarding human capital management and board diversity for public issuers. These additional disclosures and reporting would require increased time and expense for the Company related to information gathering and compliance.

Previous wording

With oversight from its Asset-Liability Management Committee, the Company devotes substantial resources to monitoring its liquidity and interest rate risk on a monthly basis. The Company's net interest income is the largest source of overall revenue to the Company, representing 64% of total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023. The interest rate environment in which the Company operates fluctuates in response to general economic conditions and policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies, particularly the Federal Reserve Board, which regulates the supply of money and credit in the U.S. Changes in monetary policy, including changes in interest rates, will influence loan originations, deposit generation, demand for investments and revenues and costs for earning assets and liabilities, and could significantly impact the Company’s net interest income.

Current wording

With oversight from its Asset-Liability Management Committee, the Company devotes substantial resources to monitoring its liquidity and interest rate risk on a monthly basis. The Company's net interest income is the largest source of overall revenue to the Company, representing 63% of total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024. The interest rate environment in which the Company operates fluctuates in response to general economic conditions and policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies, particularly the Federal Reserve Board, which regulates the supply of money and credit in the U.S. Changes in monetary policy, including changes in interest rates, will influence loan originations, deposit generation, demand for investments and revenues and costs for earning assets and liabilities, and could significantly impact the Company’s net interest income.

Previous wording

As the economy rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic-induced recession, high inflation experienced in 2022 continued into 2023. In response, the Federal Reserve Board significantly increased the benchmark interest rate from nearly zero at the start of 2022 to between 4.25% and 4.50% at the end of 2022. The Federal Reserve Board continued to raise interest rates at a more modest pace to between 5.25% and 5.50% by the end of July 2023. Elevated rates have created competition for deposits and unrealized losses in fixed rate asset portfolios. Future economic conditions or other factors could shift monetary policy resulting in additional increases or decreases in the benchmark rate. Furthermore, changes in interest rates could result in unanticipated changes to customer deposit balances and adversely affect the Company’s liquidity position.

Current wording

To combat the high inflation experienced in 2022 and 2023, the Federal Reserve Board significantly increased the benchmark interest rate from nearly zero at the start of 2022 to between 4.25% and 4.50% at the end of 2022 and continued to raise interest rates at a more modest pace to between 5.25% and 5.50% by the end of July 2023. These elevated rates remained in effect for the first half of 2024 and drove an increase in unrealized losses in fixed rate asset portfolios. During September 2024, the Federal Reserve began reducing rates as inflation began to subside. Monetary policy led by the Federal Reserve in the coming year will play a crucial role in liquidity and interest rate risk. Future economic conditions or other factors could shift monetary policy resulting in additional increases or decreases in the benchmark rate. Furthermore, changes in interest rates could result in unanticipated changes to customer deposit balances and adversely affect the Company’s liquidity position.

Previous wording

As demonstrated within the industry during 2023, the Company’s ability to engage in routine funding transactions could be adversely affected by the actions and commercial soundness of other financial institution counterparties. Financial services institutions are interrelated because of trading, clearing, counterparty or other relationships. The Company has exposure to many different industries and counterparties and routinely executes transactions with counterparties in the financial industry, including brokers and dealers, commercial banks, investment banks, mutual funds, and other institutional clients. Transactions with these institutions include overnight and term borrowings, interest rate swap agreements, securities purchased and sold, short-term investments, and other such transactions. Because of this exposure, defaults by, or rumors or questions about, one or more financial services institutions or the financial services industry in general, could lead to market-wide liquidity problems and defaults by other institutions. Many of these transactions expose the Company to credit risk in the event of default of its counterparty or client, while other transactions expose the Company to liquidity risks should funding sources quickly disappear. In addition, the Company’s credit risk may be exacerbated when the collateral held cannot be realized or is liquidated at prices not sufficient to recover the full amount of the exposure due to the Company. Any such losses could materially and adversely affect results of operations.

Current wording

As demonstrated by banking failures within the industry during 2023, the Company’s ability to engage in routine funding transactions could be adversely affected by the actions and commercial soundness of other financial institution counterparties. Financial services institutions are interrelated because of trading, clearing, counterparty or other relationships. The Company has exposure to many different industries and counterparties and routinely executes transactions with counterparties in the financial industry, including brokers and dealers, commercial banks, investment banks, mutual funds, and other institutional clients. Transactions with these institutions include overnight and term borrowings, interest rate swap agreements, securities purchased and sold, short-term investments, and other such transactions. Because of this exposure, defaults by, or rumors or questions about, one or more financial services institutions or the financial services industry in general, could lead to market-wide liquidity problems and defaults by other institutions. Many of these transactions expose the Company to credit risk in the event of default of its counterparty or client, while other transactions expose the Company to liquidity risks should funding sources quickly disappear. In addition, the Company’s credit risk may be exacerbated when the collateral held cannot be realized or is liquidated at prices not sufficient to recover the full amount of the exposure due to the Company. Any such losses could materially and adversely affect results of operations.

Previous wording

Events impacting the banking industry during the first few months of 2023, including the failure of Silicon Valley Bank in March, resulted in decreased confidence in regional banks among deposit customers, investors, and other counterparties. Additionally, these events caused significant disruption, volatility and reduced valuations of equity and other securities of banks in the capital markets. These events occurred during a period of rapidly rising interest rates, which, among other things, resulted in unrealized losses in the Company's available for sale debt securities portfolio and increased competition for bank deposits. These events had, and could again have, adverse impacts on the market price and volatility of the Company’s stock. These events could also lead to increases in the Company’s interest expense, as it has raised and may continue to raise interest rates paid to depositors in order to compete with other banks, and in an effort to replace deposits, seek borrowings which carry higher interest rates.

Current wording

Decreased confidence in regional banks among deposit customers, investors, and other counterparties may cause significant disruption, volatility and reduced valuations of equity and other securities of banks in the capital markets. Rapidly rising interest rates could result in an increase in unrealized losses in the Company's available for sale debt securities portfolio. Additionally, rising interest rates may result in increased competition for bank deposits. These events could have adverse impacts on the market price and volatility of the Company’s stock. These events could also lead to increases in the Company’s interest expense, as it could require the Company to raise interest rates paid to depositors in order to compete with other banks, and in an effort to replace deposits, seek borrowings which carry higher interest rates.

Previous wording

The Company's estimate of credit losses utilizes a life of loan loss concept, and the level of the allowance is based on management’s methodology that utilizes historical net charge-off rates and adjusts for the impacts in the reasonable and supportable forecast and other qualitative factors. Key assumptions include the application of historical loss rates, prepayment speeds, forecast results of a reasonable and supportable period, the period to revert to historical loss rates, and qualitative factors. The Company’s allowance level is subject to review by regulatory agencies, and that review could also result in adjustments to the allowance for credit losses. Additionally, the volatility of the Company's provision for credit losses may change from year to year due to macroeconomic variables that influence the Company's loss estimates, and the volatility in credit losses may be material to the Company's earnings.

Current wording

The Company's estimate of credit losses utilizes a life of loan loss concept, and the level of the allowance is based on management’s methodology that utilizes historical net charge-off rates and adjusts for the impacts in the reasonable and supportable forecast and other qualitative factors. Key assumptions include the application of historical loss rates, prepayment speeds, economic forecast results of a reasonable and supportable period, the period to revert to historical loss rates, and qualitative factors. The Company’s allowance level is subject to review by regulatory agencies, and that review could also result in adjustments to the allowance for credit losses. Additionally, the volatility of the Company's provision for credit losses may change from year to year due to macroeconomic variables that influence the Company's loss estimates, and the volatility in credit losses may be material to the Company's earnings.

Previous wording

The Company maintains a portfolio of investments, which includes available for sale debt securities, trading securities, equity securities, and other investments. Throughout 2023 and at December 31, 2023, the Company did not hold any investments classified as held-to-maturity. The Company generally invests in liquid, investment grade securities, however, these securities are subject to changes in market value due to changing interest rates and implied credit spreads. While the Company maintains prudent risk management practices over bonds issued by municipalities and other issuers, credit deterioration in these bonds could occur and result in losses. Certain mortgage and asset-backed securities (which are collateralized by residential mortgages, credit cards, automobiles, mobile homes or other assets) may decline in value due to actual or expected deterioration in the underlying collateral. Under accounting rules, when an available for sale debt security is in an unrealized loss position, the entire loss in fair value is required to be recognized in current earnings if the Company intends to sell the security or believes it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before the value recovers. Additionally, the current expected credit loss model (CECL) implemented by the Company on January 1, 2020, requires that lifetime expected credit losses on securities be recorded in current earnings. This could result in significant losses.

Current wording

The Company maintains a portfolio of investments, which includes available for sale debt securities, trading securities, equity securities, and other investments. The Company does not hold any investments classified as held-to-maturity. The Company generally invests in liquid, investment grade securities, however, these securities are subject to changes in market value due to changing interest rates and implied credit spreads. While the Company maintains prudent risk management practices over bonds issued by municipalities and other issuers, credit deterioration in these bonds could occur and result in losses. Certain mortgage and asset-backed securities (which are collateralized by residential mortgages, credit cards, automobiles, mobile homes or other assets) may decline in value due to actual or expected deterioration in the underlying collateral. Under accounting rules, when an available for sale debt security is in an unrealized loss position, the entire loss in fair value is required to be recognized in current earnings if the Company intends to sell the security or believes it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before the value recovers. Additionally, the current expected credit loss model (CECL) requires that lifetime expected credit losses on securities be recorded in current earnings. This could result in significant losses.

Previous wording

The Company's available for sale debt securities portfolio is carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses carried in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within shareholder's equity. The fair value of investments, including available for sale debt investments, may change with changes in interest rates, credit concerns, or other economic factors. Due to the rapid rise of interest rates during 2022 and 2023, the fair value of the Company's available of sale debt securities included a net unrealized loss of $1.2 billion at December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, the Company has the intent and ability to maintain its available for sale debt investments until recovery of their amortized cost basis. However, if in the future the Company were to elect to sell or needed to sell the investments before the recovery of their amortized cost basis, the Company could realize significant losses in its income statement.

Current wording

The Company's available for sale debt securities portfolio is carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses carried in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within shareholder's equity. The fair value of investments, including available for sale debt investments, may change with changes in interest rates, credit concerns, or other economic factors. Due mostly to the increase in interest rates during 2022 and 2023, the fair value of the Company's available of sale debt securities included a net unrealized loss of $991 million at December 31, 2024. As of December 31, 2024, the Company has the intent and ability to maintain its available for sale debt investments until recovery of their amortized cost basis. However, if in the future the Company were to elect to sell or needed to sell the investments before the recovery of their amortized cost basis, the Company could realize significant losses in its income statement.

Previous wording

The situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic remains uncertain. While the U.S. economy has rebounded significantly since the peak of the pandemic-induced recession, fallout from economic and societal changes resulting from the pandemic may cause prolonged global or national recessionary economic conditions, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition. Beyond the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the potential impacts of future epidemics, pandemics, or other outbreaks of an illness, disease, or virus could therefore materially and adversely affect the Company's business, revenue, operations, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows.

Current wording

As seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, fallout from economic and societal changes resulting from significant public health threats may cause prolonged global or national recessionary economic conditions, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition. The potential impacts of future epidemics, pandemics, or other outbreaks of an illness, disease, or virus could therefore materially and adversely affect the Company's business, revenue, operations, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows.

Previous wording

The current and anticipated effects of climate change have raised concerns for the condition of the global environment. These concerns have changed and will continue to change the behavior of consumers and businesses. Further, governments have increased their attention on the issue of climate change. As a result, international agreements have been signed to attempt to reduce global temperatures and federal and state legislative and regulatory initiatives have been proposed to seek to mitigate the effects of climate change. The Company and its customers may need to respond to new laws and regulations as well as new consumer and business preferences resulting from climate change concerns. These changes may result in cost increases, asset value reductions, and operating process changes to the Company and its customers. The impact on our customers will likely vary depending on their specific attributes, including reliance on or role in carbon intensive activities. Among the impacts to the Company could be a drop in demand for our products and services, particularly in certain industries. In addition, the

Current wording

The current and anticipated effects of climate change have raised concerns for the condition of the global environment. These concerns have changed and will continue to change the behavior of consumers and businesses. Further, governments have increased their attention on the issue of climate change. As a result, international agreements have been signed to attempt to reduce global temperatures and federal and state legislative and regulatory initiatives have been proposed to seek to mitigate the effects of climate change. The Company and its customers may need to respond to new laws and regulations as well as new consumer and business preferences resulting from climate change concerns. These changes may result in cost increases, asset value reductions, and operating process changes to the Company and its customers. The impact on our customers will likely vary depending on their specific attributes, including reliance on or role in carbon intensive activities. Among the impacts to the Company could be a drop in demand for our products and services, particularly in certain industries. In addition, the Company could experience reductions in creditworthiness on the part of some customers or in the value of assets securing loans. The Company’s efforts to take these risks into account in making lending and other decisions, including by increasing the Company’s business with climate-friendly companies, may not be effective in protecting the Company from the adverse impact of new laws and regulations or changes in consumer or business behavior.