Commerce Bank Upgrades Commerce Online Banking Site, Sees Spike in Banking Activity among Customers.

Business Editors

CHERRY HILL, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 19, 2003

Commerce Bank (NYSE:CBH) has upgraded Commerce Online Banking, its free Internet banking service at www.commerceonline.com, to provide customers with the most convenient and advanced online banking services. The bank also has seen a spike in banking activity, as more consumers turn to the Internet to pay bills, transfer money and manage their accounts.

Online banking is the fastest-growing Internet application, even surpassing online auctions and stock trading, according to a survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. With 36% of its customer households doing their banking online, Commerce Online Banking has one of the highest user penetration rates in the industry. Additionally, one quarter of those online customers use the bank's electronic bill pay feature, and Commerce now offers that service absolutely free. With the site upgrade, Commerce simplified the bill pay process and also added a "pay anyone" feature, whereby customers can pay any person or organization, rather than select from a defined list of participating billers or payees.

Overall, the Commerce Online Banking site upgrade has improved the ease of use and speed of transactions. Customers are able to conduct and schedule more types of transactions, with more flexibility, and to search account activity in greater detail. The layout of the site has been redesigned for efficiency and accuracy, with drop-down boxes and links that enable the user to access a particular function with fewer "clicks."

Commerce Online Banking users will find a quick logon process that provides secure access to all accounts as well as "helpful hint" links that offer answers to frequently asked questions. With the new, improved features, customers can:

Bank online:

    - See up-to-date account information
    - Transfer funds - arrange for immediate or future transfers,
      one-time or recurring
    - Review account history
    - Find account details fast via Power Search - by amount, check
      number or transaction type
    - View and print the front and back of cleared checks
    - Reorder checks quickly, and choose from new styles and designs

Pay bills online:

    - Send payments to any business or individual
    - Add, edit or remove payees easily
    - Schedule all payments conveniently on one screen
    - Confirm payments online
    - Review payment history and sort by payee, date or amount

The Commerce Online Banking site also provides a service center users' guide to address issues and questions that might come up when a customer is on the Web site. Commerce Online customers always have access to live help, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, via phone and e-mail. Additionally, Commerce Online Banking is fully compatible with Quicken(R), QuickBooks(R) and Microsoft(R) Money and provides an accurate and comprehensive exchange of data with these money management software applications.

In addition to its speed and service features, Commerce Online Banking utilizes a high-security, 128-bit encrypted browser, which complements Commerce's extensive firewall protection. Commerce Online Banking also has a "time out" security feature that automatically concludes a customer's session after 10 minutes of inactivity.

Commerce has seen a consistently positive customer response to its online banking service, experiencing a 41% growth in online use among Commerce customers as well as:

- 29% growth in average daily logons

- 59% increase in average daily bills paid

- 67% growth in average daily dollar amount of bills paid

Dedicated to providing its customers with quality banking services through every available delivery channel, Commerce has conveniently located branches and a full service 24-hour bank-by-phone system, in addition to its state-of-the-art Web banking product. Commerce Bank has earned industry recognition for Commerce Online, including, in 2002, a "Best in Remote Banking" Award from Microbanker and a Standard of Excellence WebAward from the Web Marketing Association.

Commerce Bank, "America's Most Convenient Bank(R)," is a leading retailer of financial services dedicated to providing unparalleled customer service. Commerce pioneered the concept of seven-day branch banking and has a network of more than 240 convenient stores in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware. In 2003, the bank plans to add 46 new locations and will create 1,800-plus career opportunities throughout its territory. Commerce Bank currently has assets exceeding $19 billion. Maintaining an aggressive expansion pace, Commerce Bank is working toward a total asset goal of $50 billion and a store network of 515 offices by 2007.

To obtain a color jpeg file of a Commerce Online laptop screen shot, please email [e-mail] or call Heather Newcomb at 888-751-9000.