Commerce Bank (NYSE:CBH) , "America's Most Convenient Bank," and one of the nation's top small business lenders, has launched a new Visa(R) Platinum credit card for small business customers that carries absolutely no fees and provides a significant rewards program. The new, no-fee credit card is the only small business credit card available that has eliminated all the membership and penalty fees typically charged by banks and credit card companies.

 Commerce small business Visa cardholders will pay absolutely no fees for this platinum credit card account:

   -- No annual fee
   -- No late payment fee
   -- No over-the-limit fee
   -- No cash advance fee
   -- No balance transfer fee
   -- No default pricing

The new Commerce Bank Visa credit card will enable small business owners to avoid paying unnecessary fees and better manage their cash flow.

"By eliminating ridiculous bank fees and penalties charged by other financial institutions, the new Commerce Visa small business card doesn't penalize business owners for being busy running their businesses," said Commerce Bank Founder and Chairman Vernon W. Hill. "Commerce Bank is proud to support small business, the backbone of our nation's economy, by offering the best and most convenient free products and services for small business owners."

Commerce introduces the new small business Visa credit card at a time when most credit card companies and banks are charging more and higher fees than ever. A report issued in October 2006 by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) indicates that the average penalty in 2005 for making a late payment was $34 - a 115 percent increase from the average late fee of $13 in 1995. Late fees will make up about 70 percent of the industry's $17.1 billion in penalty-fee income this year, estimates R.K. Hammer, a bank-advisory firm. Additionally, CardWeb.com says that in the past decade, fees assessed for exceeding a credit limit jumped 138 percent, to an average of $30.81 last year.

The new Commerce Bank Visa credit card also enables customers to earn quadruple Visa Extras Rewards Points for every purchase made - four points for every dollar spent; most rewards programs typically award only one point for each dollar spent. Rewards points can be redeemed for a variety of business, travel, dining and entertainment products, services and gift certificates from popular retailers and service providers.

Commerce Bank's no-fee Visa small business credit card will carry a low annual percentage rate (APR) of Prime plus 4.99%. Last month, the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration reported a recent increase in small business loans, which came mostly from credit card use by small business. "Access to credit is vital for small business survival," said Dr. Chad Moutray, Chief Economist for the Office of Advocacy, commenting on the report. Noting the increase of both the number of micro business loans and the increase in the dollar amount of outstanding loans, Moutray stated, "The small business credit card market continues to be quite dynamic."

Commerce is one of the leading small business lenders throughout its footprint and beyond. The bank has supported the growth and prosperity of the nation's small businesses by providing more than $1 billion in loans over the last five years. Commerce has consistently ranked high among regional lenders in the industry in both dollar volume and the number of Small Business Administration (SBA) loans made, and the bank regularly surpasses its regional competitors in dollar volume of loans made to minority-, women- and veteran- owned businesses.

Commerce business customers enjoy the same convenience, advanced technology and personalized service as retail customers. Business owners and their employees can bank at 400+ retail locations, seven days a week, during extended hours, or via the Internet or phone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Commerce combines its community bank roots with the financial strength of a major regional bank to meet the diverse needs of commercial customers. Commerce Bank's lending professionals are local bankers making local loans, and they establish customer relationships focusing on service and the delivery of individualized financing solutions.