David W. Kemper has been a significant presence at Commerce Bancshares since he started there in 1991. He's known for his strong background in finance, backed by a Harvard College degree. After nearly three decades as CEO, he stepped down...

David W. Kemper has been a significant presence at Commerce Bancshares since he started there in 1991. He's known for his strong background in finance, backed by a Harvard College degree. After nearly three decades as CEO, he stepped down from that role in 2018, but he's still active as the Executive Chairman of the Board. Under his leadership, the company grew substantially, with his compensation peaking significantly during his final years as CEO, with a total of $4.1 million reported in 2017. David's family ties are strong in the company; his son, John W. Kemper, now leads as CEO. Interestingly, in 2019, he was involved in more than $100 million worth of insider trading transactions, showing a strong confidence in the company's stock. David has consistently aligned his interests with the long-term goals of shareholders, which is at the heart of his compensation philosophy.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Commerce Bancshares CEOs

C

David W. Kemper

Ex-CEO of Commerce Bancshares

Education

Bachelor's degree from Harvard College

Field of Expertise

Finance & Banking - Finance

Sector of Economy

Financial Services

Born

October 19, 1952 - 72 years ago

CEO of Commerce Bancshares for

27 years 7 months (Jan 1991 - Aug 2018)

Previous Experience

Chairman and CEO of Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of David W. Kemper

F

Curtis J. Myers

CEO of Fulton Financial

2023 Compensation

Stock

$655.98K

Salary

$850.00K

Bonus

$382.50K

Other

$122.18K

Total Holdings

$4.82M

U

Richard M. Adams, Jr.

CEO of United Bankshares

2023 Compensation

Stock

$609.36K

Salary

$1.00M

Bonus

$1.09M

Other

$59.30K

Total Holdings

$6.01M

F

Vincent J. Delie, Jr.

CEO of F.N.B. Corporation

2023 Compensation

Stock

$11.00M

Salary

$1.19M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$649.18K

Total Holdings

$24.80M

H

Joseph S. Exnicios

CEO of Hancock Whitney Corporation

2023 Compensation

Stock

$265.86K

Salary

$553.84K

Bonus

$383.43K

Other

$67.08K

Total Holdings

$2.37M

H

John W. Allison

CEO of Home BancShares

2022 Compensation

Stock

$3.66M

Salary

$650.60K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$687.75K

Total Holdings

$201.65M

Holdings

See how much did David W. Kemper make over time.

David W. Kemper has seen his personal wealth fluctuate notably through his insider trading activities. In 2019, he reported a portfolio that peaked at $110.43 million. Since then, his holdings have seen variations, dipping as low as $76.39 million in...

David W. Kemper has seen his personal wealth fluctuate notably through his insider trading activities. In 2019, he reported a portfolio that peaked at $110.43 million. Since then, his holdings have seen variations, dipping as low as $76.39 million in late 2023. This consistent engagement with the stock shows a deep commitment to the company and a significant investment in its future. His decisions in the stock market mirror confidence in Commerce Bancshares' performance, reflecting a strategic and possibly calculated approach to personal wealth management.

Total Stock Sold

$37.44M

CBSH

$37.44M

1,016,676.45 CBSH shares

What if they kept their stock?

If David W. Kemper didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra CBSH1,016,676.45 shares worth $43.19M.
This is 15.35% and $5.75M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

CBSH

185,580.55 shares

CBSH

Recent Charitable Transactions

CBSH

748 shares

CBSH

Dec 3, 2024

Charity

CBSH

323 shares

CBSH

Sep 18, 2024

Charity

CBSH

89 shares

CBSH

May 20, 2024

Charity

CBSH

137 shares

CBSH

Nov 29, 2022

Charity

CBSH

85 shares

CBSH

Oct 25, 2022

Charity

CBSH

480 shares

CBSH

Apr 29, 2022

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of David W. Kemper.

CBSH

$490.64K

CBSH at $66.16/share

Jan 31, 2025

Sale

CBSH

7,506 shares

CBSH

Jan 28, 2025

Received

CBSH

$12.55K

CBSH at $67.45/share

Dec 17, 2024

Received

CBSH

$622.97K

CBSH at $69.22/share

Dec 5, 2024

Sale

CBSH

748 shares

CBSH

Dec 3, 2024

Charity

CBSH

$6.25K

CBSH at $61.93/share

Sep 23, 2024

Received

CBSH

323 shares

CBSH

Sep 18, 2024

Charity

CBSH

$923.20K

CBSH at $63.73/share

Jul 22, 2024

Sale

CBSH

$6.23K

CBSH at $53.69/share

Jun 18, 2024

Received

CBSH

89 shares

CBSH

May 20, 2024

Charity

Compensation History

See how much did David W. Kemper make over time.

David W. Kemper's compensation has been notable over the years. In 2017, his total earnings were a remarkable $4.1 million, making it one of his highest earning years. His pay package typically includes salary, bonuses, and stock awards. For instance, in 2018, he received over $1 million in salary alone, along with vested stock valued at about $1.76 million. The structure of his compensation was designed to align his performance with the company's success, a strategy practiced throughout his tenure as CEO.

Year

2018

Total Compensation

$2.79M

Salary

$845.27K

Board Justification

The Company's compensation philosophy is to provide a total compensation program that is competitive with the market for bank holding companies to attract and retain top performers, aligning interests of executive officers with long-term interests of shareholders.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

David Kemper receives a set amount as an annual bonus without considering the Company Performance Factor.

Other

$180.44K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes 401(k) match, premiums for group term life insurance, and company CERP credits.

Restricted Stock

$1.76M(1.76M RSU)

Board Justification

The vested stock includes restricted stock awards that were granted in previous years and vested in 2018.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for determining compensation include net income, revenue, and return on equity.

Other Commerce Bancshares CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Commerce Bancshares

John W. Kemper

CEO of Commerce Bancshares

August 2018 - Present