Ozarks Profile

President, Commerce Bank, Springfield, an affiliate of Commerce Bancshares Inc., a full-service financial institution with locations throughout Missouri, Kansas and Illinois. Commerce Bank, formerly Citizens Bank, opened Sept. 20, 1902, in the historic Commercial Street area. In 1961, it moved to 1661 Boonville, and in 1967 became affiliated with Commerce Bancshares Inc. In 1972, the bank officially changed its name to Commerce Bank. The Boonville address continues today as a branch location serving central and northern Springfield. Today, Commerce Bank has 14 branch locations serving Springfield, Willard, Bolivar, Nixa, Ozark, Branson, Republic, Marionville and Aurora, along with nearly 30 ATM locations. Carter is a member of the Springfield Business and Development Corporation Board, the Missouri Bankers Association, the Ozark Bankers Association, the American Institute of Banking, and the Bank Administration Institute, and serves as president of the Partnership Industrial Center Administrative Council.

Age: 55.

No. of years in Springfield/area: Lifelong resident.

Education: A 1960 graduate of Central High, Carter received a bachelor's degree in business administration and economics from Drury College and has graduated from the American Bankers Association National Commercial Lending School in Norman, Okla., and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J.

Early career: Carter has held several positions with Commerce Bank, the first one as a teller from 1964 to 1966. After three years in the U.S. Navy, Carter joined the bank as an installment loan clerk in 1969. He served as marketing coordinator, installment loan trainee and credit card supervisor, assistant cashier in installment, and commercial loans and credit card officer before becoming assistant vice president in charge of installment and commercial loans and credit card officer in 1972. He became executive vice president in 1979 and president in 1981. Since 1983, he has been president and chief executive officer of Commerce Bank, Springfield.

Current projects: Carter is working on the relocation of the bank's north-side branch to a more convenient and accessible location. He is also working on the feasibility of the expansion of the Partnership Industrial Center.

Management philosophy: "Build a team of good people, keep them challenged, and let them do their best while remembering to have fun along the way. Keep in mind that your business will never be any better than the community it serves."

Spare-time pursuits: Reading, traveling, spending time with family, especially the grandkids.

Family data: Married to Patricia (Pat) Carter, owner of Century Pines Residential Care Facility in Ozark. Four children: Scott Carter, Kelly Thompson, Cynthia Quimby and Justin Wallace. Three grandchildren: Sterling Thompson, Taylor and Bailey Quimby.

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