Commerce Bank’s recipe for long-term agribusiness success.

Behind every successful agri-food business, you’ll find people with a strong work ethic and the ability to innovate over time. Chances are, you’ll also find a trusted banking partner that helps them adapt and grow regardless of the economic climate.

That’s the kind of banking relationship The Mennel Milling Company shares with Commerce Bank – a relationship that began during the Soviet grain embargo of 1980. In the years since, Commerce has helped the Fostoria, Ohio-based company navigate countless market cycles, while financing flour mills, grain elevators, trucking operations, and serving as the lead bank in a syndicate that provides its line of credit.

“I hold Commerce in high regard because they truly understand the agriculture business,” says Ford Mennel, the fifth-generation to lead the 139-year-old family business. “They’ve come to us with unique tools we hadn’t seen before — solutions that have helped us continue to grow.”

Bankers who know ag.

Today, Commerce continues to be a trusted financial partner to businesses across the food and ag supply chain — from grain marketing and livestock production, to fertilizer and ag chemical distribution, to food processing. Drawing on decades of agricultural experience, the bank continues to expand its services and solutions to meet the evolving needs of both family farms and large-scale global enterprises.

It’s not just what Commerce Bank does — it’s how its bankers do it. Commerce’s relationship-driven approach starts with listening and taking the time to understand a client’s unique circumstances. Only then does the bank respond with a tailored solution, which could involve structuring equipment financing, streamlining accounts payable with a digital payments system, facilitating international wire transfers, or delivering other treasury tools and banking services.

“By making your challenge our challenge, Commerce goes the extra mile to understand what it takes for your business to succeed,” said Lance Holden, Commerce Bank Executive Vice President of Regional Banking, Food & Agribusiness. “Then we offer solutions that help you reach your goals.

Taking the long view.

Commerce brings particular insight to the needs of multi-generational businesses, where continuity and long-term planning are essential. That’s because Commerce is a multi-generational business itself. Led today by the sixth generation of the Kemper family, Commerce has spent 160 years taking the long view — investing in relationships, not just transactions. That mindset has proven essential in agriculture, where volatility comes with the territory, and trust is earned over time.

“We understand what it means to pass something down,” said Holden. “That’s why we build for the future — not just the next quarter.” Often, that involves collaborating on new opportunities, large and small, that prepare a client for what’s next.

For Commerce, longevity isn’t just a milestone — it’s a sign of strength and stability in an industry that demands both. “Our roots run deep in the communities we serve,” said Holden. “Markets shift. Client needs change. But our foundation is strong — so we can adapt right alongside them and keep moving forward together.”

In a business where trust and performance matter, Commerce offers more than financial services. It offers a financial partnership — grounded in understanding, commitment, and shared goals.

“We’re in this together,” said Holden. “When your business grows, we grow with you.”