FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) May 19, 1999          

                           First Commerce Bancshares, Inc.  
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                  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         Nebraska                   0-14277                   47-0683029
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(State or other jurisdiction)      (Commission               (IRS Employer
     incorporation)                File Number)           Identification No.)


         1248 O Street, Lincoln Nebraska                      68508-1424
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       (Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code  (402) 434-4110     
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     (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)







Events to be reported on:

Item 2.  Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

On May 20, 1999, the Company's subsidiary, the National Bank of Commerce, issued
a press  release,  that  on May  19,  1999  it had  purchased  from  Transcrypt,
International  a  building  located at 4800  Northwest  1st  Street,  in Lincoln
Nebraska.  The  building  contains  76,000  square  feet  with  land for  future
expansion.  Approximately  half the building  will be leased back to  Transcrypt
International.  Total  purchase  price for the building was  approximately  $5.2
million.  First  Commerce  owns  464,150  voting  shares and 217,542  non-voting
shares, or approximately 7.34%, of Transcrypt, International.

The National Bank of Commerce  plans to use the building as its  technology  and
data  processing  center.  First  Commerce  Technologies,  Inc.,  a wholly owned
subsidiary of NBC, will be located in the building. First Commerce Technologies,
Inc.  provides a wide range of bank data processing  solutions to over 300 banks
located in 12 states.  Other  functions  to be located in the  building  include
credit card operations an mortgage banking operations.

Exhibits:

Exhibit  1:  Press  release  issued  on May  20,  1999 by the  National  Bank of
Commerce.


                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date  May 20, 1999                          First Commerce Bancshares, Inc.
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                                                   (Registrant)


                                            Donald D. Kinley 
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                                            Senior Vice President and Treasurer
                                            (Chief Accounting Officer)











Exhibit 1:


Date:                      May 20, 1999

Release Date:              Immediate

Contact:                   Brad Korell
                           President, National Bank of Commerce
                           434-4235
                           bkorell@fcbcorp.com

NATIONAL BANK OF COMMERCE ACQUIRES THE TRANSCRYPT BUILDING

New location to be used as its technology and data processing center.


On May 19, 1999,  National  Bank of Commerce  acquired the  Transcrypt  Building
located at 4800 Northwest 1st Street.  The building  contains 76,000 square feet
with land for possible future expansion.

About half of the building will be leased to Transcrypt until needed for use by
the National Bank of Commerce or related companies.

NBC plans to utilize the building as its technology and data processing  center.
First  Commerce  Technologies,  Inc., a wholly owned  subsidiary of NBC, will be
located in the building.  First Commerce  Technologies  provides a wide range of
bank data  processing  solutions  to over 300 banks  located in 12 states.  Data
processing  solutions  include the development,  assembling,  and integration of
information and data processing solutions.

Other functions to be located in the building include credit card operations and
mortgage banking operations.

NBC President Brad Korell said, "This acquisition represents an ideal fit. While
the building  accommodates  our growth needs, it will also house functions which
we believe  complement the University of Nebraska  Technology  Park. We have had
several  conversations  with Tech Park  officials and feel there are a number of
ways we can cooperate to facilitate development of the Tech Park."

National Bank of Commerce website:                   www.banknbc.com