<PAGE>

      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 29, 2000
                                                      Registration No. 333-_____
================================================================================

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                              -------------------
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                              -------------------
                             COMMERCE BANCORP, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

             New Jersey                                   22-2433468
------------------------------------          ----------------------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction of                      (I.R.S. Employer
   incorporation or organization)                    Identification Number)


                                 COMMERCE ATRIUM
                               1701 Route 70 East
                             Cherry Hill, N.J. 08003
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                           COMMERCE BANCORP, INC. 1997
                           EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the Plan)

                              C. EDWARD JORDAN, JR.
                            Executive Vice-President
                             Commerce Bancorp, Inc.
                               1701 Route 70 East
                             Cherry Hill, N.J. 08003
                                 (856) 751-9000
                      (Name, address and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                          Copies of Communications To:

                          LAWRENCE R. WISEMAN, ESQUIRE
                        Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP
                                One Logan Square
                        Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
                                 (215) 569-5500
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=================================================================================================================================
                                            Amount            Proposed maximum          Proposed maximum           Amount of
        Title of securities                 to be              offering price          aggregate offering      registration fee
          to be registered              registered(1)           per share(2)               price (2)
<S>                                          <C>               <C>                        <C>                     <C>
=================================================================================================================================
Common Stock, par value                   5,000,000            $  45.1875                $225,937,500              $59,646
$1.5625 per share ..................
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(1)     In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933,
        as amended, this registration statement also covers an indeterminate
        amount of shares as may be issued pursuant to stock splits, stock
        dividends and certain anti-dilution provisions contained in the Plan.

(2)     The amounts are based upon the average of the high and low sale prices
        for the common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on June
        28, 2000, and are used solely for the purpose of calculating the
        registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act
        of 1933, as amended.

        Rule 429 Legend: The prospectus which will be used in connection with
        the sale of the securities covered by this registration statement issued
        pursuant to the Commerce Bancorp, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Option Plan
        will also be used in connection with the sale of securities covered in
        the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-57497)
        filed with the Commission on June 23, 1998.

<PAGE>

         The purpose of this registration statement is to register an additional
5,000,000 shares of common stock for issuance pursuant to the Commerce Bancorp,
Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Option Plan, referred to as the Plan, as a result of an
amendment to the Plan. Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, the
contents of registration statement No. 333-57497, filed with the SEC on June 23,
1998, are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 8.  Exhibits.
         --------

         The following exhibits are filed as part of this registration statement
or, where so indicated have been previously filed and are incorporated herein by
reference.

         Exhibit Number          Description
         --------------          -----------
               5.1               Opinion of Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP

               10.1              Commerce Bancorp, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock
                                    Option Plan, as amended

               23.1              Consent of Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP
                                    (included in Exhibit 5.1)

               23.2              Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

               24.1              Power of Attorney (included on signature page)



                                       1
<PAGE>




                                   SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, Commerce certifies
that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements
for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Cherry
Hill, New Jersey, on this 29th day of June, 2000.

                                         COMMERCE BANCORP, INC.


                                         By: /s/ Vernon W. Hill, II
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Vernon W. Hill, II
                                             Chairman of the Board and President

         Each person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes Vernon W.
Hill, II or C. Edward Jordan, Jr. to file one or more amendments, including
post-effective amendments, to this registration statement, which amendments may
make such changes as Vernon W. Hill, II or C. Edward Jordan, Jr. deem
appropriate, and each person whose signature appears below, individually and in
each capacity stated below hereby appoints Vernon W. Hill, II or C. Edward
Jordan, Jr. as attorney-in-fact to execute in his name and on his behalf any
such amendments to this registration statement.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration
statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and
on the date indicated.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                 SIGNATURE                                 CAPACITY                            DATE
-------------------------------------------   -----------------------------------    ------------------------
<S>                                           <C>                                     <C>
/s/ Vernon W. Hill, II                        Chairman of the Board, President and       June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------      Director (Principal Executive Officer)
Vernon W. Hill, II

/s/ C. Edward Jordan, Jr.                     Executive Vice President and Director      June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
C. Edward Jordan, Jr.

/s/ Robert C. Beck                            Secretary and Director                     June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Robert C. Beck

/s/ David Baird, IV                           Director                                   June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
David Baird, IV

/s/ Jack R Bershad                            Director                                   June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Jack R Bershad
</TABLE>


                                       2

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                 SIGNATURE                                 CAPACITY                            DATE
-------------------------------------------   -----------------------------------    ------------------------
<S>                                           <C>                                     <C>
/s/ Joseph E. Buckelew                        Director                                  June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Joseph E. Buckelew

/s/ Morton N. Kerr                            Director                                  June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Morton N. Kerr

/s/ Steven M. Lewis                           Director                                  June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Steven M. Lewis

/s/ Daniel J. Ragone                          Director                                  June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Daniel J. Ragone

/s/ Joseph T. Tarquini, Jr.                   Director                                  June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Joseph T. Tarquini, Jr.

/s/ William A. Schwartz, Jr.                  Director                                  June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
William A. Schwartz, Jr.

/s/ Frank C. Videon, Sr.                      Director                                  June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Frank C. Videon, Sr.

/s/ Thomas J. Sukay                           Principal Financial and                   June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------      Accounting Officer
Thomas J. Sukay

</TABLE>


                                       3
<PAGE>




                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Numbers                                Description
---------------                                -----------

     5.1                       Opinion of Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP

     10.1                      Commerce Bancorp, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Option
                               Plan, as amended

     23.1                      Consent of Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP
                               (included in Exhibit 5.1)

     23.2                      Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

     24.1                      Power of Attorney (included on signature page)
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "0001.txt", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 10926}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "COMMERCE BANCORP INC /NJ/", "cik": "0000715096", "assigned-sic": "6021", "irs-number": "222433468", "state-of-incorporation": "NJ", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-40386", "film-number": "664579"}, "business-address": {"street1": "COMMERCE ATRIUM", "street2": "1701 RTE 70 E", "city": "CHERRY HILL", "state": "NJ", "zip": "08034-5400", "phone": "6097519000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1701 ROUTE 70 EAST", "city": "CHERRY HILL", "state": "NJ", "zip": "08034-5400"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 29, 2000
                                                      Registration No. 333-_____
================================================================================

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                              -------------------
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                              -------------------
                             COMMERCE BANCORP, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

             New Jersey                                   22-2433468
------------------------------------          ----------------------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction of                      (I.R.S. Employer
   incorporation or organization)                    Identification Number)

                                 COMMERCE ATRIUM
                               1701 Route 70 East
                             Cherry Hill, N.J. 08003
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                           COMMERCE BANCORP, INC. 1997
                           EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the Plan)

                              C. EDWARD JORDAN, JR.
                            Executive Vice-President
                             Commerce Bancorp, Inc.
                               1701 Route 70 East
                             Cherry Hill, N.J. 08003
                                 (856) 751-9000
                      (Name, address and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                          Copies of Communications To:

                          LAWRENCE R. WISEMAN, ESQUIRE
                        Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP
                                One Logan Square
                        Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
                                 (215) 569-5500
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=================================================================================================================================
                                            Amount            Proposed maximum          Proposed maximum           Amount of
        Title of securities                 to be              offering price          aggregate offering      registration fee
          to be registered              registered(1)           per share(2)               price (2)
=================================================================================================================================
Common Stock, par value                   5,000,000            $  45.1875                $225,937,500              $59,646
$1.5625 per share ..................
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)     In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933,
        as amended, this registration statement also covers an indeterminate
        amount of shares as may be issued pursuant to stock splits, stock
        dividends and certain anti-dilution provisions contained in the Plan.

(2)     The amounts are based upon the average of the high and low sale prices
        for the common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on June
        28, 2000, and are used solely for the purpose of calculating the
        registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act
        of 1933, as amended.

        Rule 429 Legend: The prospectus which will be used in connection with
        the sale of the securities covered by this registration statement issued
        pursuant to the Commerce Bancorp, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Option Plan
        will also be used in connection with the sale of securities covered in
        the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-57497)
        filed with the Commission on June 23, 1998.
The purpose of this registration statement is to register an additional
5,000,000 shares of common stock for issuance pursuant to the Commerce Bancorp,
Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Option Plan, referred to as the Plan, as a result of an
amendment to the Plan. Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, the
contents of registration statement No. 333-57497, filed with the SEC on June 23,
1998, are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 8.  Exhibits.
         --------

         The following exhibits are filed as part of this registration statement
or, where so indicated have been previously filed and are incorporated herein by
reference.

         Exhibit Number          Description
         --------------          -----------
               5.1               Opinion of Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP

               10.1              Commerce Bancorp, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock
                                    Option Plan, as amended

               23.1              Consent of Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP
                                    (included in Exhibit 5.1)

               23.2              Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

               24.1              Power of Attorney (included on signature page)

                                       1
SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, Commerce certifies
that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements
for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Cherry
Hill, New Jersey, on this 29th day of June, 2000.

                                         COMMERCE BANCORP, INC.

                                         By: /s/ Vernon W. Hill, II
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Vernon W. Hill, II
                                             Chairman of the Board and President

         Each person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes Vernon W.
Hill, II or C. Edward Jordan, Jr. to file one or more amendments, including
post-effective amendments, to this registration statement, which amendments may
make such changes as Vernon W. Hill, II or C. Edward Jordan, Jr. deem
appropriate, and each person whose signature appears below, individually and in
each capacity stated below hereby appoints Vernon W. Hill, II or C. Edward
Jordan, Jr. as attorney-in-fact to execute in his name and on his behalf any
such amendments to this registration statement.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration
statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and
on the date indicated.
SIGNATURE                                 CAPACITY                            DATE
-------------------------------------------   -----------------------------------    ------------------------
/s/ Vernon W. Hill, II                        Chairman of the Board, President and       June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------      Director (Principal Executive Officer)
Vernon W. Hill, II

/s/ C. Edward Jordan, Jr.                     Executive Vice President and Director      June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
C. Edward Jordan, Jr.

/s/ Robert C. Beck                            Secretary and Director                     June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Robert C. Beck

/s/ David Baird, IV                           Director                                   June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
David Baird, IV

/s/ Jack R Bershad                            Director                                   June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Jack R Bershad
2
SIGNATURE                                 CAPACITY                            DATE
-------------------------------------------   -----------------------------------    ------------------------
/s/ Joseph E. Buckelew                        Director                                  June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Joseph E. Buckelew

/s/ Morton N. Kerr                            Director                                  June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Morton N. Kerr

/s/ Steven M. Lewis                           Director                                  June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Steven M. Lewis

/s/ Daniel J. Ragone                          Director                                  June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Daniel J. Ragone

/s/ Joseph T. Tarquini, Jr.                   Director                                  June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Joseph T. Tarquini, Jr.

/s/ William A. Schwartz, Jr.                  Director                                  June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
William A. Schwartz, Jr.

/s/ Frank C. Videon, Sr.                      Director                                  June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------
Frank C. Videon, Sr.

/s/ Thomas J. Sukay                           Principal Financial and                   June 29, 2000
----------------------------------------      Accounting Officer
Thomas J. Sukay
3
EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Numbers                                Description
---------------                                -----------

     5.1                       Opinion of Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP

     10.1                      Commerce Bancorp, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Option
                               Plan, as amended

     23.1                      Consent of Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP
                               (included in Exhibit 5.1)

     23.2                      Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

     24.1                      Power of Attorney (included on signature page)