8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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):                                                                                     March 19, 2010

CAPITOL BANCORP LTD.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Michigan (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) 001-31708 (Commission File No.) 38-2761672 (IRS Employer Identification No.)

Capitol Bancorp Center

200 Washington Square North, Lansing, Michigan 48933

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)  (Zip Code)

(517) 487-6555

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 7.01.  Regulation FD Disclosure.

On March 19, 2010, Capitol Bancorp Ltd. announced that it revised its 2009 results of operations from those announced on January 28, 2010.  The announcement is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Item 7.01.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)   Exhibits

99.1 Press Release of Capitol Bancorp Limited dated March 19, 2010.

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:           March 19, 2010 CAPITOL BANCORP LTD.  (Registrant)     /s/  Cristin K. Reid                                            Cristin K. Reid Corporate President

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.	Description of Exhibit
99.1	Press Release dated March 19, 2010

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Capitol Bancorp Center 200 Washington Square North Lansing, MI 48933   2777 East Camelback Road Suite 375 Phoenix, AZ 85016 www.capitolbancorp.com                                              

Analyst Contact:     Media Contact: Michael M. Moran Chief of Capital Markets 877-884-5662   Stephanie Swan Director of Shareholder Services 517-372-7402

Capitol Bancorp Announces Revised 2009 Results of Operations

LANSING, Mich., and PHOENIX, Ariz.: March 19, 2010:  Capitol Bancorp Limited (NYSE: CBC) announced today that it revised its 2009 results of operations from those announced on January 28, 2010.

Results of operations for 2009 have been revised and include additional provisions for loan losses approximating $20.7 million relating to regulatory exam reports received after year-end 2009 and approximately $9.6 million of write-downs and related expense recognition resulting from appraisal data received after year-end 2009 for collateral-dependent loans and other real estate owned.  Revisions relating to the provision for loan losses and related allowance arose primarily from additional provisions made for two of Capitol’s most challenged banks to address credit deterioration at those institutions.  The allowance for loan losses of Michigan Commerce Bank was increased with a $15.7 million addition, and $5 million was added for Sunrise Bank of Arizona.

After giving effect to these adjustments, the net loss attributable to Capitol Bancorp for the year ended December 31, 2009 increased from approximately $168.3 million, or $9.73 per share, to approximately $195.2 million, or $11.28 per share.

Capitol Bancorp’s Chairman and CEO Joseph D. Reid said, “We are continuing to address credit issues contained in our loan portfolio and, as a result, have cautiously added reserves in the challenged Michigan and Arizona markets.”

Regulatory Tier 1 leverage, Tier 1 risk-based and total risk-based capitol ratios for Capitol as of December 31, 2009 were 4.6 percent, 6.0 percent and 9.5 percent, respectively, and, accordingly, Capitol was classified as adequately-capitalized.

About Capitol Bancorp Limited

Capitol Bancorp Limited (NYSE: CBC) is a $5.1 billion national community banking company, with a network of separately chartered banks in 17 states.  Founded in 1988, Capitol Bancorp Limited has executive offices in Lansing, Michigan, and Phoenix, Arizona.

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