EXHIBIT 21--SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT

Capitol Bancorp Ltd.

December 31, 2011

Page 1 of 2

Name of Subsidiary	State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation
Consolidated Subsidiaries:
Bank of Las Vegas	Nevada
Bank of Michigan	Michigan
Capitol National Bank	United States (national bank)
Central Arizona Bank	Arizona
First Carolina State Bank	North Carolina
Indiana Community Bank	Indiana
Michigan Commerce Bancorp Limited	Michigan
Michigan Commerce Bank	Michigan
Capitol Wealth Insurance Agency, Inc.	Michigan
Pisgah Community Bank	North Carolina
Sunrise Bank of Albuquerque	New Mexico
Sunrise Bank	Georgia
Sunrise Bank of Arizona	Arizona
Capitol Trust I	Delaware
Capitol Trust II	Delaware
Capitol Statutory Trust III	Connecticut
Capitol Trust IV	Delaware
Capitol Trust VI	Delaware
Capitol Trust VII	Delaware
Capitol Statutory Trust VIII	Connecticut
Capitol Trust IX	Delaware
Capitol Trust X	Delaware
Capitol Trust XI	Delaware
Capitol Trust XII	Delaware
Capitol Bancorp Colorado Ltd.	Colorado
Capitol Bancorp Colorado Ltd. II	Colorado
Capitol Development Bancorp Limited IV	Michigan
Capitol Wealth, Inc.	Michigan
Capitol Wealth Asset Management, LLC	Michigan
Capitol Development Bancorp Limited V	Michigan
Bank of Maumee	United States (federal savings bank)
Capitol Development Bancorp Limited VI	Michigan
1st Commerce Bank	Nevada
High Desert Bank	United States (federal savings bank)

EXHIBIT 21--SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT

Capitol Bancorp Ltd.

December 31, 2011

Page 2 of 2

Name of Subsidiary	State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation
Consolidated Subsidiaries—continued:
Capitol Development Bancorp Limited VII	Michigan
Capitol Bancorp Colorado Ltd. III	Colorado
Mountain View Bank of Commerce	Colorado
Capitol Development Bancorp Limited VIII	Michigan
Capitol Bean Counter, LLC	Michigan
Capitol Capital, LLC	Michigan
CBL Real Estate Holdings, LLC	Michigan
Unconsolidated Subsidiaries:
Amera Mortgage Corporation, Inc. (less than 50% owned by equity method investee)	Michigan
Capitol Development Bancorp Limited III (less than 50% owned by equity method investee)	Michigan
Summit Bank of Kansas City	Missouri
Inactive Subsidiaries:
Capitol Bancorp Leasing, Inc.	Michigan
CBL R E Holdings, LLC	Michigan
CBL R E Holdings II, LLC	Michigan
CBL R E Holdings III, LLC	Michigan
MOI, Inc. (wholly-owned subsidiary of Michigan Commerce Bank)	Michigan