Exhibit 23.1a
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

Capitol Bancorp Limited
Lansing, Michigan

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the proxy
statement/prospectus constituting a part of Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
Statement on Form S-4 of Capitol Bancorp Limited of our report dated January 29,
2001, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Capitol Bancorp
Limited appearing in the Company's 2000 Annual Report to shareholders
incorporated by reference in the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2000. We also consent to the reference to us under the
caption "Experts" in the proxy statement/prospectus.


/s/ BDO SEIDMAN, LLP


Grand Rapids, Michigan
December 27, 2001