EXHIBIT 23.1a

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

Capitol Bancorp Limited
Lansing, Michigan

We hereby  consent to the use in the proxy  statement/prospectus  constituting a
part of Amendment No. 1 to the Registration  Statement on Form S-4 of our report
dated January 31, 2002,  relating to the  consolidated  financial  statements of
Capitol  Bancorp  Limited which is attached to that proxy  statement/prospectus,
and to the incorporation in the proxy  statement/prospectus  of our report dated
January 31, 2002 relating to the consolidated  financial statements appearing in
the Company's 2001 Annual Report to  shareholders  incorporated  by reference in
the company's  annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December 31, 2001.
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 18, 2002