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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NxC5+oHZmxsEp1BLdsAUKQsnP41DpAyPT6o+vuQKdxtRcwpkw9dhX7VweQ5MmMS/
 H6rkpMyf5ce/0jfrZ9hqAg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001079424-03-000003.txt : 20030528
<SEC-HEADER>0001079424-03-000003.hdr.sgml : 20030528
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030528141529
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001079424-03-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030523
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030528

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CAPITOL BANCORP LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000840264
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				382761672
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BUSINESS & TRADE CNTR
		STREET 2:		200 WASHINGTON SQ N
		CITY:			LANSING
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48933
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5174876555

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BUSINESS & TRADE CENTER
		STREET 2:		200 WASHINGTON SQUARE NORTH
		CITY:			LANSING
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48933

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEWIS JOHN S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001079424

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-18461
		FILM NUMBER:		03721347

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3000 SAND HILL RD
		STREET 2:		BLDG 1 STE 275
		CITY:			MENLO PARK
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94024
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6508548000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3000 SAND HILL RD
		STREET 2:		BLDG 1 STE 275
		CITY:			MENLO PARK
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94024
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-23</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000840264</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CAPITOL BANCORP LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CBCL</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001079424</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEWIS JOHN S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>President, Western Regions</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-23</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>365.847</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>12349.847</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><val
ue>ESOP</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The Capitol Bancorp Ltd. Employee Stock Ownership Plan has puchased stock at varying prices since its inception in 1988.  The shares are reported now because under the Plan the shares have been allocated to Mr. Lewis who now has the right to vote the shares.</footnote><footnote id="F2">365.847 shares held in ESOP and 11,984 shares held in Trust</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>John S. Lewis</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-27</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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