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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,
 AG/8WUxUjLTNKKTCUksLp5tKpA1VpYmFTZcace9EOleEJdCY5uRq/Le9sQjfMBpd
 tXkGpIxqXJbKfvk26/uyOA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001205803-03-000003.txt : 20030528
<SEC-HEADER>0001205803-03-000003.hdr.sgml : 20030528
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030528135547
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001205803-03-000003
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:			ZAZULA LEONARD C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205803

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-18461
		FILM NUMBER:		03721295

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 N WASHINGTON SQUARE
		CITY:			LANSING
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48933
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5174876555

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 N WASHINGTON SQUARE
		CITY:			LANSING
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48933
</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>0001205803</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ZAZULA LEONARD C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Cashier, Western Regions</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-04-17</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2.3866</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>20.95</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7700.8805</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value><footnote
Id id="F1"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2.193</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>22.8</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7703.0735</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value><footnoteId id="F2"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</valu
e></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-23</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>216.6754</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7918.7489</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>ESOP</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-23</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFor
mType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>81.5856</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8000.3345</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Wife's ESOP</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">2,549.3102 shares held directly; 925.6729 shares held in IRA; and 4,225.8974 shares held in 401k</footnote><footnote id="F2">2,551.5032 shares held directly; 925.6729 shares held in IRA; and 4,225.8974 shares held in 401k</footnote><footnote id="F3">Th
e Capitol Bancorp Ltd. Employee Stock Ownership Plan has purchased shares since its inception in 1988 at varying prices.  The shares are reported now because under the Plan, Mr. Zazula now has the right to vote the shares.</footnote><footnote id="F4">216.6754 shares held in ESOP; 2,550.5032 shares held directly; 925.6729 shares held in IRA; 4,225.8974 shares held in 401k; 1 share was gifted to a non-reporting individual on 5/16/03 from directly held shares</footnote><footnote id="F5">81.5856 shares held in wife's ESOP; 216.6754 shares held in ESOP; 2,550.5032 shares held directly; 925.6729 shares held in IRA; 4,225.8974 shares held in 401k</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Leonard C. Zazula</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-28</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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