EXHIBIT 5.1

                                               500 WOODWARD AVENUE, SUITE 4000
                                               DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226-3425
                                               TELEPHONE: (313) 223-3500
                                               FACSIMILE: (313) 223-3598
DICKINSON WRIGHT PLLC                          http://www.dickinsonwright.com

September 20, 2006

Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Judiciary Plaza
Washington D.C. 20549

      Re: DEARBORN BANCORP, INC.
          REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      We represent Dearborn Bancorp, Inc., a Michigan corporation (the
"Company"), with respect to the above-captioned registration statement on Form
S-3 (the "Registration Statement") filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933
(the "Act") to register 3,105,000 shares of the Company's common stock ("Common
Stock").

      As counsel for the Company, we are familiar with its Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws and have reviewed the various proceedings taken by the
Company to authorize the issuance of the Common Stock to be sold pursuant to the
Registration Statement. We have also reviewed and assisted in preparing the
Registration Statement. In our review we have assumed the genuineness of all
signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of
all documents submitted to us as certified or photo static copies and the
authenticity of the originals of such copies.

      On the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that when the
Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, the shares of Common
Stock that are the subject of the Registration Statement will, when issued upon
payment of the purchase price to the Company, be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.

      We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement on Form S-3 covering the Common Stock to be issued, and to the use of
our name under the heading "Legal Matters" in the prospectus included in the
Registration Statement.

                                           Very truly yours,

                                           Dickinson Wright PLLC

                                   EXHIBIT 5.1

                               COUNSELLORS AT LAW

            DETROIT BLOOMFIELD HILLS LANSING GRAND RAPIDS ANN ARBOR
                                WASHINGTON, D.C.