Capitol Bancorp (CBCRQ) S-4 Registration of securities issued in business combination transactions

EXHIBIT 23.1a

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Capitol Bancorp Limited

Lansing, Michigan

We hereby consent to the use in the proxy statement/prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement on Form S-4 of our reports dated February 24, 2006 relating to the consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Capitol Bancorp Limited, which appears on pages F-29 through F-31 in the Company's 2005 Annual Report to shareholders, which is incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. We also consent to the reference to us under the caption "Experts" in the proxy statement/prospectus.

/s/ BDO SEIDMAN, LLP

Grand Rapids, Michigan

September 15, 2006