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 the Registration Statement on Form S-4 of our report dated January 31,
2003 relating to the consolidated financial statements of Capitol Bancorp
Limited, which are incorporated by reference in the proxy statement/prospectus,
and to the incorporation in the proxy statement/prospectus by reference of our
report dated January 31, 2003, related to the consolidated financial statements
of Capitol Bancorp Limited appearing in the Company's 2002 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, 2002. We also consent to the
reference to us under the caption "Experts" in the proxy statement/prospectus.

/s/ BDO SEIDMAN, LLP

Grand Rapids, Michigan
January 21, 2003