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                                                                   EXHIBIT 23.1


                        




CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

Capitol Bancorp Ltd.
Lansing, Michigan

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus
constituting a part of this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report
dated January 31, 1997, relating to the consolidated financial statements of
Capitol Bancorp Ltd. appearing in the Corporation's Annual Report on Form
10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 1996.  We also consent to the reference
to us under the caption "Experts" in the Prospectus.


/s/ BDO Seidman, LLP
Grand Rapids, Michigan
November 26, 1997