1 EXHIBIT 21--SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT CAPITOL BANCORP LTD. DECEMBER 31, 1998 PAGE 1 OF 2 STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION NAME OF SUBSIDIARY OF INCORPORATION - ------------------ ---------------- Consolidated Subsidiaries: - -------------------------- Ann Arbor Commerce Bank Michigan Brighton Commerce Bank (59% owned) Michigan Capitol National Bank United States (national bank) Detroit Commerce Bank (93% owned) Michigan Grand Haven Bank Michigan Kent Commerce Bank (51% owned) Michigan Macomb Community Bank (51% owned) Michigan Muskegon Commerce Bank (51% owned) Michigan Oakland Commerce Bank Michigan Paragon Bank & Trust Michigan Portage Commerce Bank Michigan Sun Community Bancorp Limited (51% owned) Arizona Bank of Tucson (100% owned by Sun Community Bancorp Limited) Arizona Valley First Community Bank (51% owned by Sun Community Bancorp Limited) Arizona Camelback Community Bank (51% owned by Sun Community Bancorp Limited) Arizona Southern Arizona Community Bank (51% owned by Sun Community Bancorp Limited) Arizona Mesa Bank (51% owned by Sun Community Bancorp Limited) Arizona Sunrise Bank of Arizona (51% owned by Sun Community Bancorp Limited) Arizona Capitol Trust I Delaware Unconsolidated Subsidiary: Amera Mortgage Corporation, Inc. Michigan (49% owned equity method investee) Inactive subsidiaries: MOI, Inc. Michigan (wholly-owned subsidiary of Oakland Commerce Bank) Financial Center Corporation Michigan C.B. Services, Inc. Michigan 2 EXHIBIT 21--SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT - CONTINUED: CAPITOL BANCORP LTD. DECEMBER 31, 1998 PAGE 2 OF 2 The following summarizes regulatory agencies of the registrant and its subsidiaries: The Corporation's state-chartered banks located in Michigan are regulated by the Financial Institutions Bureau of the Michigan Department of Commerce. Capitol National Bank, as a national bank, is regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Bank subsidiaries located in Arizona are state-chartered and are regulated by the Arizona Corporation Division. Each of the banking subsidiaries, as federally-insured depository institutions, are also regulated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. As a bank holding company, Capitol Bancorp Ltd. is regulated by the Federal Reserve Board, which also regulates its nonbanking subsidiaries. Sun Community Bancorp Limited is also regulated by the Federal Reserve Board. In addition to the bank regulatory agencies, the registrant and its subsidiaries are subject to regulation by other state and federal agencies.