EXHIBIT 23.1a

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


Capitol Bancorp Ltd.
Lansing, Michigan


We  hereby  consent  to the  use in the  Prospectus  constituting  a part of the
Amendment  No. 1 to the  Registration  Statement on Form S-4 of Capitol  Bancorp
Ltd. of our report dated January 29, 1999 relating to the consolidated financial
statements of Capitol  Bancorp Ltd.  which is contained in that  Prospectus.  We
also  consent  to  the  reference  to us  under  the  caption  "Experts"  in the
Prospectus.


/s/ BDO SEIDMAN, LLP


Grand Rapids, Michigan
January 5, 2000