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 Amendment No. 1 to the Registration  Statement on Form S-4 of our report
dated  January 31, 2002  relating to the  consolidated  financial  statements of
Capitol Bancorp Limited,  which is attached to that proxy  statement/prospectus,
and to the incorporation in the proxy  statement/prospectus  of our report dated
January 31, 2002, relating to the consolidated financial statements appearing in
the Company's 2001 Annual Report to shareholders  and  incorporated by reference
in the  company's  annual  report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December  31,
2001. We also consent to the reference to us under the caption  "Experts" in the
proxy statement/prospectus.

/s/ BDO SEIDMAN, LLP

Grand Rapids, Michigan
November 15, 2002