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,
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  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
December 9, 2002