EXHIBIT 99.1

                      Chief Executive Officer Certification

     Pursuant to Section  906 of the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act of 2002 (18  U.S.C.ss.
1350,  as  adopted),  Joseph D.  Reid,  the Chief  Executive  Officer of Capitol
Bancorp  Ltd.  (the  "Company")  hereby  certifies  that,  to  the  best  of his
knowledge:

     1. The Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March
31,  2003,  and to which this  Certification  is attached  as Exhibit  99.1 (the
"Periodic  Report"),  fully complies with the  requirements  of Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

     2. The information contained in the Periodic Report fairly presents, in all
material  respects,  the  financial  condition  and results of operations of the
Company.


Date: May 14, 2003

                                                    /s/ Joseph D. Reid
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Joseph D. Reid
                                                    Chief Executive Officer


This  certification  accompanies  the Periodic Report pursuant to Section 906 of
the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act of 2002 and shall not, except to the extent required by
the  Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, be deemed filed by the Company for the purposes
of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.