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, 2003  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  by reference of our
report dated January 31, 2003, related to the consolidated  financial statements
of Capitol  Bancorp  Limited  appearing in the  Company's  2002 Annual Report to
shareholders,  which is incorporated by reference in the Company's annual report
on Form 10-K for the year  ended  December  31,  2002.  We also  consent  to the
reference to us under the caption "Experts" in the proxy statement/prospectus.


/s/ BDO SEIDMAN, LLP


Grand Rapids, Michigan
June 25, 2003