Capitol Bancorp Center
200 Washington Sq. North
Lansing, MI 48933

2777 East Camelback Road
Suite 375
Phoenix, AZ 85016

Analyst Contact:
Michael M. Moran
Chief of Capital Markets
877-884-5662

Media Contact:
Joal Redmond
Corporate Communications
602-977-3797

LANSING, Mich., and PHOENIX, Ariz.: July 9, 2003: Capitol Bancorp Limited (NYSE:CBC) has been ranked on Fortune magazine's 2003 list of the 100 fastestgrowing small, public companies in the country. With headquarters in Lansing, Mich., and Phoenix, Ariz., Capitol Bancorp Limited is one of two Lansing companies and the only Arizona company to make the list.

"We are both pleased and proud of this achievement and the continued recognition of Capitol Bancorp's strong growth and performance," Chairman/CEO Joseph D. Reid said. "This once again is a testament to the quality of our people."

This is the third year the magazine has ranked small, public companies with under $200 million in annual revenues and the first year that Capitol Bancorp Limited has made the list.

The 100 companies were ranked by revenue growth, earnings growth, and stock return (including dividends) over the past three calendar years ended Dec. 31, 2002. To determine the final order, the magazine averaged the rankings.

About Capitol Bancorp Limited
Capitol Bancorp Limited is a $2.6 billion community bank development company, with 29 individual charters for banking operations in eight states. Capitol Bancorp Limited identifies opportunities for the development of new community banks, raises capital and mentors a community bank through its formative stages. Each community bank has full local decision-making authority and is managed by an on-site president under the direction of a local board of directors composed of business leaders from the bank's community. Capitol Bancorp Limited was founded in 1988 and has headquarters in Lansing, Mich. and Phoenix, Ariz.