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: March 3, 2004: Capitol Bancorp Limited (NYSE:CBC) will be a featured presenter at the Sandler O'Neill West Coast Financial Services Conference in San Diego on March 10.

Capitol Bancorp Limited Chief Financial Officer Lee W. Hendrickson will be joined by Capitol Bancorp's Chief Administrative Officer, Cristin Reid English, and Chief of Capital Markets, Michael M. Moran, to provide an overview of the company's unique operating model, financial performance and major strategic initiatives to financial and industry analysts and institutional money managers. The company recently reported its 46th consecutive quarterly cash dividend following its announcement of record full year earnings for 2003 of $23.4 million.

Capitol Bancorp's presentation will be webcast on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 at 8:20 a.m. PT. Webcast and audio conference details are available at http://www.sandleroneill.com. The presentation also will be available on the Capitol Bancorp website following the conference.

About Capitol Bancorp Limited
Capitol Bancorp Limited is a $2.7 billion community bank development company, with 30 individual charters operating 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.