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 19, 2004: Stan Ricketts, a longtime Midwestern banker, has been named President of Capitol Bancorp's Midwest Region. In this role, Ricketts will guide Capitol's community bank development initiatives throughout a nine-state region.

"We have embarked on an aggressive growth campaign and have identified this part of the country as integral to our strategy," said Joseph D. Reid, Chairman and CEO of Capitol Bancorp. "In Stan we have found the right person to lead our Midwest development efforts and to ensure that we leverage the significant opportunities identified."

Ricketts sees plenty of opportunity for community bank development in the region. "Initially, we will focus on the Kansas City and St. Louis areas and then we will look to Iowa, Nebraska and Oklahoma," he said. "Community banks are thriving because of ongoing consolidation in the market and because customers still want to work with a bank that makes its lending decisions locally and understands the importance of building strong local relationships. We have a unique banking model that is built on these very principles."

In his new role Ricketts will work with experienced bankers who are interested in launching a de novo community bank funded by local investors, staffed by local bankers, and overseen by a board of directors composed primarily of local business leaders.

Ricketts has more than 26 years experience in the financial services industry with focus on the small to mid-size business market. He has experience in agribusiness lending and was responsible for overall bank performance for banks in Missouri and Kansas for a multi-bank holding company.

Ricketts currently serves as a board member for Health Partnership of Johnson County. His many previous activities include serving as a director of the Midwest Leukemia Society, Ronald McDonald House and the Shawnee Mission Hospital Foundation.

A graduate of Wichita State University, Ricketts holds a bachelor's degree in business administration.

About Capitol Bancorp
Capitol Bancorp Limited (CBC:NYSE) is a $2.9 billion community bank development company, with 31 individual bank charters and operations in nine states. Capitol Bancorp Limited identifies opportunities for the development of new community banks, raises capital, mentors a community bank through its formative stages, and manages its investments in its community banks. 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.