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 1, 2005: Capitol Bancorp Limited (NYSE:CBC) has filed an application to organize a community bank in Fort Collins, Colorado. Fort Collins Commerce Bank (in organization) will be Capitol's first community bank in Colorado.

Fort Collins banker Gerard Nalezny will serve as the bank's chief executive officer and Mark Kross, also a Fort Collins banker, will be the bank's president and chief credit officer. Pending final approvals, Fort Collins Commerce Bank (in organization) is scheduled to open mid-year and will specialize in providing relationship-based banking services to small and medium-sized business as well as to business owners, business professionals and individuals in Fort Collins and the surrounding communities.

According to Joseph D. Reid, Capitol's chairman and CEO, the development of a new community bank in Colorado is part of Capitol's long-term, strategic growth plan. "One of our goals is to ensure that the community bank remains an integral part of the financial services landscape and that our banks contribute to the success of the communities where they operate," he said. "With Gerard and Mark, we have partnered with an experienced, local management team that understands the needs of the Fort Collins business community and is committed to delivering the high-touch banking experience only a community bank can offer."

Capitol currently has 33 individually chartered community banks located coast to coast. Last week the Corporation announced it had filed an application to open a de novo community bank in Bellevue, Washington. Pending approvals, Bank of Bellevue (in organization) will be Capitol's first bank in the Northwest region. The Corporation also has an application pending for a de novo community bank, Bank of Auburn Hills (in organization), in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

About Capitol Bancorp Limited
Capitol Bancorp Limited is a $3.1 billion community bank development company, with 33 individual bank charters and bank 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.