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.: October 13, 2005: Capitol Bancorp Limited (NYSE:CBC), a $3.3 billion community bank development company, has filed an application to organize a new community bank in Rowan County, North Carolina. Pending approval, Community Bank of Rowan (in organization) will join Capitol Bancorp's national network of nearly 40 community banks. The bank will be Capitol Bancorp's second community bank in North Carolina. First Carolina State Bank in Rocky Mount joined the Capitol Bancorp network last year.

Veteran North Carolina banker Bruce Jones is leading the new bank's organizational effort and, pending approvals, will serve as the bank's president. Jones also will continue in his position as president of Capitol Bancorp's Southeast Region with responsibility for the company's community bank development initiatives throughout 11 southeastern states.

Capitol Bancorp Chairman and CEO Joseph D. Reid said opening a community bank in Rowan County meets all the strategic components of the Corporation's growth plan. "Our business model is built on the premise that we will open independently chartered banks wherever we find an experienced banker that is an integral part of his or her community, possesses an entrepreneurial spirit and understands the important part a community bank plays in the overall economic vitality of a community," said Reid. "Bruce is a native North Carolinian, has been in financial services for more than 26 years and has been a banker and community leader in Rowan County for more than 16 years. All the attributes we look for in our leaders are clearly evident in Bruce."

Capitol Bancorp also has applications pending for new community banks in Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois and Missouri. The Corporation has launched five de novo community banks and acquired a majority interest in a bank in Jeffersonville, Georgia since the beginning of the year.

About Capitol Bancorp Limited
Capitol Bancorp Limited is a $3.3 billion community bank development company, with 38 individual bank charters and operations in eleven 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 executive offices in Lansing, Mich. and Phoenix, Ariz.