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.: May 8, 2006: Capitol Bancorp Limited (NYSE: CBC), a $3.6 billion national community bank development company, announced today the opening of its 43rd individually chartered community bank, Asian Bank of Arizona. Capitol Bancorp is the largest holder of individual bank charters in the country.

Asian Bank of Arizona, Capitol Bancorp's tenth community bank in the state, is located in Phoenix and will focus on owners and managers of small to medium-size businesses, as well as business professionals and entrepreneurs. The bank is the second de novo community bank that Capitol Bancorp has developed and opened this year. The Corporation currently has applications for six additional de novo banks pending.

"Capitol Bancorp has enjoyed great success in Arizona," said Chairman and CEO Joseph D. Reid. "Asian Bank of Arizona will provide the community with bank leadership and staff that have a strong respect for and understanding of the Asian-American culture."

Asian Americans are the most diverse ethnic group in the United States today, with more than 15 different cultures. The wide range of languages spoken includes Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. Consequently, many of the new bank's employees are fluent in several Asian dialects.

"The Asian community is a very vibrant population in the Phoenix area and I am pleased to announce that we are the first Asian bank in the state," said bank president Les M. Gin, a member of various Arizona Asian groups, including the Tucson Chinese Association. "This community represents a plethora of diverse cultures, which, from a business perspective, offers limitless opportunities for a strong relationship-focused bank."

In addition to Gin, the board of directors of the Asian Bank of Arizona will comprise a cross-section of the Asian-American community from the general Phoenix area.

Statistically, Asians and Pacific Islanders have consistently been one of the fastest growing minority populations in the country. The U.S. Census Bureau predicts the Asian American population will nearly double to 23 million by 2020. More than half of the population lives in the western United States.

About Capitol Bancorp Limited
Capitol Bancorp Limited (NYSE: CBC) is a $3.6 billion national community bank development company, with a network of 43 separately chartered banks and bank operations in 13 states. Capitol Bancorp Limited identifies opportunities for the development of new community banks, raises capital for and mentors new community banks through their formative stages, and provides efficient services to its growing network of 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. Founded in 1988, Capitol Bancorp Limited has executive offices in Lansing, Michigan, and Phoenix, Arizona.