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: Oct. 23, 2006: Capitol Bancorp Limited (NYSE:CBC), a $3.9 billion community bank development company, announced today that it has opened 1st Commerce Bank, its fifth community bank in Nevada.

Located in North Las Vegas, 1st Commerce Bank is the 49th separately chartered community bank in the Capitol Bancorp network, the largest holder of individual bank charters in the U.S. Capitol Bancorp has community banks and bank operations in 14 states across the country.

"We continue to see exceptional opportunity for growth in Nevada as evidenced by our opening a fifth bank in the state," said Capitol Bancorp's Chairman and CEO Joseph D. Reid. "With its strong local management team and a firm commitment to the area's economic health, 1st Commerce Bank will be an excellent resource for the North Las Vegas business community."

Leading 1st Commerce Bank is CEO and President, Al Gourrier, a 13-year veteran of Nevada banking. Gourrier was most recently Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer at CBC-affiliated bank, Desert Community Bank. A graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a bachelor's degree in finance and a master's degree in business administration, Gourrier is a board member and past president of the Las Vegas chapter of the Urban Financial Services Coalition and an active member in the Urban, Las Vegas and North Las Vegas Chambers of Commerce.

In addition to 1st Commerce Bank, Capitol Bancorp's community banks in southern Nevada are Bank of Las Vegas, Desert Community Bank, Red Rock Community Bank and Black Mountain Community Bank.

About Capitol Bancorp Limited
Capitol Bancorp Limited (NYSE: CBC) is a $3.9 billion national community bank development company, with a network of 49 separately chartered banks and bank operations in 14 states. It is the holder of the most individual bank charters in the country. 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.