|   | 1. | I                  have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Capitol Bancorp                  Ltd.; |
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|   | 2. | Based                  on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement                  of a                  material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make                  the                  statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such                  statements                  were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by                  this                  report; |
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|   | 3. | Based                  on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial                  information                  included in this report, fairly present in all material respects                  the                  financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the                  registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
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|   | 4. | The                  registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible                  for                  establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures                  (as                  defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal                  control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules                  13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
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|   | 5. | The                  registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed,                  based on                  our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting,                  to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's                  board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
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| Date:                  April                  28, 2006 | /s/                  Joseph D. Reid              Joseph                  D. ReidChief                  Executive Officer |
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