Investing in the drillers isn't the only way to play the Pennsylvania natural gas rush. Many banks in the Keystone state are flourishing from the flurry of economic activity surrounding the world's second-largest gas field.
The shale banks
Northwest Bancshares
FBR Capital Markets released a report calling Northwest Bancshares one of the best- positioned banks for the shale boom, with three others sharing its spotlight.
First Commonwealth Financial
FNB
S&T Bancorp
The bottom line
Shale banks could be a good way to invest in the golden age of natural gas. Many of these banks could experience years of growth as the nation continues to lean on natural gas as a future energy source.