There's no denying that the banking sector can be a bit of a snooze-fest. But for those of us in the know, there's one particular index that can make even the sleepiest investor sit up and take notice: The KBW Bank Index.This benchmark stock index was first developed by Keefe, Bruyette, and Woods (KBW) - an investment bank specializing in the financial sector. It includes a weighting of 24 banking stocks selected as indicators of this industry group. And while it may not sound like the most exciting thing in the world, we believe it provides a valuable snapshot of what's happening in this important corner of the market.