EXHIBIT 5.1

                      THE PNC FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
                                249 FIFTH AVENUE
                       PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA 15222-2707

December 28, 2005

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
249 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2707

            RE:  REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

            I have acted as counsel to The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., a
Pennsylvania corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation and
filing by the Company of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the
"Registration Statement") relating to up to 701,622 shares of the Company's
common stock, par value $5.00 per share (the "Common Stock"), together with any
associated Preferred Stock Purchase Rights, to be sold from time to time by the
selling shareholders referenced therein.

            In rendering this opinion, I have examined such corporate records
and other documents, and have reviewed such matters of law, as I, or attorneys
under my supervision, have deemed necessary or appropriate. In rendering this
opinion, I have relied upon oral and written representations of officers of the
Company and certificates of officers of the Company and public officials with
respect to the accuracy of the factual matters addressed in such representations
and certificates. In addition, in rendering this opinion I have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures or instruments relied upon by me, and the
conformity of certified copies submitted to me with the original documents to
which such certified copies relate.

            I am a member of the Bar of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and I
express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the federal
laws of the United States, the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law and the
laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

            Based on and subject to the foregoing, I am of the opinion that the
Common Stock has been duly authorized and is validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.

            I hereby consent to be named in the Registration Statement and in
the related prospectus contained therein as the attorney who passed upon the
legality of the Common Stock and to the filing of a copy of this opinion as
Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, I do not
thereby admit that I am in the category of persons whose consent is required
under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.


                                                   Very truly yours,

                                                   /s/ George P. Long, III
                                                   ---------------------------
                                                       George P. Long, III, Esq.