In case you’ve been in a coma, Twitter is one of the fastest-growing online applications out there. Why that is the case I am not fully sure. Twitter allows you to broadcast short 140-character messages from either the web or your mobile phone. It’s great for relaying the, well, minutia of your life.

Twitter, which has more than 3 million users, offers other benefits. Businesses can use it for short updates or as a marketing tool, because web surfers can find your feed and “follow” it. Ours is at Twitter.com/BankInnovation. There are also a host of new, add-on applications being developed (see TwitPwr.com). I expect Twitter will continue to evolve as an online tool.

TWITTER USAGE SOARS

So with that in mind we scoured Twitter for the best of the Banking feeds. Nevermind the fact that banking is always a half-step behind the early adopters of any new technology, here are the 10 best Twitters related to the industry. Drum roll, please …

1. msufcu

This is what a Twitter feed from a financial institution should be. The MSU FCU feed offers tidbits on new offers, as well as non-marketing messages to the credit union’s members.

2. bizweek

A good effort from a major media outlet. This Twitter from BusinessWeek is a handy rundown of business news – and, alas, much of its news banking-related these days.

3. bfia

Bob Brinker’s feed is a classic “lone man Twittering” effort centered on finance issues. Bob’s got a level perspective on what’s going on in finance today, and he exemplifies the classic (“classic,” as if a few months of usage represents ancient online history) usage of Twitter.

4. islamicfinance

Another Twitter feed from an offline magazine outlet, effectively executed.

5. kimwarren

Kim has been Twitter online since Dec. 12, but I already like what he is doing. The feed offers short items on business strategy, including a post or two on banking. You can tell he’s got a head on his shoulders.

6. DailyMeMoney

This feed has more of a personal-finance angle, but it’s got a nice bloggy feel to it.

7. janetlyon

The token rant feed on the list. One bit of advice: don’t cross Janet. In her last Twitter, she said is “serious about organizing a protest in Washington about the bailout fiasco. I believe we need to stop talking about this and act.” You go, Janet!

8. mparent7777

The mparent7777 feed offers lots of links to other feeds and blogs. Again, the feed often touches on banking.

9. team77

Team77’s thing is “top” lists – “top five reasons to use online banking,” “12 steps to becoming a financial slave.” Everyone likes a “top” list (which is why you are reading this one.)

10. populist1

I thought I would include one politics feed, and Populist1 is the one I came up with. I didn’t choose it because of its politics – it’s essentially libertarian – but rather Populist1 exemplifies how a politics Twitter should be: smart, short, opinionated, heavy with links.

So that’s my list. If you have any Twitter feeds you think are worth visiting, link to them in comments to this blog. Happy Twittering, all!