According to experts, banks that don't embrace a social media strategy as a new means to establish customer intimacy eventually will be left behind, not knowing how to reach a new wave of customers. In addition to pioneers such as Wells Fargo, RBC and The Toronto-Dominion Bank, here's a list of some financial institutions that have received the message loud and clear and what they're doing with Web 2.0 and social media:

• Bank of America (Charlotte, N.C.) just launched an online community for small-business owners to exchange ideas.,

• Huntington Bank (Columbus, Ohio) runs an employee- moderated blog about mobile banking.,

• ING's (Amsterdam) MoveOutMoveUp.com Web site generates interest in its mortgage offerings among first-time home buyers. ,

• JPMorgan Chase (New York) has partnered with Facebook to promote its credit cards to college students.,

• Wachovia (Charlotte) is using podcasting to deliver financial information to its corporate and institutional clients.,