Not often we see a plausible alternative in the payments space from banks, but here is one in the works.

German and French banks push ahead with new debit card scheme | finextra

Bundesbank board member Hans Georg Fabritius told the conference that a Visa and MasterCard duopoly is “an unsatisfying vision” for political and economic reasons. However, he warned that while the French and German project, called Monnet, is “promising” it is only a concept and he would want other countries to join in.