This has been on the european news a few times but probably hasn't crossed the ocean. This year the so-called "payment services directive" was approved by the European parliament.

From the Commissions ('The White House': EU's executive branch ) website:

Basically, the governement is forcing all banks operating in the single market to use the same infrastructure for payments, much like they did with phone companies when the mobile phone was introduced.

Debit and credit cards will finally work at every stores, at every bank, in all countries.

Capital mobility and competition is expected to increase. I think this is a great example of the governement making the rules and thereby improving the economy and the service where the market players (the banks) have shown that they just can't do it.