"Bank specific cards" are actually debit cards. As an EU-based end user I see basically no practical difference between the two (I have both a MasterCard credit card and a Visa debit card), except that many US-based online stores' payment processors refuse to work with a debit card.
Yes, but not necessarily MasterCard/Visa debit cards. Germany's Girocard for example is a national debit card scheme that does not use any of the American grifters. Unfortunately, it's being phased out in favor of MC/Visa because the EU fee cap on national schemes is much lower than for MC/Visa and so banks can make more money off of you.
We're just standing by and watch our dependence on American grifter megacompanies larger every day.
I literally do not know anyone without an EMV-based payment method, usually Visa or MasterCard. I have also never used the Girocard my bank provides in addition to the Visa debit- (and in the past actual credit-) card.
I also see more people paying with their phone/smartwatch than any physical card these days.
