Visa and Mastercard reach a settlement on a 20-year legal fight with merchants, agreeing to allow stores to reject some credit cards for the first time.

The conflict between credit card companies and merchants goes back to 2005, when merchants sued Visa, Mastercard, and several large banks. The lawsuit accused the credit card companies and banks of engaging in anticompetitive behavior through the use of interchange fees and forcing merchants to an all-or-nothing credit card acceptance policy.

Cash back, travel perks, and more -- this week's top credit card sign-up bonuses deliver major rewards. Don't wait, these limited-time deals end soon.

Stuck with high-rate credit card debt now? Don't make the situation worse by making one of these three big mistakes.

After barely rising in August, consumer debt grew modestly in September, likely reflecting growing debt stress on American households.

If you're filling a family fridge each week, this is the standout pick. That 6% back can translate into hundreds of dollars a year in rewards. The card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. (See rates and fees .) But the earnings potential is more than enough to outweigh the annual fee.