Merchant

WASHINGTON — More than 26 million consumers are effectively "credit invisible" because they have no credit record and another 19 million are "unscored" because they have an insufficient or stale credit history, according to a report released Tuesday by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

A new study shows nearly half of consumers have checked their credit score in the past year, a sign that access to scores is getting easier for consumers.

Western Union Co. is in early-stage talks to acquire smaller rival MoneyGram International Inc., people with knowledge of the matter said, as both companies contend with stiff competition from upstart money-transfer companies.

Instant card issuance builds immediate value in the eyes of the consumer, and also helps them feel like a valued customer, potentially increasing their card usage rate and extending the longevity of the business relationship.

Kwik Chek Food Stores' new technology for updating gas prices at the pump also pushes those price changes to motorists using its mobile payment app, a feature that gets customers engaged with the retailer long before they pull up to the pump.

Home Depot Inc. plans to enable Apple Inc.'s mobile-payment platform at its more than 2,000 stores, making it the largest retailer to accept Apple Pay.

A new analysis of college debt levels details how an income-based student loan repayment system could help borrowers.

Visa is providing merchants with an online information and resource center to prepare for their transition to using chip-enabled credit and debit cards.

The newly introduced child support payment bill would change federal law in a way that advocates believe would make it more difficult for parents to hide assets ahead of credit checks.

Two House Financial Services Committee members introduced a bipartisan bill late last week that is designed to give lenders breathing room when new disclosure rules go into effect on Aug. 1.