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Credit reporting agency Equifax is nearing a deal to pay about $700 million to state and federal regulators to settle probes stemming from a data breach that exposed the personal information of nearly 150 million people, according to two published reports. Funds from the settlement will go toward compensating consumers for the cost of the 2017 data breach, the Wall Street Journal and The new York Times reported Friday, citing people close to the matter. The hack, the largest in US history, exposed sensitive informaiton, including names, Social Security numbers, drivers' license numbers and addresses. The amount of the settlement could change depending on the number of claims still to be filed by consumers, the journal said. The deal with the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and most state attorneys general also requires more changes to how Equifax handles private user data, according to the reports.  It could be announced as early as Monday...

If you're saddled with credit card debt - which can be particularly pernicious due to hight interest rates - paying it off should be a priority.  Balance-transfer credit cards can be a handy tool for that, but proceed with caution. First off, know that you may need a good credit score to qualify for a good balance-transfer card.  (You might get a significantly lower interest rate on your current card, though, just for asking for one.) Next, read the details.  Once card might offer a 0% rate for 15 months, while another extends it for 21 months.  Once the rate expires, you'll be paying the card's regular rate, so check the interest-rate range you might expect later.  Some card's recent rates were in the 12% to 18% range, while others were more like 17% to 26%.  (Ideally, aim to pay off your debt in full before the 0% rate expires.) Find out whether a fee will be charged on the amount you transfer, too.  Fees of 3% to 5% are not uncommon, and with a l...