Visa Direct Payouts

UnitedMasters has launched a new payment method that allows US-based artists to receive their royalty earnings directly to a Visa debit card. This is powered by Visa Direct and integrated through our payments partner Trolley. Instead of waiting for a bank transfer, funds can be pushed instantly to your debit card!

Currently, this feature is available only to US-based artists with a US Visa debit card. We hope to implement international availability soon!

Eligibility & Setup

What kind of card do I need?

You need a US Visa debit card. The card must be:

• A debit card (not a credit card or prepaid card)
• Issued by a US bank or financial institution
• Visa-branded

If you're not sure whether your card is eligible, you can enter it into the payment setup in your Wallet - the system will directly confirm your eligibility in real-time. It will also let you know whether your card is eligible for instant payouts.

How do I add my debit card to receive payouts?

Card details are entered through a secure widget in the Wallet of your UnitedMasters account. Just enter your card information directly in the widget to start getting paid!

Can I have both a bank account and a debit card set up?

You can have both set up, and decide where you'd like your payments pushed on a case-by-case basis! All artists can manage their payout method preferences through the app, and the debit card option is a new choice alongside existing options (bank transfer and PayPal).

How do I change or remove my debit card?

Card details are managed entirely through the in-app widget. Any changes to your debit card will need to be made directly in your Wallet.

How It Works

How fast will I receive my money?

Visa Direct is designed for near real-time transfers. As of April 2025, Visa Direct guarantees that funds are available in US bank accounts linked to eligible debit cards within 1 minute or less of approval.

That said, this processing time does not include payments that require manual review. If your payment is flagged for review, it will be processed and deposited into your account within minutes after it has been approved by our team.

Does it work on weekends and holidays?

Yes! Unlike a regular bank transfer, Visa Direct processes 24/7, including weekends and holidays, meaning many payments can be cashed out instantly.

However, payments requiring review by our team will only be paid out during business hours and may be delayed.

Is this faster than PayPal?

Yes, in most cases! Visa Direct transfers are typically faster and more direct than PayPal, which may add its own processing steps before funds are available in a bank account.

Fees & Cost Comparison

Will there be a fee to use Visa Direct debit card payouts?

Yes. The Visa Direct debit card payout fee structure is percentage-based, applied after tax withholding:

This means that, for any payments at or below $150, the fee for your Visa direct cashout will be $1.50. For any payments above $150, the fee will be 1% of the total amount.

Examples:

What are the fees for ACH bank transfer payouts?

ACH is typically the lower-cost payout method. Industry-wide, ACH processing fees generally range from $0.20 to $1.50 per transaction (and in many platforms, no fee is charged to the recipient at all, since the originating business bears the cost).

ACH is processed in batches through the US banking system — it's not real-time, but it is cost-efficient, especially for larger payout amounts where Visa Direct's 1% fee becomes meaningful.

International & Future Availability

I'm not in the US — can I use debit card payouts?

Not yet. The debit card payout option is currently US-only. International expansion is being explored, and we'll be sure to let our artists know once Visa Direct is available in other countries!

Will there be a fee for international payouts?

Yes. When international debit card payouts are enabled (currently US-only), a separate foreign exchange fee will apply on top of the standard 1% transaction fee, and there will be a higher minimum. Details will be communicated when international support launches.

Security

Is it safe to enter my debit card number in the app?

Yes. Card details are processed through Trolley's secure payment widget. Trolley uses bank-level security, encryption, and tokenized data to protect card information. UnitedMasters support agents do not have access to your card details.

Visa Direct itself uses Visa's industry-leading multi-layer security protocols, including tokenization and predictive fraud analytics, to protect every transaction.

What happens if there is suspicious activity on my payout?

Our payment processor, Trolley, has built-in fraud detection and risk scoring. If a payout is flagged for review, it may be delayed pending manual verification. If you have questions about a delayed payout, don't hesitate to let our team know so we can investigate!

Failed & Declined Payments

Why would my debit card payout fail?

Common reasons a Visa Direct payout may fail include:

• The card entered is not a Visa debit card (e.g., it's a credit card, Mastercard, or prepaid card)
• The card has expired, or the details were entered incorrectly
• The card's issuing bank does not support Visa Direct instant payouts
• The payout amount is below the minimum threshold required

What should I do if my payment failed?

1. Verify the card is a US Visa debit card.
2. Re-enter card details through the in-app widget (only the artist can do this).
3. If the issue persists, contact UnitedMasters support.

Will I be notified if my payout fails?

Yes — failed payment notifications will be sent. The app/wallet section will also reflect the payout status.

Comparing Payout Methods