TikTok and Visa Launch Creator Debit Card in UK

TikTok and Visa have launched a debit card for content creators in the UK that they say will allow people to quickly access their earnings from the platform. The creator card is designed for the growing numbers of people making money through TikTok Live, a live streaming feature where creators receive virtual gifts from viewers that are later converted into cash. The two companies said the card – which links up to a user’s creator account on TikTok – was designed to address cashflow issues faced by users, who often wait days or weeks for payments to fully clear.

Launched in 2020, TikTok Live is a section of the app where users can broadcast to viewers in real time. According to TikTok, more than 15 million people broadcasted via its platform in Europe in 2025. Viewers can engage with creators by sending comments or virtual gifts such as roses. These gifts are then converted to “diamonds,” which can be turned into real money. Those who earn money this way typically manage their finances through their personal bank account, and in some cases it can take up to a month for that real money to be paid out.

Visa-commissioned research suggests that 49% of creators have experienced late or inconsistent payments that have affected their ability to run their business, while 41% have had to turn down work owing to cashflow issues. Meanwhile, many are keen to separate their personal and business finances. The debit card is a virtual card, and it can be used for creators’ other earnings, including from brand partnerships. Creators can make payments via digital wallets and can access the account the card is linked to via the TikTok app. However, this account is not a business bank account. There is no sign-up fee for the card. It will be available to users aged 18 and over, who need to apply through the TikTok app.

TikTok Live has become a significant income stream for some creators, allowing users to broadcast in real time while earning an income. A Guardian report found live streaming had increasingly blurred the line between entertainment and shopping, with audiences regularly buying and sending digital gifts during broadcasts. During livestreams, viewers can buy TikTok coins in-app, which are then used to send virtual gifts as a token of appreciation to creators.

The launch reflects growing efforts across platforms such as YouTube, Twitch and Patreon to formalise how creators are paid for audience engagement and build an infrastructure around the creator economy, which Visa estimates is made up of 200 million people globally and could be worth $500bn (£370bn) by 2027.