---
title: "Initialize Transaction"
method: POST
path: "/pms/transactions/initialize/"
tags: ["Checkout"]
---

# Initialize Transaction

`POST /pms/transactions/initialize/`

Initialize a new payment transaction with customer details, amount, and payment channels. This creates a transaction session that can be used for payment processing.

## Headers

- `api-key` string, required
- `api-secret` string, required
- `Content-Type` 'application/json', required

## Request body

- InitializeTransactionRequest
  - `amount` string, required — Transaction amount in naira (for NGN) or minor currency units
  - `channels` string[], required — Payment channels to enable for this transaction
  - `currency` 'NGN' | 'USD', required — Transaction currency code
  - `metadata` object — Additional information about the transaction
  - `customer_name` string, required — Customer's full name
  - `customer_email` string, email, required — Customer's email address
  - `customer_phone_number` string, required — Customer's phone number
  - `redirect_url` string, uri — URL to redirect customer after payment completion
  - `reference` string — Unique transaction reference (optional - auto-generated if not provided)

## Response `200`

Transaction initialized successfully

- InitializeTransactionResponse
  - `status` boolean — Transaction initialization status
  - `message` string — Response message
  - `data` object
    - `id` string — Unique transaction ID
    - `transaction_ref` string — Transaction reference
    - `amount` string — Transaction amount
    - `status` string — Transaction status
    - `access_code` string — Access code for transaction session
    - `checkout_url` string — URL to redirect customer for payment
    - `created_datetime` string — Transaction creation timestamp

---

[API](https://skmtc.net/payvessel/apis/payvessel-value-added-services-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.net/payvessel/apis/payvessel-value-added-services-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc-service-staging.skmtc.workers.dev/v1/apis/payvessel/payvessel-value-added-services-api/revisions/31040a9358ef/schema)