MPGS Create Payment
Test URL
Live URL
This API will be used to authenticate payments on MPGS. cardNumber and cardSecurity are encrypted using AES encryption then the cypher is base64 encoded.You can find libraries to encrypt on Github
200 Success Response Schema
| Field Name | Field Type | Field Descriptions |
|---|---|---|
status | bool | Response status |
code | number | Response code |
message | string | Response message |
data | object | Response data |
secureRes | string | This HTML content should be shown to the customer. This will have a value if gatewayRecommendation value is AUTHENTICATION_REQUIRED |
gatewayRecommendation | string | Indicate if it is 3D secure or not. Possible values: AUTHENTICATION_REQUIRED, AUTHENTICATION_NOT_REQUIRED |
Example Request
In the example below, please remember to replace the variables enclosed within curly brackets {{ }} with the actual values.
transactionReferenceRequest Fields
| Field Name | Type | Description | Example | Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
transactionReference | string | A unique reference for the payment transaction. This is typically generated for each payment attempt. | "TRANREF0000001" | Yes |
curl --request POST \
--url https://uat-unt.finserve.africa/mpgs-direct-integration/api/v3.1/authenticatePayment \
--header 'Authorization: {{token}}' \
--header 'content-type: application/json' \
--data '
{
"transactionReference": "TRANREF0000001"
}
'Example Response
{
"status": true,
"code": 200,
"message": "Payment Creation Successful",
"data": {
"result": "SUCCESS",
"checkoutMode": "WEBSITE",
"session": "SESSION0002493464501E41219786F4",
"apiOperation": "CREATE_SESSION",
"id": null,
"successIndicator": "d19e211361a74de3",
"payment_link": null
}
}Error Responses
400 Bad Request
Missing or invalid parameters in the request body.
{
"status": false,
"code": 400,
"message": "Invalid request parameters",
"error_code": "INVALID_REQUEST"
}401 Unauthorized
Invalid or expired access token.
{
"status": false,
"code": 401,
"message": "Invalid or expired access token",
"error_code": "UNAUTHORIZED"
}403 Forbidden
Valid credentials but invalid signature or insufficient permissions.
{
"status": false,
"code": 403,
"message": "Invalid signature or insufficient permissions",
"error_code": "FORBIDDEN"
}404 Not Found
Account not found or invalid account number.
{
"status": false,
"code": 404,
"message": "Source or destination account not found",
"error_code": "ACCOUNT_NOT_FOUND"
}Transaction Status Errors
| Response Status | Response Code | Response Message |
|---|---|---|
| false | 111102 | Transaction with the passed reference cannot be found |
📖 Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: 🔑 Set Up Security Keys
Generate your private and public key pair and share your public key with Finserve. See the Security & Signatures Documentation (opens in a new tab) for detailed instructions.
Step 2: 🎫 Authenticate
Obtain an access token using the authentication endpoint. See the Authentication API documentation (opens in a new tab) for details.
Step 3: 📋 Prepare Transaction Details
Gather all required information:
- transactionReference
Step 4: ✍️ Generate Signature
Create the signature string by concatenating in this exact order:
transactionReferenceSign this string using your private key, then Base64 encode the result.
Step 5: 📝 Set Up Headers
Include the following headers in your request:
Content-Type: application/jsonAuthorization: Bearer [your_access_token]Signature: [your_base64_encoded_signature]
Step 6: 🔧 Construct Request Body
Create a JSON object with all required fields following the structure shown in the example request.
Step 7: 🚀 Send POST Request
Make a POST request to the internal bank transfer endpoint with your headers and body.
🌍 Supported Countries & Currencies
| Country | Country Code | Common Currency Codes |
|---|---|---|
| Kenya | KE | KES |
| Uganda | UG | UGX |
| Tanzania | TZ | TZS |
| Rwanda | RW | RWF |
| South Sudan | SS | USD |
| DRC | DRC | USD |
Best Practices
-
** Security**
- Store your private key securely and never expose it in client-side code or version control
- Always use HTTPS for API requests
- Store access tokens securely
- Regenerate signatures for each request
-
** Signature Generation**
- Ensure exact string concatenation order:
transactionReference - Do not include spaces, separators, or special characters in the concatenated string
- Always Base64 encode the signature before including it in headers
- Verify the values in the signature match exactly with the request body values
- Ensure exact string concatenation order:
-
** Transaction Reference**
- Use unique reference numbers for each transaction
- Implement a reference generation system to avoid duplicates
- Store reference numbers for reconciliation and audit purposes
- Never reuse reference numbers, even for failed transactions
-
Amount Formatting
- Always use decimal format with two decimal places (e.g., "500.00")
- Pass amounts as strings, not numbers
- Ensure the amount is positive and within allowed limits
- Verify amount matches exactly in signature and request body
-
Error Handling
- Implement retry logic with exponential backoff for transient errors
- Log transaction attempts and responses for audit purposes
- Handle signature validation errors by regenerating the signature
-
Testing
- Always test with the UAT endpoint before using the live endpoint
- Use test account numbers provided in the documentation
- Verify signature generation with sample data first
- Test error scenarios to ensure proper handling
-
Data Validation
- Validate all account numbers match the expected format
- Verify country codes are valid and supported
- Ensure transfer dates are in the correct format (YYYY-MM-DD)
- Validate currency codes match the destination country
Troubleshooting
Invalid Signature Error (403)
If you receive a 403 error with "Invalid signature":
- Verify the concatenation order:
transactionReference - Ensure no spaces or separators are included in the concatenated string
- Check that the signature is Base64 encoded
- Verify your public key is correctly registered with us
- Ensure the values in the signature match exactly with the request body values
Common Signature Mistakes
- Using wrong concatenation order
- Adding spaces or separators between values
- Not Base64 encoding the final signature
- Values in signature don't match request body values
Support
For questions or issues with this API:
- Email: support@finserve.africa