> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.pcxpay.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Beneficiary Validation

> Validate bank account details and resolve account holder names before initiating a payout

Before disbursing to a new beneficiary, validate their account details to confirm the account exists and retrieve the registered account holder name. This step catches typos in account numbers and reduces failed payouts before they happen.

***

## Nigerian account validation (NIP name enquiry)

Resolve an account number against the Nigerian interbank NIP network to get the account holder name:

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST https://prod-api.pcxpay.com/v1/payments/bank-validation/validate-nigerian-account \
  -H "X-Api-Key: your_api_key" \
  -H "Authorization: NONE" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "account_number": "0123456789",
    "bank_code": "058",
    "org_id": "org_xxxx"
  }'
```

**Response:**

```json theme={null}
{
  "account_number": "0123456789",
  "account_name": "CHISOM OBI",
  "bank_code": "058",
  "bank_name": "GTBank"
}
```

Present `account_name` to the sender for confirmation before proceeding. If the name does not match the intended recipient, do not initiate the payout.

***

## Fetch the Nigerian bank list

Get all supported Nigerian banks and their codes before presenting a bank selector to your users:

```bash theme={null}
GET /payments/bank-validation/nigerian-banks
```

Use the returned `bank_code` values in your account validation and beneficiary creation requests.

***

## Fetch banks by country

To present a bank or mobile money network selector for any supported country, fetch the available networks:

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST https://prod-api.pcxpay.com/v1/externals/networks \
  -H "X-Api-Key: your_api_key" \
  -H "Authorization: NONE" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{ "country_code": "NG" }'
```

Each network in the response includes `name`, `code`, and `type` (`bank` or `momo`). Use:

* `code` as `bank_code` for bank transfer payouts
* `name` as the `provider` field value in `mobile_money_details` for mobile money payouts

***

## Recommended validation flow

```
1. Fetch banks:       POST /externals/networks { "country_code": "NG" }
2. User selects bank and enters account number
3. Validate account:  POST /payments/bank-validation/validate-nigerian-account
4. Show account_name to the sender for confirmation
5. Sender confirms → create beneficiary: POST /beneficiaries
6. Initiate payout:   POST /payments-init/initiate/public-payin
```

See [Bank Payouts](/guides/payouts/bank-payouts) for the full payout initiation request.