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

# Transfers

> Initiate and track mobile money transfers in the sandbox.

## Initiate a Transfer

```bash theme={null}
POST /api/v1/bila/transfers/mobile-money
```

| Parameter       | Type   | Required | Description                          |
| --------------- | ------ | -------- | ------------------------------------ |
| `amount`        | number | Yes      | Minimum `0.01`                       |
| `reference`     | string | Yes      | Unique — pattern `^[a-zA-Z0-9._-]+$` |
| `phone`         | string | Yes      | Recipient's mobile money number      |
| `operator`      | string | Yes      | `mtn`, `airtel`, or `zamtel`         |
| `country`       | string | Yes      | `zm`                                 |
| `walletId`      | string | No       | Defaults to Main Wallet if omitted   |
| `narration`     | string | No       | Max 100 characters                   |
| `recipientName` | string | No       | Max 100 characters                   |

**Example:**

```bash theme={null}
curl --request POST \
  --url https://sandbox.usebila.com/api/v1/bila/transfers/mobile-money \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --header 'x-api-key: sk_test_your_api_key_here' \
  --data '{
    "amount": 250.00,
    "reference": "PAY-2026-001",
    "phone": "0977433571",
    "operator": "airtel",
    "country": "zm",
    "narration": "Supplier payment May",
    "recipientName": "Jane Mwale"
  }'
```

**Response:**

```json theme={null}
{
  "status": true,
  "message": "Operation completed successfully",
  "data": {
    "id": "txn-uuid",
    "reference": "PAY-2026-001",
    "status": "successful",
    "amount": 250.00,
    "currency": "ZMW",
    "recipient": {
      "phone": "0977433571",
      "operator": "airtel"
    },
    "createdAt": "2026-05-05T10:30:00Z"
  }
}
```

***

## Check Transfer Status

```bash theme={null}
curl --request GET \
  --url https://sandbox.usebila.com/api/v1/bila/transfers/status/PAY-2026-001 \
  --header 'x-api-key: sk_test_your_api_key_here'
```

| Status       | Meaning                      |
| ------------ | ---------------------------- |
| `pending`    | Awaiting final outcome       |
| `successful` | Funds delivered to recipient |
| `failed`     | Transaction failed           |

***

## Pre-Launch Checklist

* Successful transfer returns `"status": "successful"`
* Reference with `fail` returns `"status": "failed"`
* Amount exceeding balance returns `400` `INSUFFICIENT_BALANCE`
* Status polling transitions correctly from `pending`