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This page explains how to represent monetary values when interacting with Payfonte APIs. To keep calculations precise and consistent across currencies and providers, all amounts must be sent in the smallest (least) denomination of the currency. For example, instead of sending 100.50 naira, you send 10050 kobo.

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Why least denomination?

  • Accuracy Working in the smallest unit avoids floating‑point rounding issues (e.g. 0.1 + 0.2 ≠ 0.3 in many languages).
  • Consistency across endpoints All Payfonte endpoints that accept amounts (collections, disbursements, refunds, fees, etc.) expect the same format.
  • Provider alignment Underlying payment processors, banks and wallets generally operate on integer minor units (kobo, cents, pesewas, etc.).

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General rule

Send integer values only, representing the amount in the currency’s smallest unit.
  • XOF (Ivorian Franc) → centimes
  • NGN (Nigerian Naira) → kobo
  • GHS (Ghanaian Cedi) → pesewas
  • KES (Kenyan Shilling) → cents
major unit   → least denomination
1 XOF        → 100 centimes
1 NGN        → 100 kobo
1 GHS        → 100 pesewas
1 KES        → 100 cents

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Example conversions

10.00 XOF  → 1000  //centimes
100.00 NGN  → 10000  // kobo
1,250.75 NGN → 125075 // kobo
50.00 GHS   → 5000   // pesewas
100.00 KES  → 10000  // cents
📘 Important Always convert on your side before hitting our endpoints. The API does not accept decimal amounts.

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Example: Collections request

Below is an example request body for a collections endpoint where the customer is to be charged 1,250.75 NGN. 
{
  "currency": "NGN",
  "amount": 125075,
  "description": "Wallet funding via card"
}

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Example: Disbursement request

For a payout of 10,000.00 NGN to a beneficiary account, the amount field becomes 1000000 (kobo): 
{
  "transferRecipientId": "BEN_9876543210",
  "currency": "NGN",
  "amount": 1000000,
  "narration": "Vendor settlement"
}

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Common pitfalls

  • Sending decimals
    • ❌ "amount": 1250.75
    • ✅ "amount": 125075
  • Mixing units
    • Don’t send some requests in naira and others in kobo.
    • Always standardize to the smallest denomination in your integration layer.
By always sending amounts in least denomination, your integrations with Payfonte collections and disbursement flows stay deterministic, predictable and aligned with our other endpoint specifications.