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Virtual accounts are dedicated bank account numbers that you create for your customers. When anyone transfers money to a virtual account, the funds automatically appear in your Glyde wallet with full transaction details.

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Why Use Virtual Accounts?

Virtual accounts solve several common payment challenges:
  • Easy reconciliation — Each customer has their own account number, making it simple to match payments to customers
  • No manual matching — Funds are automatically attributed to the right customer
  • Recurring payments — Customers can pay anytime by transferring to their dedicated account
  • Professional experience — Customers feel like they have a “real” account with your business

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Account Types

Glyde offers two types of virtual accounts for different use cases:

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Static Accounts

Permanent accounts tied to a verified customer. These never expire and can receive unlimited payments. Best for:
  • Customer wallets
  • Subscription payments
  • Recurring billing
  • Long-term customer relationships
Requirements: Customer BVN verification is required for regulatory compliance.

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Dynamic Accounts

Temporary accounts created for specific transactions. They expect a particular amount and expire after a set time. Best for:
  • One-time invoice payments
  • E-commerce checkout (alternative to hosted checkout)
  • Pay-on-delivery confirmation
  • Time-sensitive collections
Requirements: No BVN needed; customer details are sufficient.

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Creating a Static Account

Static accounts require customer verification via BVN: 
POST /v1/virtual-accounts

{
  "type": "static",
  "customer": {
    "reference": "cust_12345",
    "first_name": "John",
    "last_name": "Doe",
    "email": "[email protected]",
    "phone": "08012345678",
    "bvn": "12345678901"
  }
}
Key fields:
  • reference — Your unique identifier for this customer
  • bvn — Customer’s Bank Verification Number (11 digits)
The response includes the assigned bank account: 
{
  "status": "success",
  "data": {
    "uid": "va_550e8400-e29b-41d4",
    "type": "static",
    "status": "active",
    "account_number": "0123456789",
    "account_name": "Glyde/John Doe",
    "bank_name": "Wema Bank"
  }
}
Store the uid to manage this account later.

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Creating a Dynamic Account

Dynamic accounts are simpler to create and don’t require BVN: 
{
  "type": "dynamic",
  "customer": {
    "reference": "cust_12345",
    "first_name": "John",
    "last_name": "Doe",
    "email": "[email protected]"
  },
  "expected_amount": 500000
}
The expected_amount helps with reconciliation—you’ll know if the customer paid the correct amount.

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Managing Virtual Accounts

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List All Accounts

GET /v1/virtual-accounts?status=active&per_page=20
Filter by status (active, inactive) and paginate results.

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Get Account Details

GET /v1/virtual-accounts/{uid}

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View Account Transactions

GET /v1/virtual-accounts/{uid}/transactions
See all payments received on a specific virtual account.

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Deactivate an Account

POST /v1/virtual-accounts/{uid}/deactivate
Deactivated accounts can no longer receive payments. Use this when a customer closes their account or you need to prevent further deposits.

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Receiving Payments

When someone transfers to a virtual account, you receive a webhook notification with full details including the sender’s name and the customer reference you assigned. Display the account details to your customers so they can make transfers:
  • Bank name — Where to send the transfer
  • Account number — The 10-digit account number
  • Account name — What appears when they verify the account

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Best Practices

  1. Store customer references — Use meaningful references that help you identify customers in webhook payloads
  2. Communicate clearly — Give customers clear instructions on how to transfer to their virtual account
  3. Handle partial payments — Decide how to handle payments that don’t match expected amounts
  4. Monitor for fraud — Watch for unusual patterns like many small deposits or deposits from unexpected sources
  5. Deactivate unused accounts — Clean up accounts for customers who are no longer active