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

# Overview

> Send money from your merchant account to any bank account using IMPS, NEFT, or RTGS — create a beneficiary, initiate a payout, then track its status.

FastFlowPe's Fund Transfer (Payout) feature lets you programmatically move funds from your merchant account directly into a beneficiary's bank account. Whether you're disbursing salaries, settling vendor payments, or issuing refunds outside the platform, the payout flow gives you full control over where money goes and when.

## How It Works

Sending a payout involves three sequential steps. Once you register a beneficiary, you can reuse their `contact_id` for all future transfers — you never need to re-register the same person.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a Beneficiary">
    Register the recipient's bank details and verify their account. You receive a `contact_id` that represents this beneficiary in all subsequent API calls.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Initiate a Payout">
    Submit a transfer request using your `va_id`, the beneficiary's `contact_id`, the amount, and your preferred payment mode. You receive a `transaction_id` in return.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check Status ">
    Query the transaction status using the `transaction_id` or your own `merchant_ref_id`, or check your current merchant account balance.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Supported Payment Modes

FastFlowPe supports three bank transfer modes. Choose based on your speed and amount requirements:

| Mode     | Description                                                                  |
| -------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **IMPS** | Immediate Payment Service — real-time, 24×7, suitable for most payouts       |
| **NEFT** | National Electronic Funds Transfer — batch-based, processed in hourly cycles |
| **RTGS** | Real Time Gross Settlement — real-time, designed for high-value transfers    |

## Before You Begin

<Note>
  You need a **Virtual Account ID (`va_id`)** to initiate payouts. Your `va_id` is provisioned by the FastFlowPe team and is also available on your merchant dashboard. Keep it handy — every payout request requires it.
</Note>

<Note>
  The `contact_id` returned when you create a beneficiary is **permanent and reusable**. Store it in your system and pass it directly on every future payout to that same beneficiary — you do not need to call Create Beneficiary again.
</Note>

## Explore the Payout APIs

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Create Beneficiary" icon="user-plus" href="/payouts/create-beneficiary">
    Register a recipient's bank details and receive a `contact_id` for future transfers.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Initiate Payout" icon="paper-plane" href="/payouts/initiate-payout">
    Trigger a fund transfer to a registered beneficiary via IMPS, NEFT, or RTGS.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Check Status" icon="magnifying-glass" href="/payouts/check-status">
    Query the status of a payout transaction or check your merchant account balance.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Callback Configuration" icon="webhook" href="/webhooks/callback-configuration">
    Set up a webhook URL to receive real-time payout status updates automatically.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>