Getting Started with Payouts API

Let's learn about the sign-up process of Wise Payouts API.

Course outline

In this course, we're going to use the sandbox environment of Wise. This is because the primary purpose of this course is to familiarize ourselves with Wise Payouts API. In order to actually integrate Wise Payouts endpoints, we need to be able to switch to the live environment of Wise.

This course is comprehensive and provides details of the Wise Payouts API through the following steps:

  • Step 1: Get a profile

  • Step 2: Create a recipient

  • Step 3: Create a quote

  • Step 4: Create a transfer

  • Step 5: Fund the transfer

In the illustration below, we have a flowchart depicting the structure of this course:

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Course flowchart
Course flowchart

Sign up for Wise

In order to sign up for Wise, we need to visit the sandbox registration link and follow these steps:

  1. Enter the email address you want to register with and click “Next.”
  2. You’ll see two options on the registration page—“Personal account” and “Business account.” Select “Personal account.”
  3. Next, enter your country of residence and click the “Continue” button.
  4. On the next screen, enter your mobile number and click the “Send verification code” button.
  5. You won’t receive a verification code on your phone, but enter “111111” in place of the six-digit security code.
  6. Create your password to log in to your Wise sandbox account.
  7. Enter your first name, last name, and business name, and click the “Done” button. Your account will be created.

Note: We might need to verify the device on the first sign-in attempt. In this case, since we’re using a sandbox environment, we’ll use “111111” as a two-factor authentication code.

From the images above, you can see that your sandbox account is credited with a virtual balance of GBP 1,000,000. Next, you have two options. You can now either create an API key or explore your profile.

To explore the Wise account, click on the “Or, explore your account” button. You’ll land on a screen with an option to proceed with either your personal or business account. Proceed with the personal account and look at your dashboard.

Note: The personal account was the option selected on the sign-up page, but Wise created your sandbox business profile as well.

On the left side, you have a menu bar with different options, but your main focus will be on “Home” and “Recipients.” These will be explored later.

You’ll have accounts with a balance in four currencies, the Australian dollar, the US dollar, the euro, and the British pound. We can use this balance to explore the functionalities of the Wise Payouts API.

Generate API

Here’s how to generate your first API key. Go to the “Settings” page and create an API token using the following steps:

  • Click the option “API tokens,” which should be empty initially.
  • Next, click the “Add new token” button and fill out the form:
    • Give a name to the token.
    • Select “Full access” token permissions.
    • Add the IP addresses (do this only when you want to restrict your API token to specific accesses).
    • Click the “Create token” button.
  • You will be redirected to the “Settings” page. Here, the “API tokens” option shows your API key.

​​​​Congratulations! You have just created your personal API token.

Next, click the “Reveal key” and copy your API key.

Click the “Edit” button below the API_KEY field and paste the copied API in it.

Save the API configuration

Wise utilizes HTTP requests. Every API call should hit the sandbox URL given in the code below. The authorization type is Bearer. The API key is assigned to API_KEY, and it must be a part of the request header. Click the “Run” button below to validate your API_KEY.

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console.log('The base URL for sandbox server is: https://api.sandbox.transferwise.tech');