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

# Create merchant customer

> Creates a customer (buyer/seller) under your merchant account. Requires the API key to belong to a merchant super-admin account.

**`bvn` is optional but determines the kind of virtual account the customer gets.** If you supply a valid BVN, the customer's [virtual account](/api-reference/payments/generate-virtual-account) will be a **dedicated** (permanent) account issued via Paystack. If you omit it, the customer instead receives a **temporary** 24-hour virtual account when one is requested.



## OpenAPI

````yaml openapi.json POST /v1/customer/create
openapi: 3.0.3
info:
  title: Payluk ThirdParty API
  version: 1.0.0
  description: >-
    Merchant / Business API for the Payluk escrow and payments platform.


    All routes are mounted under `/v1` and authenticated with a secret key.
    Every response uses the standard envelope `{ status, message, data }`.
  contact:
    name: Payluk Developer Support
    email: support@payluk.ng
    url: https://payluk.ng
servers:
  - url: https://staging.api.payluk.ng
    description: 'Staging: use sk_test_ keys here for safe testing'
  - url: https://api.payluk.ng
    description: 'Production: use sk_live_ keys'
security:
  - bearerAuth: []
tags:
  - name: Escrow
    description: Create and manage standard escrow payment links.
  - name: Milestone Escrow
    description: Escrows that release funds in parts as milestones are confirmed.
  - name: Vault Escrow
    description: >-
      Merchant-only pooled-stake escrows: customers stake from their wallets and
      the merchant declares the winner.
  - name: Categories
    description: Organise escrows into merchant-defined categories.
  - name: Merchant Customers
    description: Manage the buyers and sellers that transact under your merchant account.
  - name: Disputes
    description: Confirm deliveries, raise disputes and resolve them.
  - name: Payments
    description: Fund wallets and escrows, verify references and manage payout details.
  - name: Debit Cards
    description: List and remove customers' saved debit cards.
  - name: Crypto Whitelist
    description: Manage whitelisted crypto withdrawal addresses.
  - name: Misc
    description: Supporting reference data.
paths:
  /v1/customer/create:
    post:
      tags:
        - Merchant Customers
      summary: Create merchant customer
      description: >-
        Creates a customer (buyer/seller) under your merchant account. Requires
        the API key to belong to a merchant super-admin account.


        **`bvn` is optional but determines the kind of virtual account the
        customer gets.** If you supply a valid BVN, the customer's [virtual
        account](/api-reference/payments/generate-virtual-account) will be a
        **dedicated** (permanent) account issued via Paystack. If you omit it,
        the customer instead receives a **temporary** 24-hour virtual account
        when one is requested.
      operationId: createCustomer
      requestBody:
        required: true
        content:
          application/json:
            schema:
              type: object
              required:
                - firstname
                - lastname
                - email
                - phone
                - countryId
              properties:
                firstname:
                  type: string
                  example: Ada
                lastname:
                  type: string
                  example: Eze
                email:
                  type: string
                  format: email
                  example: ada@example.com
                phone:
                  type: string
                  example: '+2348012345678'
                countryId:
                  type: string
                  example: 665f1b2c9a1e4d0012ab3c40
                bvn:
                  type: string
                  minLength: 11
                  maxLength: 11
                  pattern: ^[0-9]{11}$
                  description: >-
                    Optional 11-digit Bank Verification Number. When provided,
                    the customer is issued a **dedicated** (permanent) virtual
                    account via Paystack; when omitted, the customer gets a
                    **temporary** 24-hour virtual account instead.
                  example: '22222222222'
      responses:
        '201':
          description: Customer created.
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/CustomerResponse'
              example:
                status: 201
                message: Customer created successfully
                data:
                  customerId: 6a19b57ffa797d3af379ca2a
                  firstname: firsty
                  lastname: fhgvj
                  email: testdubluber@gmail.com
                  phone: '09022331122'
                  bvn: null
                  status: active
                  blockedReason: null
                  blockedAt: null
                  createdAt: '2026-05-29T15:49:19.848Z'
                  dob: null
                  permissions:
                    canWithdraw: true
                    canBuy: true
                    canSell: true
                  countryId: 69b8d4c7f80e1f661b48c9ca
        '400':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ValidationError'
components:
  schemas:
    CustomerResponse:
      type: object
      properties:
        status:
          type: integer
          example: 200
        message:
          type: string
          example: Customer fetched successfully
        data:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/Customer'
    Customer:
      type: object
      properties:
        id:
          type: string
          example: 665f1b2c9a1e4d0012ab3c01
        firstname:
          type: string
          example: Ada
        lastname:
          type: string
          example: Eze
        email:
          type: string
          example: ada@example.com
        phone:
          type: string
          example: '+2348012345678'
        role:
          type: string
          example: merchant_user
        status:
          type: string
          example: active
        canBuy:
          type: boolean
          example: true
        canSell:
          type: boolean
          example: true
    ApiError:
      type: object
      description: Standard error envelope.
      properties:
        status:
          type: integer
          example: 400
        message:
          type: string
          example: Action not allowed
        data:
          type: object
          example: {}
  responses:
    ValidationError:
      description: Validation error.
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/ApiError'
          example:
            status: 400
            message: amount is required
            data: {}
  securitySchemes:
    bearerAuth:
      type: http
      scheme: bearer
      description: >-
        Your secret key as a Bearer token. The key prefix selects the
        environment: `sk_test_...` (test) or `sk_live_...` (live).

````