The largest private banks in Brazil – Bradesco and Itau – are in talks about launching Apple Pay in the country, according to Epoca Negocios.

Two sources say the banks have met with Apple to discuss how to launch the mobile payment service in the Brazilian market.

There are factors in favour of a launch in the country, including the growing number of NFC-enabled iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus handsets. The devices were launched by local operators in November.

In addition, nearly 80 per cent of the terminals offered by the country’s two largest vendors can now accept contactless payments.

So far, Apple Pay is only available in the US, although imminent launches have been rumoured in a number of European countries (including the UK) and China.

In the US, Apple has struck agreements with leading lights of the financial industry, including major credit cards as well as the country’s banks, to support the launch of Apple Pay. The company has also struck agreements with some retailers, although some are holding out against the service.