Canada’s Telus has tied up with local bank CIBC for the launch of a NFC-based mobile payment service, the latest pairing between the country’s operators and banks.

The new Telus service enables subscribers to make purchases in retailers using certain NFC smartphones loaded with a virtual credit card from CIBC, its latest foray into the market.

Previously the bank paired off with Rogers Wireless, a Telus rival, for launch of a NFC-based mobile payment service called Suretap in November 2012.

Subsequently, Rogers has gained regulatory approval to launch its own credit card.

Meanwhile the country’s third major operator – Bell Mobility – linked hands with local bank RBC early in 2013 for a planned NFC-based service.

Then the bank changed tack in mid-2013 with the shift to a homegrown cloud solution which it finally launched last month. The service is initially focused on NFC but also works with other approaches, including QR codes. The RBC Wallet app at first is only available with the Samsung Galaxy S III or 4 on the Bell Mobility network.

The Telus/CIBC service is initially only available with the following NFC-based smartphones: Samsung Galaxy SIII, Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note II, as well as HTC One.

Later this month the app will be available to users of three BlackBerry devices: the Z10, Q10 and Bold 9900.