Aspects of a method and apparatus for a multi-band, multi-mode smartcard are provided. An ISO 7816 compliant smartcard may comprise a near-field radio operable to communicate wirelessly, a far-field radio operable to communicate wirelessly, and a contact-based radio operable to communicate via one or more metal contacts of the smartcard. The smartcard may be operable to receive data via a first one of the far-field radio, the near-field radio, and the contact-based radio, and transmit the received data via a second one of the far-field radio, the near-field radio, and the contact-based radio. The smartcard may be operable to transcode the received data prior to the transmitting the received data via the second one of the far-field radio, the near-field radio, and the contact-based radio.