Originally Posted by fti

Having been in your shoes (I lived a long time in Europe before returning to the US 8 years ago), I think it will be difficult to sign up for European cc's or bank accounts without an address there. But if you are moving there in a couple of years, you will have an address there so I am not sure the point of your question.

I know even in Austria, which had tougher bank secrecy laws than Switzerland, they now require identification in order to allow you to open a savings account and you need an official registration form to open a checking account. (most European countries require you to register within X number of days of arriving in their country. If you are staying at a hotel you don't need to do this).