Thank you everyone for your replies - very useful.

I think I will still change my address to my parent's UK address. I have already cancelled paper statements, so it will only be (what I regard as) junk mail that I get from them anyway. I am worried about giving them my Swiss address just in case it botches up my electronic account somehow.

WHen I was in Germany, my paper statements were definitely destroyed and I remember there being some fuss about my electronic account, and I don't want to risk not being able to have it. Because I registered for e-banking, my registered "local" bank is the Swindon office for internet accounts (I'm in Sussex just now), so I am scared that my electronic banking abroad will not escape them if I change my address to Zurich.

I will claim my tax back - with any luck this won't get detected as meaning that I am abroad. Good tip about opening any other accounts I may want before I leave. I will go and take a look! It is also very good to know that the ebanking does work from Switzerland.

Many thanks!