So I was looking into savings account options at CS and ran into some odd fine print (see below):

Anyone know what that's all about? [and does it have something to do with the 'safekeeping' of accounts option for the standard savings account?] I assume they just meant people *in* the US when they say US persons... oder?

I do not think so: Whenever I opened an account at a Swiss bank, I was either asked personally or had to even fill out a form as part of the contract that I am neither a US citizen or have a US green card. I specifically remember this for stock portfolio accounts.

Since I am really not "a US person", I cannot tell you what tax/liability/other laws might be the reason for that.

Wow, that has the potential to suck. I guess I can see why Swiss banks would want to minimize the headaches that appear to be mounting with holding money for US taxpayers.

Guess I'll actually have to go and talk to a real live person about this; I'm sure they've come up with ways for Americans to have savings accounts here. I'm just very unfamiliar with the whole not living paycheck to paycheck thing... if they make it harder for me to save I may be forced to invest my money on more gourmet food and shoes instead.

Yes, please do. Because, erm, I have a savings account with CS...

Ok, that was the text I remembered:

"Die zusätzlichen Kontoinhaber erklären, keine Bürger der USA und nicht in den USA ansässig zu sein, keine ständige Aufenthaltsbewilligung für die USA zu besitzen und auch aus keinem anderen Grunde in den USA steuerpflichtig zu sein (non US persons)."

From swissquote, the other banks had something similar. Must be a tax issue then.

It is a US registration and tax issue. Swiss banks and any other non-US banks would have to comply with all kind of registration headaches if they "solicited" US persons living in the US.