Can I extend my stay in Thailand based on retirement using a visa-exempt entry and a new bank account?

Non O retirement from a USA consulate requires health insurance for the full duration of the stay (90 days). In country application does not.

@John *******

no issue at all coming here on a single entry tourist visa

Enter get 60 days

get the bank account open and the 800K baht transferred in

go apply for the initial 90 day Non-O at your immigration office when you have between 15 and 21 days left on your stamp pay 2000baht

application goes under review for 14 to 20 days depending on the office

go back on that date, get the Non-O visa and new 90 day stamp inked in

once the funds are seasoned in the account for 2 months go apply for the year extension for 1900baht, the extension is issued on the spot

buy a re-entry permit if you want to exit/re-enter during the year the extension is valid for

***NOTE, I believe ONLY Jomtien requires the funds to be seasoned the 2 months before you apply for the Non-O visa itself, all the other offices only require the funds be in thai bank account in your name transferred in from abroad on the date you apply.

So once you get here, get the account open get the funds transferred in GO to your immigration office, talk to them and get the hand out for the 90 day Non-O visa documentation requirements.

What is your passport nation?

And I assume that you are age 50+.

What could be advantage to you is obtaining the Non O Visa for retirement from your Thai Embassy or Consulate in your home country before you fly to Thailand. It gives you a 90 days stamp on arrival.

Your plan looks good...

Getting the tourist visa is really not needed for you. You will enter Thailand Visa EXEMPT and get 45 days stamp plus one 30 day extension of stay at Thai immigration office for 1900 Thai baht.= 75 days to open the Thai Bank account in your name only during the first days after arrival.