@George ***********
you can open the bank account on any visa, for 5000.- THB at F.S. Consulting Co. And with own funds, with 800,000.- THB in your bank account, you don't need to pay any agent 32.500.- THB to put the money up for you. Mainly not, because when you start out with a agent, you will need the agent every other year, you will be caught in what we call "the agent carousell". You can do the "change of visa type" from the tourist visa to the initial 90-days retirement visa, all by yourself. The "change" fee is 2000.- THB, and the Extension fee is 1900.- THB. An agent who helps you to sort both applications (again, using your own funds) would charge maybe 12.500.- THB for the complete service