Very helpful step by step advice. Thank you!

Incidentally, I am based in Bangkok, so I guess I would use the Chang Watthana office?

@Robert ******

thank you so much for precise answers to my questions. You are brilliant!

Two things to note: By "reference letter from your embassy" they actualy mean a letter certifying that your passport is genuine. I did that last month from the UK Embassy, for a cost of 25 GBP. I presume other embassies will have similar services. Secondly, and very importantly, the type of account you want to open is a passbook based SAVINGS account. This is the easiest account to open, and perfect for retirement visa funds. Don't try to open a "current account" - for some reason that is a lot more complicated.

Do you live in Bangkok? If so you can open an account with Bangkok Bank quite easily, even on a short stay visa. Expand the "required documents" box of the following web page and see section 2:

As others have said, thanks for a very useful pie of information. Particularly apt for me: I just opened an account with Bangkok Bank speicifically for the purpose of transferring retirement funds via transferwise. ^^

I like to be up front an honest. I really could do with learning Thai (I only know about 40 words because my friends here speak good English), but my primary concern at the moment is finding an appropriate visa. Also, how could they expect me to answer Thai questions when applying for the visa? The application comes before going to school, not after...