1st year application, no need for money in thai bank. Just copy 3 current local bank statement balance to attach on application. Once your retirement visa is issued, you can then come to thailand and apply for your thai bank account. Remember to have cheap phone plan that you can receive otp password to do online banking for money transfers. Create accounts from transfer wise, xe, PayPal or setup with your bank for wire transfers. Check debit cards that have little or no ATM charges, to allow emergency money withdrawals

@Robert ***

not sure if you can receive messages at the same time? I have mint sim, plus ais esim. But unable to receive messages from both sources

Loma Topo I just kept the mint service $15 since it provides me the us otp requirement, and added local thai ais esim for thai data plan. Make sure us phone is unlocked.

@Jason ******

yes it works fine. But you will have to enable disable Sims to receive messages if using just one phone. I got 2 mint sim card, to have a backup

Mint mobile $15 a month

Use a mobile wifi, with a high speed sim card.