diff --git a/packages/taler-merchant-webui/src/screens/BankMonitoringDialog.tsx b/packages/taler-merchant-webui/src/screens/BankMonitoringDialog.tsx
index d8d6bf0af..4a6f5ab4d 100644
--- a/packages/taler-merchant-webui/src/screens/BankMonitoringDialog.tsx
+++ b/packages/taler-merchant-webui/src/screens/BankMonitoringDialog.tsx
@@ -134,6 +134,13 @@ function BankMonitoringForm({
   } = useFormFeedback();
   const fieldClass =
     "mt-1 w-full rounded-md border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2 text-sm";
+  // The dialog opened on its close button while the settings loaded; now that
+  // they are here, start on the first setting: the history URL when
+  // monitoring is on, the switch that turns it on otherwise.
+  const firstField = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
+  useEffect(() => {
+    firstField.current?.focus();
+  }, []);
   return (
     <form
       class="space-y-4"
@@ -201,6 +208,7 @@ function BankMonitoringForm({
       <fieldset disabled={saving} class="space-y-4">
         <label class="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm font-medium">
           <input
+            ref={enabled ? undefined : firstField}
             id="bank-monitoring-enabled"
             type="checkbox"
             checked={enabled}
@@ -216,6 +224,7 @@ function BankMonitoringForm({
             >
               {t`Bank history URL`}
               <input
+                ref={firstField}
                 {...fieldProps("bank-monitoring-url")}
                 id="bank-monitoring-url"
                 type="url"