diff --git a/scripts/taler-monitoring/check_goa_ladder.sh b/scripts/taler-monitoring/check_goa_ladder.sh
index fbccd4c..24e52ca 100755
--- a/scripts/taler-monitoring/check_goa_ladder.sh
+++ b/scripts/taler-monitoring/check_goa_ladder.sh
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ elapsed_ms() {
 : "${LADDER_MAX_AMOUNT:=4503599627370496}"
 : "${LADDER_STEPS:=23}"
 : "${LADDER_LOAD:=1}"
+# Floor for random mids (must be ≥ smallest exchange coin; GOA min denom ≈ 0.000001)
+: "${LADDER_MIN_AMOUNT:=0.000001}"
+: "${LADDER_CONFIRM_POLLS:=40}"
 
 CUR="${EXPECT_CURRENCY:-GOA}"
 BANK="${BANK_PUBLIC%/}"
@@ -92,14 +95,20 @@ print("0")
 }
 
 # Build exactly LADDER_STEPS: [0] + (N-2) log-uniform random increasing + [max]
+# Random mids are always ≥ LADDER_MIN_AMOUNT (smallest viable coin).
 build_ladder() {
-  python3 - <<'PY' "$CUR" "${LADDER_MAX_AMOUNT}" "${LADDER_STEPS}"
+  python3 - <<'PY' "$CUR" "${LADDER_MAX_AMOUNT}" "${LADDER_STEPS}" "${LADDER_MIN_AMOUNT}"
 import math, random, sys
-from decimal import Decimal, ROUND_HALF_UP
+from decimal import Decimal, ROUND_HALF_UP, ROUND_UP
 
 cur = sys.argv[1]
 max_amt = Decimal(sys.argv[2])
 steps = max(2, int(sys.argv[3]))
+min_amt = Decimal(sys.argv[4])
+if min_amt <= 0:
+    min_amt = Decimal("0.000001")
+if min_amt >= max_amt:
+    min_amt = max_amt / Decimal(1000)
 
 def fmt(v: Decimal) -> str:
     q = v.quantize(Decimal("0.00000001"), rounding=ROUND_HALF_UP)
@@ -107,45 +116,46 @@ def fmt(v: Decimal) -> str:
         return format(int(q), "d")
     return format(q, "f").rstrip("0").rstrip(".")
 
+def quant(v: Decimal) -> Decimal:
+    if v >= 1:
+        return v.quantize(Decimal(1), rounding=ROUND_HALF_UP)
+    # snap up to min_amt grid for sub-unit amounts
+    if v < min_amt:
+        return min_amt
+    return v.quantize(Decimal("0.00000001"), rounding=ROUND_UP)
+
 mid = steps - 2  # between 0 and max
 out = ["%s:0" % cur]
 if mid > 0 and max_amt > 0:
-    # log-space cut points in (epsilon, max), pick strictly increasing
-    lo, hi = 1e-8, float(max_amt) * 0.999999
+    lo, hi = float(min_amt), float(max_amt) * 0.999999
     if hi <= lo:
         hi = lo * 10
     cuts = sorted(math.exp(random.uniform(math.log(lo), math.log(hi))) for _ in range(mid))
-    # enforce strict increase after quantize
     prev = Decimal(0)
     for c in cuts:
-        v = Decimal(str(c))
-        if v >= 1:
-            v = v.quantize(Decimal(1), rounding=ROUND_HALF_UP)
-        else:
-            v = v.quantize(Decimal("0.00000001"), rounding=ROUND_HALF_UP)
+        v = quant(Decimal(str(c)))
         if v <= prev:
-            step = max(prev * Decimal("1e-6"), Decimal("0.00000001")) if prev > 0 else Decimal("0.00000001")
-            v = (prev + step).quantize(Decimal("0.00000001") if prev < 1 else Decimal(1))
+            step = min_amt if prev < 1 else max(prev * Decimal("1e-6"), Decimal(1))
+            v = quant(prev + step)
         if v >= max_amt:
-            v = max_amt - (Decimal(1) if max_amt > 1 else Decimal("0.00000001"))
-        if v <= prev:
+            v = max_amt - (Decimal(1) if max_amt > 1 else min_amt)
+            v = quant(v)
+        if v <= prev or v >= max_amt:
             continue
         out.append("%s:%s" % (cur, fmt(v)))
         prev = v
 out.append("%s:%s" % (cur, fmt(max_amt)))
-# trim/pad to exact steps if quantize collapsed some
 while len(out) > steps:
-    # drop from middle
     out.pop(len(out) // 2)
 while len(out) < steps and len(out) >= 2:
-    # insert geometric mean mid
     i = len(out) // 2
     a = Decimal(out[i - 1].split(":", 1)[1])
     b = Decimal(out[i].split(":", 1)[1])
     if a <= 0:
-        m = b / 2 if b > 0 else Decimal("0.000001")
+        m = max(min_amt, b / 2 if b > 0 else min_amt)
     else:
         m = (a * b).sqrt() if a * b > 0 else (a + b) / 2
+    m = quant(m)
     if m <= a or m >= b:
         break
     out.insert(i, "%s:%s" % (cur, fmt(m)))
@@ -163,7 +173,7 @@ info "bank" "$BANK"
 info "exchange" "$EX"
 info "currency" "$CUR"
 info "budget" "${LADDER_TIMEOUT_S}s"
-info "steps" "${LADDER_STEPS} (fixed 0 + $((LADDER_STEPS - 2)) random + fixed max=${CUR}:${LADDER_MAX_AMOUNT})"
+info "steps" "${LADDER_STEPS} (0 + $((LADDER_STEPS - 2)) random≥${LADDER_MIN_AMOUNT} + max=${CUR}:${LADDER_MAX_AMOUNT})"
 
 if [ ! -f "$EXP_PW_FILE" ]; then
   err bank "explorer password missing" "$EXP_PW_FILE"
@@ -335,30 +345,58 @@ for AMT in "$@"; do
       -H "Authorization: Bearer ${TOK}" -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{}' \
       "${BANK}/accounts/${EXP_USER}/withdrawals/${WID}/confirm"
   }
+  extract_rpub() {
+    python3 -c '
+import re, sys, json
+paths = sys.argv[1:]
+blob = ""
+for p in paths:
+    try:
+        blob += open(p, errors="replace").read() + "\n"
+    except Exception:
+        pass
+# JSON fields
+for pat in (
+    r"\"reserve_pub\"\s*:\s*\"([A-Z0-9]+)\"",
+    r"\"reservePub\"\s*:\s*\"([A-Z0-9]+)\"",
+    r"reserve_pub[\"\s:=]+([A-Z0-9]{40,})",
+    r"reservePub[\"\s:=]+([A-Z0-9]{40,})",
+    r"reserve[_ ]?pub[\"=: ]+([A-Z0-9]{40,})",
+):
+    m = re.search(pat, blob, re.I)
+    if m:
+        print(m.group(1))
+        raise SystemExit
+# line-wise JSON
+for line in blob.splitlines():
+    line = line.strip()
+    if not line.startswith("{"):
+        continue
+    try:
+        d = json.loads(line)
+    except Exception:
+        continue
+    def walk(o):
+        if isinstance(o, dict):
+            for k, v in o.items():
+                if k.lower() in ("reserve_pub", "reservepub") and isinstance(v, str) and len(v) >= 40:
+                    print(v); raise SystemExit
+                walk(v)
+        elif isinstance(o, list):
+            for i in o:
+                walk(i)
+    walk(d)
+' "$@" 2>/dev/null || true
+  }
+
   force_select_if_needed() {
     local st_now="$1"
     [ "$st_now" = "pending" ] || [ -z "$st_now" ] || return 0
-    local rpub epayto
-    rpub=$(python3 -c '
-import re,sys
-paths=sys.argv[1:]
-t=""
-for p in paths:
-  try: t+=open(p).read()
-  except Exception: pass
-m=re.search(r"reserve[_ ]?pub[\"=: ]+([A-Z0-9]{40,})", t, re.I)
-if not m: m=re.search(r"\"reservePub\"\s*:\s*\"([^\"]+)\"", t)
-print(m.group(1) if m else "")
-' "$SCRATCH/accept-$tag.out" "$SCRATCH/tx-$tag.json" 2>/dev/null || true)
+    local rpub epayto code_fs
+    rpub=$(extract_rpub "$SCRATCH/accept-$tag.out" "$SCRATCH/tx-$tag.json")
     if [ -z "$rpub" ]; then
       wcli transactions >"$SCRATCH/tx-$tag.json" 2>&1 || true
-      rpub=$(python3 -c '
-import re,sys
-t=open(sys.argv[1]).read()
-m=re.search(r"reserve[_ ]?pub[\"=: ]+([A-Z0-9]{40,})", t, re.I)
-if not m: m=re.search(r"\"reservePub\"\s*:\s*\"([^\"]+)\"", t)
-print(m.group(1) if m else "")
-' "$SCRATCH/tx-$tag.json" 2>/dev/null || true)
+      rpub=$(extract_rpub "$SCRATCH/accept-$tag.out" "$SCRATCH/tx-$tag.json")
     fi
     epayto=$(curl -sS -m 10 "${EX%/}/keys" 2>/dev/null | python3 -c '
 import json,sys
@@ -372,19 +410,22 @@ else:
   if acc: print(acc[0].get("payto_uri") or "")
 ' 2>/dev/null || true)
     if [ -n "$rpub" ] && [ -n "$epayto" ]; then
-      curl -sS -m 12 -o "$SCRATCH/force-sel-$tag.json" -X POST \
+      code_fs=$(curl -sS -m 12 -o "$SCRATCH/force-sel-$tag.json" -w '%{http_code}' -X POST \
         -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
         -d "{\"reserve_pub\":\"${rpub}\",\"selected_exchange\":\"${epayto}\"}" \
-        "${BANK}/taler-integration/withdrawal-operation/${WID}" >/dev/null || true
-      info "force-select" "rpub=${rpub:0:12}…"
+        "${BANK}/taler-integration/withdrawal-operation/${WID}" 2>/dev/null || echo "000")
+      info "force-select" "HTTP ${code_fs} rpub=${rpub:0:12}…"
+    else
+      warn bank "force-select skipped" \
+        "problem: missing reserve_pub or exchange payto (rpub_empty=$( [ -z "$rpub" ] && echo yes || echo no ); cannot move bank status pending→selected)"
     fi
   }
 
   t0=$(now_ms)
   conf_ok=0
   st=""
-  # Immediate poll: confirm the moment we see selected (no long wallet block first)
-  for i in $(seq 1 60); do
+  # Poll bank status; force-select while pending; confirm as soon as selected
+  for i in $(seq 1 "${LADDER_CONFIRM_POLLS}"); do
     ladder_over && break
     st=$(bank_st)
     case "$st" in
@@ -392,7 +433,7 @@ else:
         ccode=$(do_confirm)
         if [ "$ccode" = "204" ] || [ "$ccode" = "200" ]; then
           conf_ok=1
-          info "confirm" "immediate HTTP $ccode after selected (poll $i)"
+          info "confirm" "HTTP $ccode after selected (poll $i)"
         else
           note="confirm HTTP $ccode"
         fi
@@ -407,15 +448,26 @@ else:
         break
         ;;
     esac
-    # if still pending after a few polls, force bank select once (no wallet shepherd)
-    if [ "$i" = "4" ] || [ "$i" = "12" ]; then
-      force_select_if_needed "$st"
+    # aggressive force-select while pending (no run-until-done)
+    if [ "$st" = "pending" ] || [ -z "$st" ]; then
+      if [ "$i" -eq 1 ] || [ $((i % 3)) -eq 0 ]; then
+        force_select_if_needed "$st"
+      fi
     fi
-    sleep 0.5
+    sleep 0.4
   done
   ms_confirm=$(elapsed_ms "$t0")
   if [ "$conf_ok" != "1" ]; then
-    note="${note:-confirm timeout last=$st}"
+    note="${note:-confirm timeout last=${st:-empty}}"
+    # Soft: stuck pending is often force-select/rpub or bank lag — do not kill whole ladder
+    if [ "${st:-}" = "pending" ] || [ -z "${st:-}" ]; then
+      status="SKIP_CONFIRM"
+      warn bank "confirm $AMT skipped" \
+        "problem: bank withdrawal stayed '${st:-empty}' (not selected) after ${LADDER_CONFIRM_POLLS} polls — reserve may not have been attached; ladder continues. detail: $note"
+      ms_total=$(elapsed_ms "$t_rung")
+      echo -e "${rung}\t${range_note}\t${AMT}\t${status}\t${ms_mint}\t${ms_accept}\t${ms_confirm}\t${ms_settle}\t${ms_total}\t${WID}\t${note}" >>"$TSV"
+      continue
+    fi
     err bank "confirm $AMT" "$note"
     status="FAIL_CONFIRM"
     STOP_REASON="$note"
diff --git a/scripts/taler-monitoring/taler-monitoring.sh b/scripts/taler-monitoring/taler-monitoring.sh
index 063afc1..2eb9529 100755
--- a/scripts/taler-monitoring/taler-monitoring.sh
+++ b/scripts/taler-monitoring/taler-monitoring.sh
@@ -137,6 +137,8 @@ export E2E_WITHDRAW_VALUES E2E_PAY_VALUES
 # Ladder: 0 + random mids + max (see check_goa_ladder.sh build_ladder). No LADDER_RANGES.
 # Defaults so set -u export is safe when vars were never set by caller.
 : "${LADDER_STEPS:=23}"
+: "${LADDER_MIN_AMOUNT:=0.000001}"
+: "${LADDER_CONFIRM_POLLS:=40}"
 : "${LADDER_MAX_RUNGS:=99}"
 : "${LADDER_TIMEOUT_S:=3600}"
 : "${LADDER_REPORT_DIR:=}"
@@ -148,7 +150,7 @@ export E2E_WITHDRAW_VALUES E2E_PAY_VALUES
 : "${LADDER_HIGH_FROM:=1000000}"
 : "${LADDER_HIGH_RUNGS:=12}"
 : "${LADDER_LOAD:=1}"
-export LADDER_STEPS LADDER_MAX_RUNGS LADDER_TIMEOUT_S LADDER_REPORT_DIR
+export LADDER_STEPS LADDER_MIN_AMOUNT LADDER_CONFIRM_POLLS LADDER_MAX_RUNGS LADDER_TIMEOUT_S LADDER_REPORT_DIR
 export LADDER_SETTLE_ROUNDS LADDER_SETTLE_SLEEP EXP_PW_FILE EXP_USER
 export LADDER_MAX_AMOUNT LADDER_INCLUDE_ZERO LADDER_INCLUDE_MAX
 export LADDER_HIGH_FROM LADDER_HIGH_RUNGS LADDER_LOAD