diff --git a/changelog/update-8972-save-payment-activity-preset-session b/changelog/update-8972-save-payment-activity-preset-session
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..869e0b298e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/update-8972-save-payment-activity-preset-session
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+Significance: patch
+Type: update
+Comment: Part of Payment Activity Card. Persist selected preset date in session.
+
+
diff --git a/client/components/payment-activity/hooks.ts b/client/components/payment-activity/hooks.ts
index 2f5d04da975..967ca6cf73a 100644
--- a/client/components/payment-activity/hooks.ts
+++ b/client/components/payment-activity/hooks.ts
@@ -108,12 +108,14 @@ export const usePaymentActivityDateRangePresets = (): {
 		},
 	};
 
+	const defaultPreset =
+		sessionStorage.getItem( 'selectedPresetName' ) ?? 'last_7_days';
 	const defaultDateRange = {
-		preset_name: 'last_7_days',
-		date_start: dateRangePresets.last_7_days.start.format(
+		preset_name: defaultPreset,
+		date_start: dateRangePresets[ defaultPreset ].start.format(
 			'YYYY-MM-DD\\THH:mm:ss'
 		),
-		date_end: dateRangePresets.last_7_days.end.format(
+		date_end: dateRangePresets[ defaultPreset ].end.format(
 			'YYYY-MM-DD\\THH:mm:ss'
 		),
 	};
diff --git a/client/components/payment-activity/index.tsx b/client/components/payment-activity/index.tsx
index 2e1f8fe2196..4649497cfdf 100644
--- a/client/components/payment-activity/index.tsx
+++ b/client/components/payment-activity/index.tsx
@@ -130,6 +130,10 @@ const PaymentActivity: React.FC = () => {
 								.clone()
 								.format( 'YYYY-MM-DD\\THH:mm:ss' );
 							const { key: presetName } = selectedItem;
+							sessionStorage.setItem(
+								'selectedPresetName',
+								selectedItem.key
+							);
 							recordEvent(
 								'wcpay_overview_payment_activity_period_change',
 								{