From Handling Payroll Internally to Letting Go of the Stress 

Macon Bank & Trust Company is a community bank operating with a team of just over 100 employees. Like many organizations in the banking industry, the team manages strict compliance requirements while balancing day-to-day administrative responsibilities.

Chrissy Smith, Vice President & Personnel Director, oversees a wide range of responsibilities including employee questions, compensation and benefits, working closely with executive management, handling reimbursements and invoices related to benefits, and supporting employee development.

With a lean internal structure, payroll, benefits, and employee-related responsibilities are managed in-house, requiring consistent attention to detail across multiple areas of the business.

Before implementing Netchex, payroll was managed entirely in-house. That included processing payroll, handling tax-related responsibilities, and ensuring everything was completed correctly.

For Chrissy, payroll was just one part of a larger role that also included employee communication, benefits administration, and coordination with leadership.

Even with processes in place, there was a continued need to verify details and ensure accuracy, especially when it came to payroll taxes.

At the same time, moving away from an internal process introduced uncertainty.

Macon Bank & Trust Company implemented Netchex in 2022, transitioning payroll from an internal process to a dedicated platform.

The implementation experience helped make that shift manageable.

With guidance throughout onboarding, the transition remained structured and clear. Once live, payroll moved into a more defined process supported within the platform.

One of the most immediate changes was shifting payroll tax responsibilities out of an internal task and into the system.

Support also became a consistent part of the experience.

After moving to Netchex, payroll became easier to manage within the scope of Chrissy’s responsibilities.

“It did take a lot of stress off after the fact.” – Chrissy Smith, Vice President & Personnel Director

With payroll taxes handled within the platform, there is less concern around whether filings are completed correctly.

At the same time, review and validation remain part of the process.

“The program is only as smart as the information you give it… I’ve always physically looked at the previous payroll reports and compared to the pending to see if I’ve made any mistakes.” – Chrissy Smith, Vice President & Personnel Director

New functionality, such as side-by-side payroll comparison, is expected to make that process more efficient.

Employees have also responded positively to the system.

“The employees really like the app.” – Chrissy Smith, Vice President & Personnel Director

For a role that includes multiple responsibilities, having access to support when questions come up makes a difference.

Whether through chat or scheduled calls, the Netchex team provides timely responses that help keep payroll moving without delays.

For Macon Bank & Trust Company, the move to Netchex was about shifting payroll out of an internal process while still maintaining visibility and control.

The result is a payroll process that aligns with how the organization operates, supporting accuracy, reducing stress, and fitting into the day-to-day responsibilities of the team.