Why are there so many ‘First’ banks, churches, etc

Question

You’ll see banks called “First National Bank of X”, or the “First Baptist Church of Y”. A bank or church, with the exact same name, will also exist somewhere else. I live and have traveled all over the US (specifically the Bible Belt) for years now and I’ve noticed this trend.

What gives? Maybe the answer is really obvious and I can’t put it together.

Edit: How come you almost never see the “Second National Bank/Church of X/Y”?

In: Other

Answer 1

Numerical/Alphabetical hierarchy. Back when phone books were a thing, 1 or 1st put you at the very beginning.

Pre-internet SEO basically.