Just as judgments and real estate transactions are recorded somewhere to allow access by the public, so, too, are financing statements. The idea is that a system of recording contributes to the smooth flow of commerce. Anyone who deals with the UCC knows that things are rarely that simple.
Some states have simple, central filing.
Some have dual filing. Some have dual filing sometimes. This is where you need to check the laws of the state where the filing is to take place. Sometimes there are complications. Let me use my home state, Pennsylvania, as an example.