I see what you mean with regards to the buildings. All the ones from T1 were very 1950's+. I do appreciate the fact that my island can have a colonial image to it, but I do take your point as far as building in the 1950's onwards. So I must say I am torn as to which is better.

As for the banks, by the time I was in a position to aford them and staff them I had more than enough money coming out of my ears. They usually were set to Prez slush fund. Perhaps I should try and get them in earlier. So I never really saw banks as key to my stratergy (or indeed that important all round).