Advances behind shortfall - needing banks to negotiate (5)

I believe the answer is:

nears

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'advances' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for nears that I've seen before include "Moves towards" , "Approaches - snare (anag)" , "Moves closer to" , "Saner (anag.)" , "Draws closer to" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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