Contracting a sort of loan (9)
I believe the answer is:
abridging
'contracting' is the definition.
('abridge' can be a synonym of 'contract')
'a sort of loan' is the wordplay.
'sort of loan' becomes 'bridging' (bridging loan).
'a'+'bridging'='ABRIDGING'
(Another definition for abridging that I've seen is " Shortening".)
I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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