Graduate bank with nothing to spare (6)

I believe the answer is:

barely

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'nothing to spare' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'graduate bank' is the wordplay.
'graduate' becomes 'BA' (someone with a Bachelor of Arts degree).
'bank' becomes 'rely' (to bank on something is to rely on it).
'ba'+'rely'='BARELY'

'with' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for barely that I've seen before include "how streakers like to act?" , "Not quite" , "as Godiva rode?" , "just a short while before" , "Hardly" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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