Influential banks providing a bit of competition (9)
I believe the answer is:
semifinal
'a bit of competition' is the definition.
'semifinal' can be an answer for 'competition' (semifinal is a kind of competition). I'm not certain of the 'a bit of' bit.
'influential banks providing' is the wordplay.
'influential' becomes 'seminal' (seminal can mean important or influential).
'banks' indicates putting letters inside (bank can mean to surround or border).
'providing' becomes 'if' (eg 'providing it's sunny' means 'if it's sunny').
'seminal' going around 'if' is 'SEMIFINAL'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for semifinal that I've seen before include "Penultimate round of a competition" , "Tie" , "Competitive match" , "Penultimate cup game" , "pivotal match" .)