Crossword Genius

Mix up first of banks to offer loans (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

blend

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

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

'first of banks to offer loans' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'offer' could be 'lend' (I've seen this before) and 'lend' is found within the answer.
'first of banks' could be 'b' (1st letter of 'banks') and 'b' is found within the answer.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for blend that I've seen before include "union" , "Mix together" , "Amalgamate" , "Thorough mixture" , "Coalesce" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
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