Speculator saving banks close to collapse (4)
I believe the answer is:
bear
'speculator' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'saving banks close to collapse' is the wordplay.
'saving' becomes 'bar' (I've seen this before).
'banks' is an insertion indicator (bank can mean to surround or border).
'close to' indicates one should take the final letters (the close/ending of).
The final letter of 'collapse' is 'e'.
'bar' going around 'e' is 'BEAR'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for bear that I've seen before include "Support, large mammal" , "Harbour - transport" , "Ursine animal" , "stomach and > suffer" , "Give birth to - large mammal" .)