### Clue: In time Italian banker fleeced bank at highest level (7)
### Answer: APOGEAN 
 ### Explanation: Definition: at highest level
 [ AGE(a long period of time) **containing**(In …) PO(the Italian river;something with banks) ] + "bank" **minus its 1st and last letters**(fleeced;with covering removed).
Answer: From "apogee", the highest point.