One may be in default

LOAN

"Hint: It's a financial agreement that can go unpaid. (This hint points toward the concept of borrowing and repayment without directly stating "loan" or repeating the original clue's phrasing.)"

The clue "One may be in default" leads to the answer "LOAN" through a straightforward definition with a hint of wordplay. Definition: A loan is a sum of money that is borrowed, and if the borrower fails to repay it, the loan goes into default.