Lift is an equilibrium requirement
In unaccelerated level flight, lift balances weight. If weight, configuration, bank angle, air density, or speed changes, the aircraft must establish a new combination of angle of attack and velocity to produce the required lift.
The equation is useful because it shows direction. If speed decreases and everything else is unchanged, the aircraft needs a higher lift coefficient, normally achieved by increasing angle of attack.
A stall is about angle of attack
A wing stalls when it exceeds its critical angle of attack. It can stall at any airspeed, attitude, or power setting when the required angle of attack becomes too high. Published stall speeds describe specific conditions; they are not the definition of a stall.
Bank increases required lift
In a level coordinated turn, the lift vector is tilted. Its vertical component must still balance weight, so total lift must increase. Higher total lift means higher load factor and, consequently, a higher stall speed.
Configuration changes the relationship
Flaps, contamination, damage, and center-of-gravity location can alter maximum lift, drag, stability, control force, and stall behavior. When answering a question, identify whether the change affects the lift required, the lift available, or both.