A look at what the changes at Washington Mutual mean for customers and investors. Washington Mutual Inc. said Tuesday that it had raised $7 billion from private investors to bolster its capital, which has been depleted by a stream of deepening sub-prime mortgage losses.

A group is said to be in talks to buy a $5-billion stake in the lender. Shares of Washington Mutual Inc. soared almost 30% on Monday on news that private investors are close to a deal to pump $5 billion into the battered mortgage lender, offering hope that the financial industry's fortunes could be turning around.

Swiss bank UBS and top bond insurer MBIA raise outside financing. A stream of cash from private investors into banks and other companies that have been hurt by the sub-prime mortgage crisis is raising hope that battered financial stocks have hit bottom.