Sprout Mortgage, which often billed itself as one of the nation's fastest-growing lenders and largest non-QM originators, shut its doors today, according to former employees. The former employees, who asked not to be identified, said Sprout President Shea Pallante held a companywide phone call this afternoon to break the news to all staff. One former employee said the call originally was scheduled for 4 p.m. EDT, but was pushed back by a half hour, so was held at 4:30 p.m.