Raleigh-based VantageSouth Bank is keeping pace in the competition to be one of the state’s top U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) lenders. In terms of dollar volume, VantageSouth, with 17 loans valued at $11.5 million, was running a strong third behind two mega banks during the first four months of the federal fiscal year (October through January). San Francisco-based Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) posted 33 loans valued at $15.7 million during the period. BB&T Corp. (NYSE: BBT), headquartered…