ST PETERSBURG Russia, June 18 -- Russia's Sberbank (SBER03.MM: Quote) said on Thursday it had received a request from aluminium giant RUSAL (0486.HK: Quote) to refinance its $4.5 billion loan.

"Yes, RUSAL has come to us. In the coming months the deal will be restructured," Sberbank CEO German Gref told reporters on the sidelines of the St Petersburg Economic Forum.

RUSAL secured the loan from state bank VEB in 2008, and Sberbank and VEB have previously said they would work together on a restructuring deal if needed.