EXHIBIT 99

NEWS RELEASE
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE         Contact:  John W. Conlon, Chief Financial Officer
February 11, 2000                       (740) 373-3155


                  PEOPLES BANCORP INCREASES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND
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MARIETTA, Ohio - The Board of Directors of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq: PEBO)
yesterday declared a quarterly dividend of $0.14 per share, after giving effect
to the 10% stock dividend to be issued to shareholders of record at February 22,
2000.
         The first quarter dividend represents a 10% increase compared to the
previous quarter and is payable subsequent to the aforementioned 10% stock
dividend. The first quarter dividend payout of approximately $924,000 on 6.6
million outstanding shares (the Company's estimated outstanding shares after the
10% stock dividend to be issued February 22, 2000) is payable April 3, 2000, to
shareholders of record March 15, 2000.
         Peoples Bancorp Inc. is a diversified financial services bank holding
company headquartered in Marietta, Ohio, with over $1 billion in assets. Peoples
Bancorp operates 39 financial service locations and 25 ATM's in the states of
Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Peoples Bancorp's banking subsidiaries
include The Peoples Banking and Trust Company with offices in Ohio and West
Virginia; The First National Bank of Southeastern Ohio with three Ohio offices;
and Peoples Bank FSB, with four Kentucky offices. On March 10, 2000, the Company
plans to merge its banking subsidiaries into a single national banking entity
named "Peoples Bank." Through its subsidiaries, Peoples Bancorp offers complete
banking services and makes available other financial services, such as trust
services, investment and insurance products, and internet banking. Peoples
Bancorp's common stock is traded through the Nasdaq National Market System under
the symbol "PEBO." Learn more about Peoples Bancorp or enroll in Peoples OnLine
Connection, Peoples Bank's internet banking product, at www.peoplesbancorp.com.


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