Exhibit 99(b)
                                  -------------

                                     FORM OF
                                      PROXY

                         The Lower Salem Commercial Bank
                                   Main Street
                                   P.O. Box 36
                          Lower Salem, Ohio 45745-0036


                    PROXY FOR SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                               February ____, 2001


THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS  AND UNLESS  OTHERWISE  MARKED
WILL BE VOTED FOR THE PROPOSAL.

The  undersigned,  having received notice of the Special Meeting of Shareholders
of The Lower Salem Commercial Bank, Lower Salem, Ohio to be held at _____ __.m.,
February ___, 2001, hereby designates and appoints ________________, ___________
and  ___________,  or any of them, as attorneys and proxies for the undersigned,
with full power of substitution,  to vote for and in the name of the undersigned
all  shares of the  common  stock of The Lower  Salem  Commercial  Bank  ("Lower
Salem"),  which the  undersigned is entitled to vote at such Special  Meeting of
Shareholders, or at any adjournment thereof, such proxies being directed to vote
as specified below on the following proposals:

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the proposal.

Proposal:     To vote on the approval of the following Resolution:
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              RESOLVED,  That the Agreement and Plan of Acquisition  and Merger,
              dated as of October 24, 2000, by and between Peoples Bancorp Inc.,
              an Ohio bank holding company  ("Peoples"),  Peoples Bank, National
              Association,  a national banking association ("Peoples Bank"), and
              Lower Salem and the related  Plan of Merger,  dated  November  27,
              2000,  between  Peoples  Bank and Lower Salem (the  "Agreements"),
              copies of which are  included as  Appendices  A and B to the proxy
              statement/prospectus  for the Special Meeting,  be and they hereby
              are, approved, adopted, ratified and confirmed.

              FOR                     AGAINST                        ABSTAIN

              If this  Proxy is  properly  signed  but the  above  ballot is not
              marked, such proxies are authorized to vote the shares represented
              by this  Proxy in  accordance  with  their  discretion.  It is the
              present intention of such proxies to vote for the proposal, and to
              vote in the best  interest of Lower Salem,  in the judgment of the
              proxies, concerning any other matters presented at the meeting.

              The  undersigned  reserves  the right to revoke  this Proxy at any
              time until the Proxy is voted at the  Special  Meeting.  The Proxy
              may be revoked by a later dated Proxy, by giving written notice to
              Lower  Salem,  at any time  before  the  Proxy is voted or in open
              meeting.



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                                   Signature


(Number of Shares)                 Signature

                                   (Please  sign Proxy as your name  appears  on
                                   your stock certificate(s). Joint owners
                                   should each sign personally. When signing
                                   as attorney, executor, administrator,
                                   trustee, guardian or corporate officer,
                                   please give your full title as such.)


ALL FORMER PROXIES ARE HEREBY REVOKED

Please  date,  sign and mail this Proxy to the proxy  committee,  in care of The
Lower Salem  Commercial  Bank,  Main Street,  P.O.  Box 36,  Lower  Salem,  Ohio
45745-0036. A pre-addressed envelope is enclosed.