EXHIBIT 99

NEWS RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           Contact: John W. Conlon, Chief Financial Officer
- ---------------------------              (740) 373-3155
March 29, 2001

                 PEOPLES BANCORP TO REPORT FIRST QUARTER GAINS;
                      EXPECTS INCREASED OPERATING EARNINGS
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         MARIETTA, Ohio - Peoples Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq: PEBO) announced it will
report net pre-tax gains of approximately $700,000, or $0.06 per share after
taxes, in the first quarter of 2002, due to the combined impact of sales of
investment securities and Peoples' repurchase of $7 million of its trust
preferred securities at a discount. The trust preferred repurchase is part of an
overall strategy to reduce cost of funds in a lower interest rate environment.
         Peoples also expects recent operating earnings momentum to continue in
the first quarter of 2002. Management anticipates operating results (which
excludes the net gains described previously) to grow 10% to 15% over fourth
quarter 2001 earnings per share of $0.49.
         "Net interest income growth and improved net interest margin, combined
with other revenue generation through new products, have pushed top-line
revenues to new levels," commented Jack Conlon, Chief Financial Officer. "Net
interest margin is better than expected due primarily to downward repricing of
deposits and borrowings, and our fee revenue growth has been ahead of earlier
projections."
         In the first quarter of 2002, Peoples will also benefit from new
accounting rules that reduce the amount of intangible amortization expense.
Management expects earnings per share to increase 2 to 3 cents per share due to
adoption of the new rules.
         "Our strong performance in the first quarter is a culmination of
several strategies coming together," said Conlon. "Top-line revenue growth
remains a primary goal, and we are already working on strategies to continue
that momentum. We anticipate net interest margin to begin to compress later this
year, which places more emphasis on our non-interest revenue strategies."
         Peoples will release corporate earnings for the quarter ended March 31,
2002, on Monday, April 22, at approximately 1:00 pm local time. A conference
call to discuss first quarter results of operations is currently scheduled for
April 24, at 3:00 pm, local time, with members of Peoples' executive management
participating.
         Peoples is a diversified financial products and services company with
$1.2 billion in assets, offering a complete line of banking, investment,
insurance, and trust solutions through Peoples Bank's 40 sales offices and 26
ATM's in Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Peoples' common shares are traded on
NASDAQ national market under the symbol "PEBO." Learn more about Peoples or
enroll in Peoples OnLine Connection, Peoples' internet banking product, at
www.peoplesbancorp.com.

Safe Harbor Statement:
         The statements in this press release which are not historical fact are
forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties,
including, but not limited to, the interest rate environment, the effect of
banking and tax regulations, the effect of economic conditions, the impact of
competitive products and pricing, and other risks detailed in Peoples' SEC
filings. Although management believes that the expectations in these
forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds
of management's knowledge of Peoples' business and operations, it is possible
that actual results may differ materially from these statements.


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