EXHIBIT 99

NEWS RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           Contact:  Robert E. Evans
- ---------------------                     President and Chief Executive Officer
June 17, 2002                             (740) 373-3155


                      PEOPLES BANCORP COMPLETES ACQUISTION
                          OF FIVE GUERSNEY BANK OFFICES
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         Marietta, Ohio - Peoples Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq: PEBO) announced today
that one of it subsidiaries, Peoples Bank, has completed its acquisition of five
full-service financial services offices. The banking centers are located in the
Ohio communities of Cambridge (2 offices), Byesville, Quaker City, and Flushing,
and will operate as banking centers of Peoples Bank.
         First announced in January 2002, Peoples Bank acquired the full-service
offices at the close of business on Friday, June 14. In the acquisition, Peoples
Bank acquired loans of approximately $73 million and deposits of $109 million.
Peoples also acquired three ATM's in the Cambridge area. The five offices
increase Peoples' total full-service banking centers to 45 locations in three
states and total ATMs to 28.
         "After several months of hard work and preparation, we are ready to
serve the financial needs of our new clients," said Robert Evans, Peoples'
President and CEO. "The transition teams on both sides deserve a lot of credit
for preparing Peoples Bank to serve the financial needs of Guernsey and Belmont
Counties. Our focus is to be the leading provider of financial services in the
markets we serve, with local decision-making and familiar faces to our
customers."
         As part of the transaction, Peoples Bancorp Inc. acquired all of the
outstanding stock of First Colony Bancshares, the holding company of The
Guernsey Bank and owned by Robert and Diane Patrella. Peoples Bancorp Inc. paid
$18 million in total cash consideration and assumed $1.8 million of First Colony
debt. The Guernsey Bank's full-service banking office and loan production office
in Worthington continues to serve its customers and retains "The Guernsey Bank"
name under a new banking charter.
         The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to Peoples'
earnings due to expected cost savings and corresponding improved efficiencies in
executive management, as well as other general and administrative costs.
         "This acquisition is a logical expansion of Peoples' community bank
markets," Evans concluded. "It was a unique transaction which allowed us to
expand our traditional banking business in markets that we find attractive,
giving us new customers and prospects to whom we can offer life, health, car,
home, and business insurance, plus we make available investment accounts such as
brokerage or trust relationships."
         Peoples Bancorp Inc., headquartered in Marietta, Ohio, is a diversified
financial services company with $1.3 billion in assets. Peoples Bancorp's lead
subsidiary is Peoples Bank, which offers complete banking products and services
through 45 financial service locations in Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky.
Peoples Bank also makes available other financial services via Peoples
Investment Services, which provides client-tailored solutions for fiduciary
needs, investment alternatives, and other asset management needs (securities are
offered exclusively through Raymond James Financial Services, member NASD/SIPC,
an independent broker/dealer located at Peoples Bank). Peoples Insurance Agency
provides a full set of life, health, property and casualty insurance products
and services. Learn more about Peoples Bancorp or enroll in Peoples OnLine
Connection internet banking service at www.peoplesbancorp.com.


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