EXHIBIT 31(a)
                                  -------------

                 PEOPLES BANCORP INC. ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
                     FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003

                          CEO CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                            RULE 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)

I, Robert E. Evans, certify that:

     1.   I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Peoples Bancorp
          Inc.;

     2.   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue
          statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
          necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances
          under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to
          the period covered by this report;

     3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
          information included in this report, fairly present in all material
          respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows
          of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
          report;

     4.   The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for
          establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
          defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(a) and 15d-15(e)) for the
          registrant and have:

          a)   designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
               disclosure controls and procedures to be designed to ensure that
               material information relating to the registrant, including its
               consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within
               those entities, particularly during the period in which this
               report is being prepared;

          b)   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
               controls and procedures and presented in this report our
               conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls
               and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this
               report based on such evaluation ; and

          c)   disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal
               control over financial reporting that occurred during the
               registrant's fourth fiscal quarter that has materially affected,
               or is reasonably likely to materially effect, the registrant's
               internal control over financial reporting; and

5.   The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on
     our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to
     the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of
     directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

          a)   all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the
               design or operation of internal control over financial reporting
               which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's
               ability to record, process, summarize and report financial
               information; and

          b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
               other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
               internal control over financial reporting.



Date:  March 8, 2004          By: /s/ ROBERT E. EVANS
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                      Robert E. Evans
                                      Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
                                      Executive Officer
                                      (Principal Executive Officer)