EXHIBIT 23

            Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements
pertaining to the Peoples Bancorp Inc. Retirement Savings Plan (Form S-8,
No.33-1803 and No. 333-108383), the Amended and Restated 1993 Stock Option Plan
of Peoples Bancorp, Inc. (Form S-8, No. 33-67878), the 1995 Stock Option Plan of
Peoples Bancorp, Inc. (Form S-8, No. 33-59569), the Amended and Restated
Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors of Peoples Bancorp, Inc. and
Subsidiaries (Form S-8, No. 333-43629), the 1998 Stock Option Plan of Peoples
Bancorp, Inc. (Form S-8, No. 333-62935), the 2002 Stock Option Plan of Peoples
Bancorp Inc. (Form S-8 No. 333-86246), the Peoples Bancorp Inc. Dividend
Reinvestment Plan (Form S-3, No. 33-54003), and the Registration Statement (Form
S-3 No. 333-116683) of our reports dated March 11, 2005, with respect to the
consolidated financial statements of Peoples Bancorp, Inc., Peoples Bancorp,
Inc. management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial
reporting of Peoples Bancorp, Inc., included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K)
for the year ended December 31, 2004.


/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Charleston, West Virginia
March 15, 2005