Exhibit 5
                                ---------


                                   September 1, 1998


Board of Directors
Peoples Bancorp Inc.
138 Putnam Street
Marietta, OH  45750

Gentlemen:

	I am familiar with the proceedings taken and proposed to be taken by
Peoples Bancorp Inc., an Ohio corporation (the "Company"), in connection with
the institution of the Peoples Bancorp Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan (
the "Plan"), the granting of options to purchase common shares, without par
value (the "Common Shares"), of the Company pursuant to the Plan, and the
issuance and sale of Common Shares of the Company upon the exercise of options
granted and to be granted under the Plan, as described in the Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof.  The purpose of the
Registration Statement is to register 150,000 Common Shares reserved for
issuance under the Plan pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

        In connection with this opinion, I have examined, among other things,
such records and documents as I have deemed necessary in order to express the
opinion hereinafter set forth.

        Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the further qualifications
and limitations set forth below, as of the date hereof, I am of the opinion
that after the 150,000 Common Shares of the Company to be registered under
the Registration Statement have been issued and delivered by the Company,
upon the exercise of options granted under the Plan, against payment of the
purchase price therefor, in accordance with the terms of the Plan, said
Common Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, assuming
compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws.

         My opinion is limited to the General Corporation Law of Ohio in
effect as of the date hereof.  This opinion is furnished by me solely for the
benefit of the Company in connection with the offering of the Common Shares
pursuant to the Plan and the filing of the Registration Statement and any
amendments thereto.  This opinion may not be relied upon by any other person
or assigned, quoted or otherwise used without my specific written consent.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, I consent to the filing of this opinion
as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to me
therein.

                                         Very truly yours,

                                         /s/ CHARLES R. HUNSAKER
                                             Charles R. Hunsaker
                                             General Counsel