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 adoption of the Russell Federal Savings Bank 1995 Stock Option and
Incentive Plan (the "Plan") by the Company pursuant to the provisions of the
Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated August 19, 1996 (the
"Merger Agreement"), between the Company and Russell Federal Savings Bank
("Russell"); the conversion of options to purchase shares of common stock of
Russell granted under the Plan to options to purchase common shares, without
par value (the "Common Shares"), of the Company in accordance with the
provisions of the Merger Agreement; and the issuance and sale of Common
Shares of the Company upon the exercise of such converted options in
accordance with the terms and conditions of 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 20,000 Common Shares reserved
for issuance under the Plan pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), 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 20,000 Common Shares of the Company to be registered under the
Registration Statement have been issued and delivered by the Company, upon
the exercise of the converted options, 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.
By giving such consent, I do not admit that I come within the category of
persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act, or the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                                Very truly yours,

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