EXHIBIT 99

NEWS RELEASE
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE         Contact:  John W. Conlon, Chief Financial Officer
August 12, 1999                        (740) 373-3155


                PEOPLES BANCORP ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER DIVIDEND
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        MARIETTA, Ohio - The Board of Directors of Peoples Bancorp Inc.
(Nasdaq: PEBO) today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.14 per share.  The
dividend payout of approximately $863,000 on 6.17 million shares is payable
October 1, 1999, to shareholders of record on September 15, 1999.
        Peoples Bancorp Inc. is a diversified financial services holding company
headquartered  in  Marietta,  Ohio,  with over $1  billion  in  assets.  Peoples
Bancorp,  which is Y2K ready,  operates 36  financial  service  locations in the
states  of  Ohio,  West  Virginia,  and  Kentucky.   Peoples  Bancorp's  banking
subsidiaries  include The Peoples Banking and Trust Company with offices in Ohio
and West Virginia;  The First National Bank of Southeastern Ohio with three Ohio
offices;  and  Peoples  Bank  FSB,  with  four  Kentucky  offices.  Through  its
subsidiaries,  Peoples  Bancorp  offers  complete  banking  services  and  makes
available other financial services,  such as trust services,  and investment and
insurance products.  Peoples Bancorp's common stock is traded through the Nasdaq
National Market System under the symbol "PEBO". Learn more about Peoples Bancorp
at www.peoplesbancorp.com.


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