EXHIBIT 99

NEWS RELEASE
____________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           Contact:  Robert E. Evans
_____________________                     President and Chief Executive Officer
August 27, 1999                           (740) 373-3155


           PEOPLES BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY TO ACQUIRE BRANCH OFFICE
    ______________________________________________________________________
        Full-service banking center in Huntington, West Virginia, to add
                             $6 million in deposits

     MARIETTA,  Ohio - Peoples  Bancorp  Inc.  (Nasdaq:  PEBO)  today  announced
consummation, by one of its subsidiaries,  The Peoples Banking and Trust Company
("Peoples Bank"), of an agreement to acquire a full-service  banking facility in
Huntington, West Virginia.
         In the agreement,  Peoples Bank will assume approximately $6 million in
deposits and $500,000 in loans.  The actual  acquisition will be contingent upon
regulatory approval and other conditions.  The full-service office is located at
1126 Twentieth Street in Huntington's South Hills area and was formerly a branch
of Old National Bank.
         Robert E.  Evans,  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer  of Peoples
Bancorp,  commented,  "We are excited by the opportunity to offer Peoples Bank's
many products and services to our new  customers in the  Huntington  area.  This
office  will  enhance  our  ability  to serve the  Huntington,  West  Virginia -
Ashland, Kentucky market and increase Peoples Bancorp's presence in this growing
segment of the Ohio River Valley."
         The  acquisition  is expected to be completed on or before  October 31,
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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