EXHIBIT 99

NEWS RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE          Contact:  Larry E. Holdren
November 1, 1999                         President, Retail and Banking Division
                                         (740) 373-3155


                           PEOPLES BANCORP SUBSIDIARY
                    OPENS OFFICE IN HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA
             -------------------------------------------------------

         Marietta,  Ohio - Peoples Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:  PEBO) announced that
today one of its subsidiaries, The Peoples Banking and Trust Company ("Peoples
Bank"), completed its acquisition of a full-service banking facility in
Huntington, West Virginia.
         The office, located at 1126 Twentieth Street in the Southeast Hills
region of Huntington, offers full-service financial products and motor bank
access. In the acquisition, Peoples Bank acquired deposits of approximately $5
million and loan balances of approximately $0.5 million.
         Larry E. Holdren, President of the Retail and Banking Division of
Peoples Bank commented, "We are excited by the opportunity to offer Peoples
Bank's array of products and services in the Huntington market. The Southeast
Hills office, combined with our personalized service and internet banking
capabilities, enhance our ability to serve this growing area of the Ohio River
Valley."
         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 37 financial service locations in the
states of Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Peoples Bancorp's banking
subsidiaries include Peoples Bank 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 or enroll in Peoples OnLine
Connection at www.peoplesbancorp.com.


                                 END OF RELEASE