EXHIBIT 99

NEWS RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE         Contact:  John W. Conlon, Chief Financial Officer
November 10, 1999                             (740) 373-3155


                PEOPLES BANCORP ANNOUNCES FOURTH 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 $847,000 on 6.05 million shares is payable
January 3, 2000, to shareholders of record on December 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 37 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
or enroll in Peoples OnLine Connection at www.peoplesbancorp.com.

                                 END OF RELEASE