EXHIBIT 99

NEWS RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 Contact:  Mark F. Bradley
---------------------                           EVP, Chief Integration Officer
May 6, 2002                                     Peoples Bancorp Inc.
                                                (740) 373-3155


                  PEOPLES BANK TO ACQUIRE MALTA BANKING OFFICE
                  --------------------------------------------

      Acquisition will add $10 million in deposits and $4 million in loans

         MARIETTA, Ohio - Peoples Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq: PEBO) announced today
that one of its subsidiaries, Peoples Bank, has signed a definitive agreement
to acquire a full-service banking center in Malta, Ohio, from Century National
Bank of Zanesville, Ohio, a subsidiary of Park National Corporation of Newark,
Ohio (Amex: PRK).
         "We are pleased to announce plans to enhance our business in Morgan
County," said Robert E. Evans, Peoples' President and CEO. "Peoples Bank is
excited by the opportunity to serve new customers and offer a wide selection of
financial services and products. Anytime we can grow our business and
efficiently leverage Peoples' investment in one of our communities, we will do
it."
         At March 31, 2002, Century National Bank's Malta banking center had $4
million in loans and $10 million in total deposits, including about $3 million
of core deposits (checking and savings accounts).
         "Our growing company needs quality funding sources to fuel asset
growth," commented Jack Conlon, Peoples' Chief Financial Officer. "The
combination of our current Morgan County offices plus Malta's customer loans and
deposits will create a financial services unit with almost $20 million in loans
and $27 million in total deposits."
         Peoples expects to serve Malta customers from its full-service office
in neighboring McConnelsville. "Considering the proximity of the Malta office
and the customer services available in our McConnelsville office, we think this
is the best way we can efficiently and cost effectively serve our customer base
in the Malta/McConnelsville communities," added Conlon.
         The proposed transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is
anticipated to be completed in the third quarter of 2002. "For the past 100
years, Peoples has earned the reputation as a leader in community banking by
providing our local communities with a personalized brand of banking, a broad
choice of financial products and services, and state of the art technology,
"added Evans. "Our goal is to continue expansion when and where it makes
sense for our clients, associates, and shareholders."
         This release includes statements that may constitute forward-looking
statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the
forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to, the
interest rate environment, the effect of federal and state banking and tax
regulations, the effect of technological changes, the effect of economic
conditions, the ability to efficiently integrate operations, the impact of
competitive products and pricing, and other risks detailed in Peoples'
Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Although Peoples' management
believes that the expectations in these forward-looking statements are based on
reasonable assumptions within the bounds of management's knowledge of Peoples'
business and operations, it is possible that actual results may differ
materially from these projections.
         Peoples Bancorp is a diversified financial services company with $1.2
billion in assets. The Company's lead subsidiary is Peoples Bank, which offers
complete banking products and services through 40 financial service locations
and 25 ATM's in the states of Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Peoples Bank
also makes available other financial services via Peoples Investment Services,
which provides client-tailored solutions for fiduciary needs, investment
alternatives, and other asset management needs (securities are offered
exclusively through Raymond James Financial Services, member NASD/SIPC, an
independent broker/dealer located at Peoples Bank). Peoples Insurance Agency
provides a full set of life, property and casualty insurance products and
services. 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 internet banking service at www.peoplesbancorp.com.


                                 END OF RELEASE