Exhibit 99


                        PEOPLES BANCORP INC. - P.O. BOX 738 - MARIETTA, OH 45750
                                                          www.peoplesbancorp.com


                                  NEWS RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE          Contact:   Mark Bradley
---------------------                     President and Chief Operating Officer
October 15, 2004                          (740) 373-3155


                         PEOPLES BANK RECEIVES NATIONAL
                           COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AWARD
              -----------------------------------------------------

         Marietta, OH - Peoples Bank, a subsidiary of Peoples Bancorp Inc.
(Nasdaq: PEBO) was recently honored with a Community Partnership Award at the
Community Action Partnership 2004 Annual Convention in Washington, DC. Peoples
Bank was recognized for outstanding contributions in free banking services, low
interest rate loans, homebuyer education and assistance programs, and other
contributions.
         Peoples Bank was one of only three honorees at the national gala event
celebrating Community Action's 40 years of service to low and moderate income
families. One of over 1,100 Community Action agencies nationwide, the Community
Action Program of Washington-Morgan Counties (Ohio) nominated Peoples Bank to
receive the award for its 30-year partnership to support low-income families in
its market areas.
         "We are honored to receive this award," said Mark Bradley, Peoples
Bank's President and Chief Operating Officer, who accepted the award in
Washington, DC on behalf of the bank. "Our leadership has long set the tone that
Peoples Bank will be an actively contributing, socially responsible member of
our communities. It is one of our core values, and together with our local
Community Action agency, we can commit the time and resources necessary to
enhance the quality of life in our communities."
         Washington-Morgan Community Action provides many services, including
homebuyer education; affordable, quality housing to the special needs
population; and offering overall services from healthcare and meal delivery
services to Head Start programs for developing our children's future.
         "Peoples Bank is always there to support our programs," said David
Brightbill, Executive Director for Washington-Morgan Community Action. "We have
never paid a fee for our financial services at Peoples Bank, and they work with
us on much needed housing, provide financial education, and establish special
financial products designed to help families in need. Peoples Bank exemplifies
the fact that a successful business can also be a highly successful community
partner."
         "The hard work of the folks at Washington-Morgan Community Action has
had a significant, positive impact on individual families and the community,
developing the lives of many people and creating an encouraging environment for
future generations," summarized Bradley. "We are grateful to be a part of their
success."
         Peoples Bank is a subsidiary of Peoples Bancorp Inc., a diversified
financial products and services company with $1.8 billion in assets. Peoples
Bank makes available a complete line of banking, investment, insurance, and
trust solutions through 51 sales offices and 33 ATMs in Ohio, West Virginia, and
Kentucky. Peoples' common shares are traded on the NASDAQ national market under
the symbol "PEBO". Peoples Bancorp is a member of the Russell 3000 index of US
publicly traded companies. Learn more about Peoples at www.peoplesbancorp.com.

                                 END OF RELEASE