<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000318300-00-000041
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20001205
<ITEMS>1
<FILING-DATE>20001205
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>PEOPLES BANCORP INC
<CIK>0000318300
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6022
<IRS-NUMBER>310987416
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>OH
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-16772
<FILM-NUMBER>783454
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>138 PUTNAM ST
<STREET2>P O BOX 738
<CITY>MARIETTA
<STATE>OH
<ZIP>45750
<PHONE>7403733155
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>0001.txt
<DESCRIPTION>NEWS RELEASE AMERICA'S FINEST COMPANIES
<TEXT>



               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

                            FORM 8-K

                         CURRENT REPORT
             Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                 Securities Exchange Act of 1934

December 1, 2000
----------------------------------
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)



                              PEOPLES BANCORP INC.
              ----------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)



                                     0-16772
                             Commission File Number


                           Ohio                          31-0987416
----------------------------------------------      --------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)      (I.R.S. Employer
                                                     Identification Number)



                  138 Putnam Street
                     P.O. Box 738,
                    Marietta, Ohio                              45750
----------------------------------------------------          ----------
(Address of principal executive office)                       (Zip Code)




               Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                                 (740) 373-3155



                                 Not applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)






                           Index to Exhibits on page 3


<PAGE>


Item 1.  Changes in Control of Registrant
Not applicable.

Item 2.  Acquisition or Disposition of Assets
Not applicable.

Item 3.  Bankruptcy or Receivership
Not applicable.

Item 4.  Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant
Not applicable.

Item 5.  Other Events
On December 1, 2000, Peoples Bancorp Inc. was recently recognized in the Tenth
Annual Edition of America's Finest companies.The release is included herewith
as Exhibit 99.

Item 6.  Resignations of Registrant's Directors
Not applicable.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a) Non required
(b) Non required
(c) Exhibits

EXHIBIT NUMBER                            DESCRIPTION

99                                        News Release issued December 1, 2000

Item 8.  Change in Fiscal Year
Not applicable.

Item 9.  Sales of Equity Securities Pursuant to Regulation S
Not applicable.
 .


<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



DATE:  December 5, 2000                    PEOPLES BANCORP INC.
                                           --------------------
                                           Registrant



                                  By: /s/  ROBERT E. EVANS
                                           Robert E. Evans
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer



                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibit Number               Description                          Page
------------------           ---------------------------         ------
99                           News Release issued 12/1/00           4






</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>0002.txt
<DESCRIPTION>NEWS RELEASE AMERICA'S FINEST COMPANIES
<TEXT>




                                   EXHIBIT 99

NEWS RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE            Contact:  Robert E. Evans
---------------------------                President and Chief Executive Officer
December 1, 2000                           (740) 373-3155


     PEOPLES BANCORP RECOGNIZED AMONG ELITE OF AMERICA'S FINEST COMPANIES(R)
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------

         MARIETTA,  Ohio - Peoples  Bancorp  Inc.  (Nasdaq:  PEBO) was  recently
recognized  in the Tenth Annual  Edition of America's  Finest  Companies(R),  an
investment  directory  of all  publicly-traded  US  companies  with at  least 10
consecutive  years of higher earnings and/or  dividends per share. The directory
is  published  annually  by Bill  Staton,  Chairman of the Staton  Institute  in
Charlotte, North Carolina, (800) 847-8507.
         Peoples  Bancorp  was also  named to the Staton  Institute's  "Super 50
Team",  reserved  for  companies  with a combined  total of at least 50 years of
higher earnings and dividends per share.  Only 20 companies  received this elite
distinction,  representing  just  0.11%  of all  publicly-traded  US  companies.
Peoples Bancorp was ranked 6th over a 10-year period, with consecutive  earnings
per share growth of 26 years and annual dividend growth of 34 straight years.
         "We are  honored  to be a part  of this  select  group  of  companies,"
commented  Robert  E.  Evans,   President  and  CEO  of  Peoples  Bancorp.   "It
acknowledges  our longtime  commitment to integrated  financial  solutions,  and
reflects our mission of profitable  growth for the long-term benefit of clients,
shareholders, and associates." Only the top 2% of the 19,000+ publicly-traded US
companies make the list of America's Finest Companies(R).
         Peoples Bancorp Inc. is a diversified  financial  services company with
$1.1 billion in assets.  The Company's  lead  subsidiary is Peoples Bank,  which
offers  complete  banking  products  and services  through 38 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
Investments,  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




</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
