<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000318300-04-000153
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20040818
<ITEMS>5
<FILING-DATE>20040818
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>PEOPLES BANCORP INC
<CIK>0000318300
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6021
<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>04983832
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>138 PUTNAM ST
<STREET2>P O BOX 738
<CITY>MARIETTA
<STATE>OH
<ZIP>45750-0738
<PHONE>7403733155
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form8kferguson.txt
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 8K FERGUSON
<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


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)     August 18, 2004
------------------------------------------------  ---------------------


                              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 5.  Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure
         Peoples Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq: PEBO) announced the recent election of
Richard Ferguson as a director of the company. The release is included herewith
as Exhibit 99.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits
         (a) None required
         (b) None required
         (c) Exhibits


        EXHIBIT NUMBER                             DESCRIPTION
-----------------------------------    ----------------------------------------

              99                          News Release issued August 18, 2004


<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:  August 18, 2004                PEOPLES BANCORP INC.
                                      --------------------
                                      Registrant



                              By:/s/  MARK F. BRADLEY
                                      -------------------------------------
                                      Mark F. Bradley
                                      President and Chief Operating Officer



                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


        EXHIBIT NUMBER                             DESCRIPTION
-----------------------------------    ----------------------------------------

              99                          News Release issued August 18, 2004





</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>ex99ferguson.txt
<DESCRIPTION>NEWS RELEASE FERGUSON
<TEXT>
                                   EXHIBIT 99

NEWS RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE               Contact:  Robert E. Evans
---------------------                         Chairman and CEO
August 18, 2004                               (740) 373-3155


                   PEOPLES BANCORP INC. APPOINTS NEW DIRECTOR
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------

         MARIETTA, Ohio - Peoples Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq: PEBO) announced the
recent election of Richard Ferguson as a director of the company.  The Peoples
Bancorp Board of Directors unanimously approved the appointment of Mr. Ferguson
at the company's August 12th board meeting.
         "Richard's extensive financial background and expertise will be a
positive influence on our company," said Robert E. Evans, Chairman and CEO of
Peoples Bancorp. "We are fortunate to have representation of Richard's quality
on our directorship."
         Ferguson joins Peoples Bancorp's board with more than 30 years of
experience in accounting and financial management. After working several years
in public and private accounting, he currently owns Ferguson Consulting LLC, a
Columbus, Ohio-based professional practice that focuses on business valuations
and forensic accounting services for all types of litigation.
         Ferguson is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Valuation
Analyst (CVA). He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants, the Ohio Society of CPA's, the National Association of Certified
Valuation Analysts, and the Ohio State Association of Certified Valuation
Analysts. Ferguson's experience includes several years at Ernst & Young and
Worthington Industries Inc.
         Evans summarized, "Richard's appointment and service on our Audit
Committee will strengthen our board's governorship in areas such as the new
regulations governing publicly traded companies and constantly changing
accounting rules." Ferguson's appointment increased the number of Peoples
Bancorp directors to 12.
         Ferguson is a graduate of Widener University with a degree in
Accounting/Finance. He earned his CPA in 1976 and his CVA in 1996. He is a
resident of Columbus, Ohio.
         Peoples Bancorp Inc., a diversified financial products and services
company with $1.8 billion in assets, makes available a complete line of banking,
investment, insurance, and trust solutions through Peoples Bank's 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


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