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





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





                                   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