UNITED
STATES
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): November 14,
2008
 PEOPLES
BANCORP INC.
|
|
(Exact
name of Registrant as specified in its
charter)
|
|
Ohio
|
0-16772
|
31-0987416
|
||
|
(State
or other jurisdiction
|
(Commission
File
|
(I.R.S.
Employer
|
||
|
of
incorporation)
|
Number)
|
Identification
Number)
|
|
138
Putnam Street, PO 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)
|
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:
|
[ ]
|
Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)
|
|
[ ]
|
Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
|
|
[ ]
|
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
|
|
[ ]
|
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
|
1
Item 8.01 – Other
Events
On
October 29, 2008, Peoples Bank, National Association (“Peoples Bank”), a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (“Peoples”), entered into an
asset purchase and revenue sharing agreement with First Data Merchant Services
Corporation (“First Data”). Under this agreement, Peoples Bank will
sell its merchant credit card payment processing services to First Data and
continue to serve the credit card processing needs of Peoples Bank’s commercial
customers through a referral program with First Data.
Peoples
Bank contemplated this sale to First Data due to increased regulatory burden, as
well as the ease of transition of conversion of Peoples Bank’s client base to
First Data since it was the merchant services network being used by Peoples Bank
prior to the sale.
Preliminary
settlement of this sale occurred on November 10, 2008. The conversion
is expected to be completed during the fourth quarter of 2008. As a
result of this transaction, Peoples will recognize a pre-tax gain of
approximately $500,000, (or $0.03 per share after-tax) in the fourth quarter of
2008 and expects to realize an ongoing revenue stream from the referral program.
This sale is not expected to have a material impact on Peoples’ future financial
condition, results of operations or cash flows.
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.
| PEOPLES BANCORP INC. | |||
|
Date: November
14, 2008
|
By: /s/
|
EDWARD
G. SLOANE
|
|
| Edward G. Sloane | |||
| Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
2