PEOPLES BANCORP INC

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrantþ

Filed by a party other than the Registrant o

Check the appropriate box:

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):

Telephone: (740) 374-6136

www.peoplesbancorp.com

Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (“Peoples”) will be held for the following purposes:

If you were a holder of record of common shares of Peoples at the close of business on February 23, 2026, you will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

We have elected to take advantage of Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules that allow us to furnish proxy materials to certain shareholders over the internet. On or about the date of this Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, we began mailing a notice of internet availability of proxy materials (the “Notice of Internet Availability”) to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 23, 2026. The Notice of Internet Availability contains info rmation on how to access the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the Proxy Statement (which describes in detail each of the matters to be considered at the Annual Meeting), the form of proxy and Peoples’ 2025 Annual Report to Shareholders over the internet, as well as instructions on how to request a paper copy of the proxy materials. At the same time, we provided shareholders of record with access to our online proxy materials and filed our proxy materials with the SEC. We believe furnishing proxy materials to our shareholders over the internet allows us to provide our shareholders with the information they need, while lowering the costs of delivery and reducing the environmental impact of the Annual Meeting. If you have received the Notice of Internet Availability, you will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials unless you request it by following the instructions for requesting such proxy materials contained in the Notice of Internet Availability and summarized on the following page.

It is important that your common shares be represented at the Annual Meeting whether or not you are personally able to participate. Accordingly, after reading the accompanying Proxy Statement, please promptly submit your proxy by telephone, over the internet or by mail as described in the Proxy Statement.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

Your common shares may be voted by one of the following methods:

Submitting your proxy over the internet, by telephone or by mail does not deprive you of the right to participate in the Annual Meeting live via the internet and to vote your common shares online in the manner described in the accompanying Proxy Statement.

To obtain instructions as to how to participate in the Annual Meeting virtually, please call Investor Relations at 740-374-6136.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

M. Ryan KirkhamCorporate Secretary March 13, 2026

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders

To Be Held April 23, 2026

Peoples Bancorp Inc.

PEOPLES BANCORP INC.

138 Putnam Street

P.O. Box 738

Marietta, Ohio 45750-0738

(740) 374-6136

www.peoplesbancorp.com

Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders

To Be Held on April 23, 2026