Debtor Joan Marie Sloan, appearing pro se, appeals the district court's order affirming the bankruptcy court's award of fees to the trustee and his counsel. She alleges that: (1)the bankruptcy trustee and his counsel were not entitled to receive payment for their services to the estate because of substantial abuses committed by the trustee and his counsel, and (2) the bankruptcy court abused its discretion by permitting the trustee on appeal to retain estate monies in a non-interest-bearing account. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1291.

The record before us reflects that the trustee and his counsel acted reasonably in light of the information Debtor made available to them. See In re Melenyzer, 140 B.R. 143, 155 (Bankr.W.D. Tex.1992). Therefore, we hold that the bankruptcy court's fee award was not an abuse of discretion.

With regard to monies held in a non-interest-bearing account to cover the administrative expenses pending this appeal, it is within the trustee's discretion whether to place funds in an interest-bearing account as long as funds do not remain idle for a long period of time. In re E.F. Hutton Southwest Properties II, Ltd., 953 F.2d 963, 974 (5th Cir.1992); In re J & J Record Distributing Co., 84 B.R. 864 (E.D.Pa.1988). See also 11 U.S.C. 345(a); H.R. Rep. No. 95-595, 95th Cong., 2d Sess. 331 (1977) (general policy of Bankruptcy Code is to separate bankruptcy court from involvement in estate administration), reprinted in 1978 U.S.C.C.A.N. 5787, 6287. Therefore, the bankruptcy court's approval of the trustee's motion to place the funds in a non-interest-bearing account was unnecessary because placement of the funds was entirely within the trustee's discretion. Although the court's approval was unnecessary, it cannot be characterized as an abuse of discretion, especially in light of the fact that the court was merely giving the trustee permission to take an action entirely within the trustee's discretion.

AFFIRMED.